Change your username through the Epic Games website

Your Fortnite username lives in your Epic Games account, not in the game itself, so you change it on the Epic Games website rather than in-game. Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in with the email and password you use for Fortnite, and look for "Account" in the top right corner. Click it, then select "Personal Info" from the menu on the left side.

On the Personal Info page, you'll see a field labeled "Display Name" — this is your Fortnite username that other players see. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username (it can be up to 16 characters and include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores), then click "Save". The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite.

If the name you want is already taken, the website will tell you right away. You'll need to choose something different — there's no waiting list or reservation system. Try adding numbers or underscores to a name you like if your first choice isn't available.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite username is stored in your Epic Games account and changed on the Epic Games website, not in the game.
  • Go to epicgames.com, sign in, click Account, then Personal Info, and edit the Display Name field.
  • Usernames can be up to 16 characters and include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
  • The change appears in Fortnite when ready after you save it on the website.
  • If your chosen name is taken, you must pick a different one — there is no way to reserve a name.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to use. Your friends list and match history stay attached to your account — changing the name doesn't reset your progress or separate you from people you've played with. They'll just see your new name the next time they load the game.

If you're worried about being found by someone, changing your username won't hide your account. Your account ID (a long number Epic Games assigns) stays the same, and anyone who knows it can still find you. The username change is purely cosmetic from a privacy standpoint.

How often you can change your username

Epic Games does not limit how often you change your display name. You can change it as many times as you want, and each change takes effect when ready. There is no cooldown period or fee — it's free every time.

The only constraint is that you can't use a name that's already taken by another player. If you change your mind about a new username and want to go back to an old one, you can do that only if nobody else has claimed it in the meantime.

Troubleshooting: name won't save or shows an error

If you see an error when you try to save a new username, the most common reason is that the name contains a character Epic Games doesn't allow. Stick to letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). Spaces, special characters like @, #, or !, and accented letters usually cause the save to fail.

If the name is all valid characters but still won't save, try signing out of the Epic Games website completely, closing your browser, and signing back in. Sometimes a stale session prevents the change from going through. If it still doesn't work after that, wait a few minutes and try again — Epic Games servers occasionally have brief delays.

Make sure you're signed into the correct Epic Games account. If you have multiple accounts linked to different emails, you might be editing the wrong one. Check the email address shown at the top of the page to confirm you're in the right account.

Changing your username on console or mobile

You cannot change your username directly from the Fortnite app on your phone, tablet, or console. You must use the Epic Games website on a computer or mobile web browser. Open a browser, go to epicgames.com, and follow the steps above — the website works the same way on any device.

After you change your username on the website, launch Fortnite on your console or phone and the new name will appear. You don't need to do anything in the game itself — it pulls the updated name from your Epic Games account automatically.

Linking your account if you can't sign in

If you can't remember your Epic Games password or don't have access to the email you signed up with, you'll need to reset your password before you can change your username. Go to www.epicgames.com, click "Sign In", then click "Forgot password?" at the bottom. Epic Games will send a reset link to your registered email address.

If you no longer have access to that email, you can link a different email address to your account. On the Epic Games website, go to Account > Connections, and look for email options. You can add a new email and set it as your primary contact. After that, you'll be able to sign in and change your username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my username affect my V-Bucks or cosmetics?

No. Your V-Bucks, skins, emotes, and all other cosmetics stay with your account. Changing your username is purely cosmetic — it only changes what other players see your name as. Everything you own remains yours.

Can I change my username back to one I used before?

Only if nobody else has claimed it. Once you change away from a username, it becomes available to other players. If someone else has taken it, you'll need to choose a different name. If it's still unclaimed, you can use it again.

Will my friends still see me after I change my name?

Yes. Your friends list doesn't change, and your friends will see your new username the next time they load Fortnite. You stay friends — only your display name updates.

What if I see a username I want but it says it's taken?

That name belongs to another player. You cannot reserve a name or request that someone else change theirs. Try a variation with numbers or underscores, or pick a different name altogether.

Can I use spaces or special characters in my username?

No. Fortnite usernames accept only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces, @, #, !, and other special characters will cause an error when you try to save.