You can change your Epic Games username once every 14 days through your account settings

Log into your Epic Games account on the website or through the launcher, go to your Account settings, and select "Display Name" from the left menu. Type your new username — it must be between 3 and 16 characters, use only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot match another player's name. Click "Change Display Name" and confirm the change. The new name takes effect when ready in most games, though some titles may take a few hours to sync.

Epic Games enforces a 14-day waiting period between username changes. If you changed your name recently, you will see a countdown timer showing when you can change it again. This limit exists to prevent account takeovers and reduce impersonation.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name must be 3 to 16 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
  • You can change your username once every 14 days, and Epic Games shows you a countdown if you have recently made a change.
  • The change happens when ready in most games, though some titles may need a few hours to update across their servers.
  • If your desired name is already taken, you will need to choose a different one — Epic Games does not hold names in reserve.

Where to find the display name setting

Open your web browser and go to www.epicgames.com, then sign in with your email and password. Click your account icon in the top right corner and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with options like "Personal," "Password," and "Connections." Click "Personal" to expand it, then select "Display Name."

If you prefer to change it through the Epic Games Launcher on your computer, click your account icon in the top right of the launcher window, select "Account," and follow the same path to "Personal" and "Display Name." The process is identical either way.

What names Epic Games will not allow

Your new username cannot contain spaces, special characters beyond hyphens and underscores, or profanity. Epic Games also blocks names that impersonate staff members, famous people, or other well-known accounts — for example, you cannot use "EpicGames" or "TimSweeny" (the CEO's name). Names that are already in use by another player will be rejected when ready when you try to save.

If your chosen name is flagged as inappropriate, you will see an error message explaining why. Common reasons include slurs, sexual content, or references to violence. You will need to pick a different name and try again.

What happens if you forget your password

If you cannot log into your Epic Games account to change your username, go to www.epicgames.com and click "Sign In," then select "Forgot Password?" at the bottom of the login box. Enter your email address, and Epic Games will send you a password reset link. Check your inbox and spam folder — the email usually arrives within a few minutes.

Click the link in the email, create a new password, and sign back in. Once you are logged in, you can navigate to your display name settings as described above. If you do not receive a reset email after 10 minutes, check that you are using the correct email address associated with your account.

How the 14-day cooldown works

The first time you change your username, a 14-day timer starts. You cannot make another change until that timer reaches zero. If you try to change your name before the 14 days are up, you will see a message showing exactly how many days and hours remain.

This cooldown applies to each account separately. If you have multiple Epic Games accounts, each one has its own 14-day timer. The timer does not reset if you change your mind — once you confirm a new name, you must wait the full 14 days before changing again, even if you want to revert to your old name.

Why your new name might not show up when ready in games

Most games that use Epic Games accounts — such as Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys — update your display name within a few minutes. However, some games cache player information on their own servers, which means your new name may not appear to other players for several hours. Your own game client usually shows the new name right away, but friends and opponents might still see your old name for a short time.

If your new name does not appear after 24 hours, try signing out of the game completely and signing back in. This forces the game to fetch your latest account information from Epic Games' servers. If the problem persists, check the game's support page or contact Epic Games support through your account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once every 14 days?

No. Epic Games enforces a strict 14-day cooldown between changes. You cannot pay to bypass this limit or request an exception. Once the 14 days have passed, you can change your name again.

What if someone else takes the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If another player has already claimed the name you want, it will not be available. You will need to choose a different name. Epic Games does not hold names in reserve or allow you to "claim" a name for later use.

Will changing my username affect my game progress or cosmetics?

No. Your username is just a display name. All your game progress, cosmetics, V-Bucks, and other account data remain exactly the same. Only the name that appears to other players changes.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. Epic Games only allows letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). Spaces and any other special characters will be rejected.

What should I do if I see someone using my old username?

Once you change your username, your old name becomes available for other players to claim. If you see someone using it, you cannot reclaim it. If you believe the account is impersonating you, report it through the game's reporting system or contact Epic Games support with details.