You can change your Fortnite username through your Epic Games account settings, and the process 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 a web browser, go to your Account settings, find the Display Name field, and save the new name. The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite and across all Epic Games services.

You can change your username once every 30 days. If you changed it recently and want to change it again, you'll need to wait until the 30-day window has passed. Epic Games enforces this cooldown to prevent abuse and keep usernames stable for friends and teammates.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Epic Games account at www.epicgames.com, not through Fortnite itself, to change your display name.
  • Navigate to Account settings, then select Display Name, type your new username, and click Save.
  • Your new username appears in Fortnite within seconds, but you can only change it once every 30 days.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot include spaces or special characters.
  • If your desired username is already taken, Epic Games will tell you when ready and you'll need to choose a different one.

Step-by-step process to change your display name

Open a web browser and go to www.epicgames.com. Click the Sign In button in the top right corner and enter the email address and password for your Epic Games account. If you use two-factor authentication, you'll need to enter the code from your authenticator app or email.

Once you're logged in, click your account name or avatar in the top right corner and select Account from the dropdown menu. On the Account page, click on the Display Name option in the left sidebar. You'll see a text field with your current username. Delete the old name, type your new one, and click the Save button. The change is when ready.

If you see an error message saying the username is unavailable, that name is already in use by another player. Try a different combination of letters, numbers, hyphens, or underscores. Epic Games will confirm when your new name is saved successfully.

Rules for what your new username can be

Fortnite usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, periods, commas, or other special characters. Usernames are not case-sensitive, so "Player123" and "player123" are treated as the same name.

Epic Games does not allow usernames that contain hate speech, slurs, or references to violence. If you try to save a name that violates their code of conduct, the system will reject it and ask you to choose something else. The rules explore equally to all players, regardless of region or account age.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Your old username becomes available for other players to use after you change it. If you want to keep that name reserved, you cannot — once you switch to a new display name, anyone else can claim the old one. This is why some players create a backup account if they want to hold onto a username they might return to later.

Your friends list, match history, and cosmetics (skins, emotes, pickaxes) all stay with your account. Changing your username does not reset your progress, delete your items, or affect your rank in any game mode. Only the name that appears above your character changes.

Troubleshooting if the change doesn't work

If you see a message that says you've already changed your username recently, you've hit the 30-day cooldown. Check the date you last changed it — you can change it again once 30 days have passed from that date. There is no way to bypass this limit, even if you contact Epic Games support.

If the Save button is greyed out or won't respond, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log out and log back in. If you're using an older browser, try a different one like Chrome or Firefox. If the problem persists, wait a few hours and try again — Epic Games servers occasionally have brief outages that prevent account changes.

If you forgot your Epic Games password, click the Forgot Password link on the sign-in page. Epic Games will send a reset link to the email address associated with your account. You must reset your password before you can change your username.

Changing your username on console or mobile

You cannot change your username directly from the Fortnite app on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or mobile devices. You must use a web browser and log into www.epicgames.com. Once you've changed it there, the new name syncs to all platforms within a few seconds.

If you're playing on console, make sure your console account is linked to your Epic Games account. If it's not linked, you won't be able to see or change your display name. Go to www.epicgames.com/account/connections to link your console account to Epic Games if you haven't already.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I'm banned or suspended?

No. If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot change your display name until the suspension is lifted. Contact Epic Games support if you believe your account was suspended by mistake.

What if someone else is using a username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If the name you want is taken, you cannot use it. You can try adding numbers or underscores to make a similar name, like "Player_123" instead of "Player123".

Does changing my username affect my rank or cosmetics?

No. Your rank, cosmetics, V-Bucks, and all progress stay with your account. Only the name displayed above your character changes.

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

The change is when ready. Your new username appears in Fortnite within seconds of saving it on the Epic Games website. If you're already in a match, you may need to restart the game to see the change reflected.

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but only if no one else has claimed it. After you change your username, your old name becomes available to other players. If someone else takes it, you cannot get it back.