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

Epic Games lets you change the username you use to log in, but there are limits. You can change it once every 14 days, and the new name must be between 3 and 16 characters long. It can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces or special characters. The change takes effect when ready after you save it.

Your display name — the one other players see in games — is separate from your login username. If you want to change how your name appears in Fortnite or other games, that's a different setting. This guide covers changing your actual login username.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Epic Games account on the website, go to Account Settings, then select Username to change your login name.
  • Your new username must be 3 to 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces.
  • You can only change your username once every 14 days, so the system will tell you when you're may be able to access again if you've changed it recently.
  • Changing your username does not affect your game progress, friends list, or any purchases you've made.
  • If you want to change how your name appears to other players in games, that's your display name, which you change in a different section of account settings.

Step-by-step: changing your login username

Start by going to www.epicgames.com and signing into your account. Click on your account icon in the top right corner — it's usually a small circle with your current username or initials. From the dropdown menu, select "Account".

On the Account page, look for the left sidebar menu. Click on "Username" (not Display Name). You'll see your current username displayed, and below it a text field where you can enter a new one. Type your new username into that field. Epic Games will check in real time whether the name is available — if it's taken, you'll see a red message telling you so.

Once you've entered a username that's available, click the "Change Username" button. The system will ask you to confirm by entering your password. Type it in and click "Confirm". Your new username is now active. You can use it to log in when ready.

What happens to your display name and game progress

Your login username and your display name are two separate things. Changing your login username does not change how your name appears to other players in Fortnite, Rocket League, or any other Epic Games title. If you want to change your display name — the one people see when you're playing — you need to go to a different part of your account settings.

To change your display name, go back to Account Settings and click on "Display Name" instead of Username. You can change this one as often as you want, with no 14-day waiting period. Your display name can be up to 16 characters and can include spaces, which your login username cannot.

Changing either your username or display name does not affect your game progress, your friends list, your V-Bucks balance, or any cosmetics or battle pass progress you own. Everything stays attached to your account.

The 14-day waiting period and what it means

Epic Games enforces a 14-day cooldown between username changes. This means once you change your username, you cannot change it again for 14 days. If you try to change it before that period is up, the Username page will show you a message saying when you'll be may be able to access to change it again.

The cooldown exists to prevent account takeovers and to keep the username system stable. If someone gains access to your account, this delay makes it harder for them to lock you out by changing your username repeatedly. It also prevents people from rapidly cycling through usernames to confuse other players or hide their activity.

If you change your username and when ready realize you made a typo or want something different, you'll have to wait the full 14 days before you can change it again. For this reason, it's worth double-checking your new username before you hit confirm.

Usernames you cannot use

Epic Games reserves certain usernames and blocks others. You cannot use a username that is already taken by another account. You also cannot use usernames that contain profanity, impersonate Epic Games staff, or violate the Epic Games Terms of Service.

The system will not let you use a username that is offensive or that mimics a well-known person or brand in a way designed to deceive. If you try to use a reserved or blocked name, the availability check will show red and tell you the name is unavailable. Try a different variation instead.

If you cannot remember your current username

Your username appears at the top of your Account page once you log in. If you've forgotten it and cannot log in, you can recover your account using your email address or phone number instead. Go to www.epicgames.com/account/forgot-password and follow the recovery steps. Once you've regained access, you can see your username on the Account page and change it if you want.

If you're locked out of your email address as well, contact Epic Games Support through their website. They can help you verify your identity and regain access to your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but only after 14 days have passed since your last change. If you changed your username and want to switch back, you'll need to wait until the cooldown expires. Then you can change it to your old username, as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime.

Does changing my username affect my Fortnite account or cosmetics?

No. Your username is just how you log in. All your game progress, skins, V-Bucks, battle pass progress, and friends list stay exactly the same. Other players will see your display name in games, not your login username, so changing your login name won't change how you appear in-game unless you also change your display name.

What if someone else took the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If the name you want is taken, you cannot use it. Try adding a number, underscore, or hyphen to make a variation. For example, if "Alex" is taken, you could try "Alex_2024" or "Alex-Gaming".

Can I change my username on mobile or console?

No. You must change your username through the Epic Games website on a computer or mobile browser. You cannot change it through the Fortnite app or console. Log into www.epicgames.com, go to Account Settings, and select Username.

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

Your new username takes effect when ready for logging in. It may take a few minutes to update across all Epic Games services and in-game, but usually it appears within seconds. If you're still seeing your old username somewhere after 10 minutes, try logging out and logging back in.