Where to change your username depends on which account type you use
Your Call of Duty username lives on your Battle.net account (if you play on PC), your PlayStation Network account (PS4 or PS5), your Xbox Live account (Xbox One or Series X/S), or your Activision account (if you linked a mobile or console account to Activision's system). You cannot change your username inside the Call of Duty game itself — you have to go to the account service that owns your login.
The process is different for each platform because each one manages usernames separately. Changing your Battle.net name does not change your PlayStation name, and vice versa. If you play on multiple platforms with the same Activision account, you will need to change the username on each platform individually.
Key Takeaways
- Your Call of Duty username is stored on Battle.net, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Activision's servers depending on which platform you use to log in.
- On Battle.net, you can change your name once every 30 days through your account settings; on PlayStation and Xbox, you change your platform username, not a Call of Duty-specific one.
- Some platforms charge a fee for username changes — PlayStation charges $9.99 USD, Xbox charges $9.99 USD, and Battle.net changes are free.
- Your old username becomes available for other players to use after you change it, so you cannot reserve it or change back to it later without waiting.
How to change your username on Battle.net (PC players)
Go to account.battle.net and sign in with your Battle.net credentials. Click on your account name in the top right corner, then select Account Settings. On the left side, click Profile. You will see your current Battle Tag (the name that appears in-game) next to a pencil icon — click that icon to edit it.
Type your new name into the field. Battle.net names must be between 3 and 32 characters, can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but cannot start or end with a hyphen. Once you enter a new name, click Save Changes. The change takes effect when ready. You can change your Battle.net name once every 30 days at no cost.
If you see a message that says your desired name is unavailable, that name is already in use by another player. Try a variation — adding numbers, a hyphen, or a different spelling often works.
How to change your username on PlayStation Network
Go to www.playstation.com and sign in with your PlayStation Network account. Click your profile icon in the top right, then select Profile. Find the option labeled Edit Profile or Change Online ID (the exact wording varies by region). You will be taken to a screen showing your current online ID.
Click Change Online ID and enter your new username. PlayStation usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. The first character must be a letter. Once you confirm, PlayStation charges $9.99 USD for the change. You can change your online ID once every 10 days after your first change.
Your old PlayStation Network ID becomes available for other players when ready after the change. Some games may take a few hours to display your new name in-game, but Call of Duty usually updates within minutes.
How to change your username on Xbox Live
Go to www.xbox.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click your profile picture in the top right, then select My Profile. Look for Customize Profile or Edit Profile. Find the field showing your current Gamertag and click Edit Gamertag.
Enter your new Gamertag. Xbox Gamertags must be between 3 and 15 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot contain spaces or special characters. Once you confirm, Xbox charges $9.99 USD for the change. You can change your Gamertag once every 30 days.
If you have Xbox Game Pass, you may be able to change your Gamertag once for free — check your account page to see if that option is available to you. Like PlayStation, your old Gamertag becomes available to other players right away.
What happens to your old username and friends list
When you change your username, your old name is released back into the pool of available names. Another player can claim it when ready. You cannot reserve your old name or change back to it without waiting for someone else to use it first and then for it to become available again — a process that could take months or never happen.
Your friends list does not break when you change your username. Players who had you added as a friend will still see you on their friends list, and you will still see them on yours. In Call of Duty, your friends will see your new username the next time they log in.
If you are part of a clan or community group, the group's roster will update to show your new name. Some third-party stat-tracking websites may take a few hours to reflect the change.
Troubleshooting: name not changing or showing as unavailable
If your chosen username shows as unavailable, another player already has it. Try adding numbers to the end, using an underscore or hyphen, or spelling it differently. Most popular names are taken, so unusual combinations are more likely to work.
If you changed your username but it is not showing up in Call of Duty after 30 minutes, restart the game completely — close it fully and reopen it. If the name still does not appear, sign out of your platform account (Battle.net, PlayStation, or Xbox) and sign back in. This forces the game to refresh your account information.
If you see an error message saying you have changed your name too recently, you have hit the rate limit for your platform. Battle.net allows one change every 30 days, PlayStation every 10 days, and Xbox every 30 days. You will have to wait until that period passes before trying again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Call of Duty username without changing my platform username?
No. Your Call of Duty username is your platform username — they are the same thing. If you play on PlayStation, your Call of Duty name is your PlayStation Network ID. If you play on PC, it is your Battle.net name. You cannot have a separate Call of Duty-only username.
Will changing my username affect my rank, stats, or cosmetics?
No. Your rank, K/D ratio, unlocked weapons, skins, and all other progress stay with your account. Changing your username is purely cosmetic — it only changes what other players see your name as. All your data remains tied to your account.
What if someone else took my desired username before I could claim it?
You cannot force them to give it up. Your only option is to choose a different name. If the person is inactive for a very long time, some platforms may eventually recycle old usernames, but this is rare and unpredictable. It is safer to assume the name is gone permanently.
Do I have to pay to change my username on all platforms?
No. Battle.net changes are free and allowed once every 30 days. PlayStation and Xbox both charge $9.99 USD per change. If you play on PC only, you will never pay. If you play on console, you will pay each time you want to change.
How long does it take for my new username to show up in Call of Duty?
Usually within minutes. If it has been more than 30 minutes and your new name still is not showing, restart the game completely. If you still do not see it, sign out of your platform account and sign back in to force a refresh.