Change your username through your Epic Games account

Your Fortnite username lives in your Epic Games account, not on your Switch itself. This means you change it the same way whether you play on Switch, PlayStation, PC, or mobile — by logging into Epic Games online and editing your account settings. The Switch is just the device you play on; the username change happens in one place and shows up everywhere you play Fortnite.

You will need a computer or phone with a web browser to make this change, because the Switch does not have a built-in web browser. Once you change your username on the Epic Games website, it takes effect when ready in Fortnite on your Switch the next time you launch the game.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password linked to your Fortnite account — not your Nintendo Switch credentials.
  • Click your account icon in the top right, select Account, then choose Display Name to change your username.
  • Your new username appears in Fortnite as soon as you restart the game on your Switch.
  • You can change your username once every two weeks, and it must be between 3 and 16 characters with no spaces or special characters except underscores and hyphens.
  • If you do not remember your Epic Games password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the Epic Games login page to reset it.

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

Open a web browser on your computer or phone and go to www.epicgames.com. In the top right corner, you will see a sign-in button. Click it and enter the email address and password you use for your Epic Games account. This is the account connected to your Fortnite profile, not your Nintendo account.

Once you are signed in, click the account icon (usually your profile picture or initials) in the top right corner of the page. A dropdown menu will appear. Select Account from this menu. You will be taken to your account settings page.

On the account settings page, look for a section called General or Profile. Inside this section, find the field labeled Display Name. Click the pencil icon or edit button next to it. Type your new username into the text box. Remember that usernames must be 3 to 16 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens — no spaces or other symbols.

After you type your new username, click the Save or Confirm button. Epic Games will tell you whether the name is available. If someone else already has that username, you will need to choose a different one. Once the change is saved, close the browser and launch Fortnite on your Switch. Your new username will appear in the game.

What to do if you cannot remember your Epic Games password

If you try to sign in to www.epicgames.com and the password does not work, click the Forgot Password link on the login page. Enter the email address associated with your Epic Games account. Epic Games will send a password reset link to that email address.

Open the email and click the reset link. You will be taken to a page where you can create a new password. Make sure it is something you can remember, then save it somewhere safe. After you reset your password, you can sign back into Epic Games and change your display name as described above.

Limits on how often you can change your username

Epic Games allows you to change your display name once every two weeks. If you just changed your username recently, you will see a message on the display name page telling you when you can change it again. This two-week waiting period starts from the date of your last change, not from the beginning of the month.

If you made a typo or chose a name you do not like, you will have to wait until the two weeks are up before you can pick something different. Plan your username carefully so you do not waste your change on a mistake.

Why your Switch username and Fortnite username are different

Your Nintendo Switch has its own username that appears on your Switch profile and in other Switch games. Your Fortnite username is separate and comes from your Epic Games account. Changing one does not change the other. This is why you cannot change your Fortnite name through the Switch settings — it has to be done through Epic Games.

If you want to change your Switch username for other games or your Switch profile, that is a different process done through the Switch settings menu. But for Fortnite specifically, the change always happens on the Epic Games website.

What happens if your Epic Games account is not linked to your Switch

If you have never linked your Epic Games account to your Nintendo Switch, you will not see your Fortnite progress or cosmetics when you play on Switch. Before you change your username, make sure your accounts are connected. Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in, and look for a section called Connections or Connected Accounts. You should see Nintendo Switch listed there with a green checkmark.

If Nintendo Switch is not listed or does not have a checkmark, click the connect button next to it. You will be asked to sign in with your Nintendo account. Once the accounts are linked, your Fortnite progress will sync to your Switch, and any username change you make will show up there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new username to show up in Fortnite on Switch?

Your new username appears when ready after you restart Fortnite on your Switch. You do not need to wait or do anything else — just close the game completely and open it again. If you still see your old name, try restarting your Switch console itself.

Can I use spaces or special characters in my Fortnite username?

No. Your username can only contain letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), underscores (_), and hyphens (-). Spaces and other special characters like periods, commas, or symbols are not allowed. Your username must also be between 3 and 16 characters long.

What if the username I want is already taken?

You will see a message on the Epic Games website telling you the name is not available. You will need to choose a different username. Try adding numbers or an underscore to make it unique — for example, if "Shadow" is taken, you could try "Shadow_1" or "Shadow42".

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Changing your display name does not affect your password. Your password stays the same unless you choose to reset it separately. You only need your password to sign into your Epic Games account on the website.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends will see your new username in Fortnite, and they can still send you friend requests and messages. If they have you added as a friend, the friendship does not break when you change your name.