The quickest way to change your Epic username on Xbox
You change your Epic Games username through the Epic Games website, not through Xbox itself. Log into your Epic Games account at www.epicgames.com, go to your Account settings, find the Display Name field under your profile, and save the change. The new name appears on Xbox within a few minutes. You do not need to unlink or relink your Xbox account — the change syncs automatically once you save it on Epic's side.
Your Epic display name is what shows up to other players in Fortnite, Rocket League, and other Epic games you play on Xbox. Your Xbox gamertag stays the same; only the Epic name changes. If you have never linked your Xbox account to Epic Games, you will need to do that first before you can change the display name.
Key Takeaways
- Changes happen on the Epic Games website, not in Xbox settings or in-game menus.
- Your new Epic display name shows up in Fortnite and other Epic games within minutes of saving the change.
- You can change your display name once every 30 days; Epic enforces this limit to prevent impersonation.
- If your desired name is taken, Epic will tell you when ready and you can try a different one.
- Your Xbox gamertag and your Epic display name are separate and do not have to match.
Step-by-step: changing your display name on the Epic website
Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password for your Epic Games account. If you are already logged in on your browser, you may skip this step.
Click your account icon in the top right corner and select Account. On the left side of the page, click on Account Info. Find the Display Name field — this is the name other players see, not your email address. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit.
Type your new display name and click Save. Epic will check whether the name is available. If it is taken, you will see a message saying so, and you can try a different name. If it is available, the change saves when ready. The new name will appear in your Epic games on Xbox within a few minutes.
Why you might see your old name for a while
Sometimes your old Epic display name lingers in Fortnite or other games for a short time after you change it. This happens because the game client caches your name locally — it stores a copy on your Xbox to load faster. Restarting the game usually fixes this. Close Fortnite completely, wait 10 seconds, and open it again.
If you still see the old name after restarting, restart your Xbox console itself. Power it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears the cached data and forces the console to fetch your current Epic profile information from the server.
The 30-day waiting period between changes
Epic Games limits display name changes to once every 30 days. This rule exists to prevent players from impersonating others or evading bans by constantly switching names. If you try to change your name before 30 days have passed since your last change, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again.
The 30-day timer starts from the moment you save a new display name, not from when you click the edit button. If you change your mind while editing but before you save, no timer starts.
What happens if your desired name is unavailable
Epic shows you when ready whether a name is taken. If it is, you have two options: try a different name, or wait to see if the person using it stops playing. Epic does not reserve inactive names, so if someone has not logged in for a very long time, their name may eventually become available — but there is no way to know when or to request that Epic release it.
Many players add numbers, underscores, or short words to their preferred name to make it unique. For example, if "Shadow" is taken, you might try "Shadow_2024" or "ShadowX". Epic allows most characters, but spaces and special characters like @ or # are not permitted.
Linking your Xbox account to Epic Games if you have not already
If you play Fortnite on Xbox but have never connected your Xbox account to Epic Games, you need to do that before you can change your display name. Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in, and click your account icon. Select Connections. Find Xbox Live in the list and click Connect. You will be asked to sign in with your Xbox account credentials. Approve the connection, and your Xbox account is now linked to your Epic Games account.
Once linked, your Epic display name will show up in Fortnite on Xbox. If you already have an Epic account with a display name, that name will be the one that appears. If you created your Epic account through Xbox without setting a display name, Epic will assign you a default one based on your Xbox gamertag, and you can change it using the steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my Epic display name affect my Xbox gamertag?
No. Your Xbox gamertag and your Epic display name are completely separate. Changing one does not change the other. Other players see your Epic name in Fortnite and your Xbox gamertag in Xbox Live parties and on your Xbox profile.
Can I change my Epic display name more than once a month?
No. Epic enforces a 30-day waiting period between changes. If you try to change your name before 30 days have passed since your last change, the website will show you the exact date you can change it again.
What if I see my old name in Fortnite after I change it?
Restart Fortnite first. If the old name still appears, restart your Xbox console completely. This clears the cached name data and forces your console to fetch your current Epic profile from the server.
Can I use spaces or special characters in my Epic display name?
You can use letters, numbers, and underscores. Spaces, @, #, and most other special characters are not allowed. Epic will tell you if your chosen name contains characters it does not accept.
What if the name I want is taken?
Try a variation — add numbers, an underscore, or a short word. There is no way to request that Epic release an inactive player's name, but names do become available if players stop playing for extended periods.