The quickest way: change it through the Epic Games website

You cannot change your Fortnite username directly from your Switch. Instead, you log into your Epic Games account on a computer or phone browser, go to your account settings, and change it there. The change takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play Fortnite, including Switch.

Here is the exact path: go to www.epicgames.com, click the account icon in the top right, select "Account", then click "General" on the left side. Look for the "Display Name" field — that is your Fortnite username. Click the pencil icon next to it, type your new name, and click "Save".

The new name appears in Fortnite the next time you launch the game on your Switch. You do not need to restart the console or sign out and back in, though some players report it helps to close the game completely and reopen it if the name does not update right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Fortnite username through the Epic Games website, not through the Switch itself or the Fortnite app.
  • Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in, click Account, then General, and edit the Display Name field.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all devices linked to that Epic Games account.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the new name cannot be the same as your old one.
  • If you play Fortnite on Switch without linking an Epic Games account, you cannot change your username at all.

What you need before you start

You must have an Epic Games account linked to your Switch. If you created your Fortnite account directly on the Switch without signing into Epic Games first, you have a problem — that account cannot change its username through the normal method.

To check whether your account is linked, go to your Switch home screen, open System Settings, select Users, pick your user, then select Linked Accounts. If you see "Epic Games" listed and it shows "Linked", you are ready to change your username. If it says "Not linked" or does not appear at all, you will need to link your account first before you can change the name.

Linking is free and takes a few minutes. Go to www.epicgames.com/signin on any browser, sign in with the email you used for Fortnite, then go to your Account settings and select Connections. Find Nintendo Switch, click Connect, and follow the prompts. Once linked, you can change your username through the Display Name field.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Epic Games enforces a rule: you can change your Fortnite username only once every 30 days. This means if you changed your name last week, you cannot change it again for another 23 days. The timer starts from the moment you save the new name, not from when you first tried to change it.

If you attempt to change your username before 30 days have passed, the website will show you a message saying when you will be able to change it next. There is no way around this limit — you cannot pay to skip it or contact Epic Games to reset it early.

Names that will not work

Epic Games rejects usernames that contain certain words, are shorter than three characters, or are longer than 16 characters. The system also blocks names that are already taken by another player or that match your previous username exactly.

If you try to save a name and it does not work, the website will tell you why — usually "that name is taken" or "that name contains invalid characters". Common reasons for rejection include spaces (the system does not allow them), numbers that look like letters (like using "0" instead of "O"), and words flagged as offensive or inappropriate.

You can use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed. If your desired name is taken, try adding a number at the end or using an underscore instead of a space.

What happens to your old username

When you change your Fortnite username, your old name becomes available for someone else to use after a short delay. You cannot reserve it or claim it back later. Your Battle Pass progress, V-Bucks, skins, and all other cosmetics stay with your account — only the display name changes.

Friends who had you added will still see you on their friends list, though your name will update to the new one. Your match history and stats remain tied to your account, so your kill-death ratio and wins do not reset.

If the change does not show up on your Switch

Sometimes the new username takes a few minutes to appear in Fortnite on your Switch, even though it shows correctly on the Epic Games website. The most reliable fix is to close Fortnite completely, wait 30 seconds, and reopen it.

If that does not work, sign out of your Epic Games account on the Switch and sign back in. Go to System Settings, Users, your user, Linked Accounts, and select Epic Games. Choose Unlink, then go back and link it again. This forces the Switch to sync with Epic Games servers and usually fixes display name delays.

If your username still does not update after relinking, restart your Switch entirely. Hold the power button for 10 seconds, select Power Options, then Restart. Once it boots back up, launch Fortnite and check again.

Changing your username without an Epic Games account

If you created your Fortnite account directly on the Switch without linking to Epic Games, you cannot change your username through the standard method. Your only option is to create a new Epic Games account, link it to your Switch, and start a new Fortnite account from scratch. This means losing all your cosmetics, V-Bucks, and progress.

To avoid this in the future, link your account to Epic Games as soon as you create it. This takes five minutes and protects your account from being locked to just one console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once in 30 days?

No. Epic Games allows one username change per 30-day period. The timer resets 30 days after you save your most recent change. There is no way to bypass this limit or pay to change it sooner.

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

Yes. Your friends list does not break when you change your username. Friends who had you added will still see you on their list, and your name will straightforward update to the new one. They do not need to re-add you.

What if someone took the username I want?

You will need to choose a different name. Try adding numbers, hyphens, or underscores to make it unique. You can also check if the name is available before you use your one monthly change by typing it into the Display Name field on the Epic Games website — it will tell you if it is taken.

Do I lose my skins and V-Bucks when I change my username?

No. Your cosmetics, V-Bucks, Battle Pass progress, and all other account items stay with your account. Only your display name changes. Everything else remains exactly as it was.

Why does my new username not show up in Fortnite yet?

The change usually appears within a few minutes, but sometimes it takes longer. Close Fortnite completely, wait 30 seconds, and reopen it. If it still does not show, sign out of your Epic Games account on the Switch and sign back in. Restarting your Switch entirely is the most reliable fix if the name still does not update.