You can change your Fortnite username through the Epic Games website, and it takes about five minutes

Your Fortnite username is tied to your Epic Games account, not to the game itself. To change it, you log into your Epic Games account on the web, go to your Account settings, find the Display Name field, and save the new name. The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite and everywhere else you use that Epic Games account.

You get one free username change. After that, each change costs 1,000 V-Bucks — the in-game currency you buy with real money. If you have never changed your username before, your first change is free, so this is the time to get it right if you want to avoid spending money later.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to www.epicgames.com, sign into your account, and click Account in the top right to reach your settings.
  • Your first username change is free; every change after that costs 1,000 V-Bucks.
  • The new username shows up in Fortnite and on your Epic Games profile right away.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot contain spaces or special characters.
  • If someone else has already taken the name you want, you will need to pick a different one — Epic Games does not hold names for you.

Step-by-step: changing your display name on Epic Games

Start by opening a web browser and going to www.epicgames.com. Click the person icon in the top right corner of the page and select "Account" from the menu that appears. You will be asked to sign in if you are not already logged in — use the same email and password you use for Fortnite.

Once you are in your account, look for the "General" tab on the left side of the page. Under General, you will see a field labeled "Display Name." Click on that field, delete your current username, and type in the new one you want. After you type it, click "Save" — the button appears right below the text box.

Epic Games will tell you right away if the name is taken or if it breaks the rules (too short, too long, contains banned words). If the name is available, the save goes through and your new username appears in Fortnite within seconds. You do not need to restart the game or log out and back in.

What names are allowed and what are not

Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters (A–Z, a–z) and numbers (0–9). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, underscores, or any special characters like @, #, or &. Epic Games also blocks usernames that contain profanity or impersonate real people or brands.

If you try to save a name that breaks these rules, the Epic Games website will show you an error message and tell you what is wrong. The most common reason a name gets rejected is that someone else already has it. Epic Games does not reserve names or put them on a waiting list, so if you see the message "This display name is already taken," you will need to choose something different.

The cost of changing your username more than once

Your first username change is free. This applies whether you have never changed your name or you changed it years ago — you get one free change per account. After you use that free change, every additional change costs 1,000 V-Bucks.

V-Bucks are Fortnite's premium currency, and you buy them with real money. The price varies slightly by region, but 1,000 V-Bucks typically costs around $10 USD. If you are not sure whether you have already used your free change, you can check by going to your account settings and trying to change your name — if it is free, the page will say so. If it costs V-Bucks, you have already used your free change.

Why you might want to change your username

People change their Fortnite username for different reasons. You might have picked a name when you were younger and want something more mature now. You might want a name that matches your username on other games or streaming platforms so your friends can find you more easily. Or you might want to distance yourself from a username you no longer like.

Whatever your reason, remember that changing your username does not affect your account security, your V-Bucks, your cosmetics, or your Battle Pass progress. Everything stays the same — only the name that other players see changes.

What happens to your old username after you change it

When you change your username, your old name becomes available for someone else to use. Epic Games does not hold old usernames or let you reserve them. If you change from "Player123" to "NewName456," someone else can when ready claim "Player123" if they want it.

This matters if you are worried about impersonation. If you change your name and someone takes your old name, they could potentially confuse your friends or make it look like they are you. There is no way to prevent this — it is just how the system works. If you are concerned about this, you might want to tell your friends your new username before you make the change.

Troubleshooting: what to do if your change does not work

If you click Save and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, first check that you are signed into the correct Epic Games account. If you have multiple accounts, it is straightforward to sign into the wrong one by accident. Sign out completely and sign back in to make sure.

If you are still having trouble, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. Sometimes old data stored in your browser can interfere with the save. If the problem continues after that, you can contact Epic Games support through their website — go to www.epicgames.com/help and click "Contact Us" to open a ticket. Support usually responds within 24 to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but only if no one else has claimed it. Since old usernames become available when ready after you change them, someone may have taken yours. If it is still unclaimed, you can change back to it, but you will have to pay 1,000 V-Bucks unless it is your first change overall.

Does changing my username affect my friends list or my cosmetics?

No. Your friends will still see you in their friends list, and your skins, emotes, and other cosmetics stay with your account. Only the name that appears above your character in the game changes.

How long does it take for the new username to show up in Fortnite?

It usually shows up within seconds. If you are already in a match when you change it, you may need to restart Fortnite to see the new name in the game, but the change is live on the Epic Games website right away.

What if the username I want is taken?

You will need to pick a different name. Epic Games does not have a waitlist or reservation system for usernames. If you really want a specific name, you can check back occasionally to see if the person using it has abandoned their account, but there is no way to know when or if that will happen.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Fortnite usernames can only contain letters (A–Z, a–z) and numbers (0–9). Spaces, hyphens, underscores, and special characters like @, #, or & are not allowed.