The quickest way to change your username on Switch

You change your Fortnite username through the Epic Games website, not through the Switch itself. Log into your Epic Games account on a computer or phone, go to your Account settings, find the Display Name section, and type in your new name. The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite on your Switch — you do not need to restart the game or your console.

Your Switch console has its own separate username (the profile name on your Switch home screen), but that is different from your Fortnite display name. Changing one does not change the other. Only the Epic Games display name shows up in Fortnite matches and on your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You must change your Fortnite username on the Epic Games website, not in the Switch settings or in the game itself.
  • Your Switch profile name and your Fortnite display name are separate — changing your Switch username will not change how you appear in Fortnite.
  • You can change your Fortnite username once every 30 days, and the new name takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play.
  • If your account is linked to a console-specific Nintendo account, you still log into Epic Games through that same account to make the change.

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

Open a web browser on any device 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 — this is the same account you use to play Fortnite on your Switch.

Once you are signed in, click your account name or profile icon in the top right corner and select Account. Look for the Display Name option on the left side menu (it may also be labeled as Username). Click Edit next to your current name, type in your new username, and click Save. Epic Games will confirm the change when ready.

The new name appears in Fortnite the next time you load the game on your Switch. You do not need to sign out, restart, or update anything — just launch Fortnite and your new display name will show in the lobby and during matches.

Rules for your new Fortnite username

Fortnite usernames can be 3 to 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed. Epic Games does not allow usernames that contain profanity, impersonation of real people or celebrities, or references to hate groups or violence.

You can change your display name once every 30 days. If you just changed it, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. This limit applies across all platforms — if you play Fortnite on PC, mobile, or PlayStation as well as Switch, changing your name on any platform counts toward the same 30-day timer.

What happens if your username is already taken

Fortnite allows multiple players to have the same display name, so you do not have to worry about someone else having claimed it first. Unlike some games, Fortnite does not require usernames to be unique. Two players can have the exact same display name and still play together.

If you type in a name and Epic Games rejects it, the reason is almost always that it violates the content policy — it contains profanity, impersonates someone, or includes other prohibited content. Try a different name that follows the rules above.

If your Switch is linked to a Nintendo account

When you set up Fortnite on Switch, you link your console to an Epic Games account. This Epic Games account is what you use to change your display name, regardless of whether your Switch profile is a child account, a guest account, or a standard Nintendo account.

If you have multiple profiles on your Switch, each one can be linked to a different Epic Games account. To change the username for a specific profile, sign into that profile's Epic Games account on the website and follow the steps above. The change only affects that profile's Fortnite display name.

Changing your Switch profile name versus your Fortnite name

Your Switch has a profile name that appears on the home screen and in your Switch settings. This is separate from your Fortnite display name. If you change your Switch profile name, it does not change your Fortnite username, and vice versa.

Other players in Fortnite see only your Fortnite display name, not your Switch profile name. If you want to change how you appear in the game, you must change your Epic Games display name through the website. Changing your Switch profile name is purely cosmetic for your console and does not affect Fortnite at all.

Troubleshooting: your new name is not showing up

If you changed your display name on the Epic Games website but it is still showing your old name in Fortnite, close the game completely and relaunch it. Sometimes the game needs to refresh to pull the updated name from Epic Games servers.

If the old name persists after relaunching, sign out of your Epic Games account on your Switch and sign back in. Go to your Switch home screen, open System Settings, select Users, choose your profile, and then select Link to Nintendo Account. Follow the prompts to re-authenticate your Epic Games account. This forces your Switch to sync with the latest account information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username more than once every 30 days?

No. Epic Games limits display name changes to once per 30 days. If you just changed your name, you will see the date when you can change it again when you visit the Display Name section on the Epic Games website. This timer is the same across all platforms.

Will changing my Fortnite username affect my V-Bucks or cosmetics?

No. Your V-Bucks, skins, emotes, and all other cosmetics are tied to your Epic Games account, not to your display name. Changing your username does not affect anything you own or your account progress.

What if I want to change my Switch profile name instead?

Go to your Switch home screen, open System Settings, select Users, choose your profile, and select Profile. Click Edit Profile and change the Nickname. This changes only how your profile appears on your Switch — it does not change your Fortnite display name.

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

No. Fortnite usernames can only contain letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). Emojis, accented characters, and other special symbols are not allowed.

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

No. Changing your display name does not affect your password or any other account security settings. Your password stays the same.