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

Epic Games lets you change the username tied to 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 it updates across all Epic Games services — Fortnite, the Epic Games Launcher, and any other connected games.

The username you see in-game and on your profile is what you are changing. This is different from your account email address, which has its own separate change process. Your username is what other players see when they look you up or add you as a friend.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 14 days through your Epic Games account settings on the website or mobile app.
  • The new username takes effect right away and shows up everywhere — in-game, on your profile, and in friend lists.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot contain spaces or special characters.
  • If you see an error message when you try to change your username, the most common causes are that the name is already taken, you have changed it too recently, or the name breaks the character rules.

Where to change your username on the Epic Games website

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

You will see a field labeled Display Name or Username depending on your region. Click the pencil icon or the Edit button next to it. Type your new username into the box, then click Save or Confirm. The system will tell you right away if the name is taken or breaks the rules. If it accepts the change, your new username is live within seconds.

How to change your username on the Epic Games mobile app

Open the Epic Games app on your phone or tablet and sign in. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then tap Account. Scroll down and tap General.

Find the Display Name or Username field and tap the pencil icon next to it. Enter your new username and tap Save. The app will show you an error message if the name is unavailable or invalid. Once the save goes through, the change is active when ready.

Rules for what your new username can be

Epic Games usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, periods, or special characters like @, #, $, or &. The system will reject your choice if it violates these rules.

Usernames are not case-sensitive for searching or adding friends — if someone searches for "JohnSmith" or "johnsmith", they will find the same account. However, the exact capitalization you choose will display on your profile and in-game. Epic Games also reserves the right to remove usernames that contain hate speech, slurs, or impersonation of public figures, though this is rare and usually only happens if someone reports the account.

What to do if you cannot change your username right now

The most common reason you cannot change your username is that you changed it within the last 14 days. Check when you last made a change by going to your account settings and looking at the timestamp or message that appears. If it says you must wait, count forward 14 days from your last change — that is when you can try again.

If the error message says the username is already taken, someone else has claimed it. Try adding a number or underscore to make it unique — for example, "JohnSmith_1" or "JohnSmith2". If the system says your username breaks the rules, remove any spaces, periods, or special characters and try again. If you are still stuck after checking these things, contact Epic Games support through their website and describe the exact error message you see.

How your username change affects your friends and game progress

When you change your username, your friends will see the new name the next time they log in or refresh their friends list. Your game progress, cosmetics, V-Bucks, and battle pass rewards do not change — they stay tied to your account. Old screenshots or videos you posted online will still show your old username, but your in-game profile and current friends list will show the new one.

If you play on multiple platforms — PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or mobile — the username change applies to all of them at once because they are all connected to the same Epic Games account. You do not have to change it separately on each platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes, but you still have to wait 14 days between changes. If you changed your username and regret it, you can change it back to the old name after two weeks have passed, as long as no one else has claimed that name in the meantime. If someone else took it, you cannot use it again.

What if someone else is using the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served on Epic Games. If the name is taken, you cannot use it. Try a variation — add a number, underscore, or hyphen to make it unique. You can also check if the account using that name is active by searching for it in-game or on the Epic Games website.

Does changing my username affect my email address or password?

No. Your username and email address are separate. Changing your username does not change the email you use to sign in or the password to your account. If you want to change your email address, that is a different process in your account settings.

How long does it take for my new username to show up in Fortnite?

Your new username shows up in Fortnite within seconds of you saving the change on the Epic Games website or app. If you are already in a game when you change it, you may need to restart Fortnite or log out and back in to see the new name appear in-game.

Can I reserve a username so no one else can take it?

No. Epic Games does not have a username reservation system. The only way to keep a username is to have an active account using it. If you want a specific name, you need to change to it and keep that account active.