Yes, you can change your Epic Games username, but only once every 14 days

Epic Games lets you change the username on your account, but the system enforces a two-week waiting period between changes. This means if you changed your username last week, you cannot change it again until 14 days have passed from that change. The change takes effect when ready once you submit it, and your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short delay.

The username you see in games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys is the one you control through your Epic Games account settings. This is different from your display name, which is what other players see in-game — you can change your display name as often as you want, but the underlying username has the 14-day restriction.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Epic Games username through your account settings on the Epic Games website, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • Epic Games enforces a 14-day waiting period between username changes, so you cannot change it again until two weeks have passed.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to use after you change it, so choose a new one you plan to keep.
  • If you want to change what other players see in-game without waiting, you can change your display name instead, which has no cooldown.

How to change your username on the Epic Games website

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in to your account. Click your account name in the top right corner and select Account from the dropdown menu. On the left side of the page, click General under the Personal section.

Look for the field labeled Display Name or Username — the exact label depends on which version of the settings page you see. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username, which must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Epic Games will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or breaks their naming rules. Once you confirm the change, it goes live right away.

What happens to your old username

When you change your username, your old one does not stay reserved for you. After a brief delay — usually a few hours — another player can claim it. This means if you change your mind, you cannot straightforward change back to your previous username unless it happens to still be available.

Any friends who had you added under your old username will still see you in their friends list, but your username in their list will update automatically. Your game progress, cosmetics, and account history all stay with your account regardless of the username change.

The difference between username and display name

Epic Games accounts have two separate name fields that confuse many players. Your username is the permanent identifier tied to your account — this is what appears in your account settings and what you use to log in (though you can also use your email). Your display name is what other players see when they look at your profile or encounter you in a game.

The display name has no cooldown and can be changed as often as you want. If you want to change how you appear in-game without waiting 14 days, change your display name instead. The username change is the one that triggers the two-week restriction.

Why Epic Games limits username changes

The 14-day cooldown exists to prevent account takeover fraud and impersonation. If someone gains temporary access to your account, the cooldown stops them from when ready changing your username to something unrecognizable and locking you out. It also prevents players from rapidly cycling through usernames to evade bans or harassment reports.

The cooldown applies to everyone equally — there is no way to bypass it or request an exception, even if you contact Epic Games support. If you are locked out of your account and need to change your username as part of recovery, support can help you regain access, but they still cannot override the 14-day rule.

What to do if your desired username is taken

If the username you want is already claimed, you have a few options. You can add numbers or underscores to make a variation — for example, if "Alex" is taken, you might try "Alex_2024" or "Alex42". You can also check whether the username belongs to an inactive account. Epic Games does not currently have a public tool to reclaim usernames from abandoned accounts, so if someone claimed your desired name years ago and never used it, it remains unavailable.

Your best option is to choose a username you are satisfied with now, because changing it again means waiting another 14 days. Take time to pick something you will not want to change when ready.

Troubleshooting username change problems

If you see an error message when trying to change your username, the most common cause is that you are within the 14-day waiting period from your last change. The error message should tell you the exact date when you can change it again. If you are certain you have waited long enough, try signing out and signing back in, then return to the account settings page.

If the username you want suddenly shows as taken when it was available moments before, another player claimed it while you were entering it. Usernames are claimed on a first-come, first-served basis the when ready you submit the change. If the name you want is consistently unavailable, it may belong to an active account, and you will need to choose a different one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once if I pay for something?

No. The 14-day cooldown applies to all accounts regardless of whether you have spent money on the account or have a high-level battle pass. Epic Games does not offer paid username change tokens or ways to bypass the waiting period.

Will my friends still see me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list updates automatically, and anyone who has you added will still see you under your new username. Your account history and all your cosmetics stay with you — only the name changes.

What if someone took my old username after I changed it?

Once you change your username, the old one enters a pool of available names and can be claimed by anyone. If you want it back, you would need to wait for that person to change their username or for the account to become inactive, which is not may provide to happen.

Is my display name the same as my username?

No. Your username is your account identifier and has the 14-day change limit. Your display name is what appears in-game and can be changed whenever you want with no cooldown. You can have different display names on different games while keeping the same underlying username.

What characters can I use in my new username?

Epic Games allows letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters long. Spaces and special characters like periods, commas, or symbols are not allowed. The system will reject your choice when ready if it contains forbidden characters.