The quickest way: change it on the Epic Games website, not on your Switch

You cannot change your Epic Games username directly from your Nintendo Switch. The Switch itself has no settings for this. Instead, you log into your Epic Games account on a computer or phone, make the change there, and it updates across all your devices — including your Switch — within a few minutes.

The reason is straightforward: your Switch is just a device linked to your Epic Games account. The account itself lives on Epic's servers. Changing the username at the source means the change applies everywhere you use that account, whether you are playing on Switch, PlayStation, PC, or mobile.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in with your account, and change your username in Account Settings — not on your Switch.
  • Your new username appears on your Switch within a few minutes once you have changed it on the website.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the new name must be between 3 and 16 characters with no spaces.
  • If your Switch is linked to a different Epic Games account than the one you want to change, you will need to unlink and relink it first.

Step-by-step: changing your username on the Epic Games website

Open a web browser on your computer or phone and go to www.epicgames.com. Click the sign-in button in the top right corner. Enter the email address and password for the Epic Games account linked to your Switch, then click Sign In.

Once you are signed in, click your account name or avatar icon in the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu. On the left side of the page, click on Account Info. Look for the Display Name field — this is what shows up in games and to other players. Click Edit next to it, type your new username, and click Save.

Epic Games will ask you to confirm the change. Check your email for a confirmation link if prompted, and click it. Your new username is now live on your Epic Games account. When you next open a game on your Switch that uses your Epic account, it will show your new name.

What usernames Epic Games allows and what it blocks

Your new username must be between 3 and 16 characters long. It can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but no spaces. Epic Games blocks usernames that contain profanity, impersonate real people or brands, or violate their community standards. If you try to save a name that breaks these rules, the website will tell you it is unavailable and ask you to pick something else.

You can change your username once every 30 days. If you changed it recently and want to change it again, the website will show you the date you can make your next change. This limit exists to prevent spam and account takeover abuse.

If your Switch is linked to the wrong Epic Games account

If you have multiple Epic Games accounts or are not sure which one is linked to your Switch, check which account is actually connected. On your Switch, go to System Settings, then Users, then your user profile. Select Linked Accounts and look for the Epic Games entry. It will show the email address of the linked account.

If that is not the account you want to change, you have two options. You can sign into that account on the Epic Games website and change the username there. Or you can unlink it from your Switch and link a different Epic Games account instead. To unlink, go back to Linked Accounts, select Epic Games, and choose Unlink. Then sign in with the account you actually want to use.

Why the change takes a few minutes to show up on your Switch

After you change your username on the Epic Games website, your Switch does not update it when ready. The Switch syncs with Epic's servers every few minutes, so you may see your old name for a short time. Close and reopen the game, or restart your Switch, to force it to refresh sooner. Within five minutes, your new username will appear everywhere on your Switch.

If you still see your old name after 10 minutes, sign out of your Epic Games account on your Switch and sign back in. Go to System Settings, Users, your profile, Linked Accounts, Epic Games, and select Unlink. Then select Link again and sign in with your credentials. This forces a full sync and usually fixes any display lag.

Usernames versus display names: what shows up where

Epic Games uses two different name fields, and it is straightforward to confuse them. Your Display Name is what other players see in games and on your profile. This is the one you change in Account Info on the website. Your account email is what you use to log in — this does not change and is not visible to other players.

Some games on your Switch may also let you set a separate in-game nickname that overrides your Epic Games display name. If you change your Epic Games username but still see an old name in a specific game, check that game's own settings for a nickname or profile name field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username on my Switch without using a computer?

You can use your phone instead of a computer. Open a web browser on your phone, go to www.epicgames.com, sign in, and follow the same steps to change your display name in Account Settings. The process is identical.

What happens to my old username after I change it?

Your old username becomes available for someone else to use after 30 days. You cannot use it again unless you wait at least 30 days and it has not been claimed by another player. Epic Games does not reserve old usernames.

Will changing my username affect my game progress or cosmetics?

No. Your username is just a display name. Your account, progress, V-Bucks, skins, and all other items stay exactly the same. Only the name that shows up changes.

What if I forgot the password to my Epic Games account?

Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In. Select Forgot Password, enter the email address for your account, and Epic will send you a reset link. Click the link in your email, create a new password, and sign in. Then you can change your username.

Does my Switch username need to match my Epic Games username?

No. Your Switch has its own user profile with its own name, separate from your Epic Games account. You can have any Switch username and any Epic Games username. They do not have to be the same.