Change Your Username Through the Epic Games Website

Your Fortnite username lives in your Epic Games account, not in the game itself, so you change it on the Epic Games website rather than inside Fortnite. Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in with the account connected to your Fortnite profile, and click your account name in the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu.

On the Account page, find the section labeled General on the left sidebar and click it. Look for the field that shows your current display name — this is what other players see in-game. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username, which can be 3 to 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed.

After you type the new name, Epic Games checks whether it is already taken. If the name is available, a green checkmark appears. Click Save to confirm the change. The new username takes effect when ready in Fortnite — you do not need to restart the game or your PC.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Fortnite username on the Epic Games website, not inside the game itself.
  • Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces.
  • The Epic Games website tells you when ready whether your chosen name is already taken by another player.
  • The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite without requiring a game restart or PC restart.
  • You can change your username as often as you want, though Epic Games may rate-limit very frequent changes.

What Happens If Your Chosen Name Is Already Taken

When you type a new username and Epic Games finds that another player already has it, the field shows a red X and the message "Display name is already taken." You cannot save a name that is already in use. Go back and try a different combination — adding a number at the end, using an underscore or hyphen, or choosing a different word entirely are common workarounds.

If you have your heart set on a specific name, there is no waitlist or reservation system. The only way to get that name is if the current owner stops playing Fortnite and Epic Games deletes their inactive account, which can take years. Most players find an alternative name that is close to what they wanted.

Changing Your Username on a Console or Mobile Device

The process is identical on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or mobile — you still go to the Epic Games website and change it there. Your Fortnite account is the same across all platforms, so changing your username on the website changes it everywhere you play. You do not need to change it separately on each device.

If you are playing on console, you may also have a console-specific username (your PlayStation Network name, Xbox Gamertag, or Nintendo Network ID). That is separate from your Fortnite username and does not change. Other players see your Fortnite username in the game, not your console username.

Troubleshooting: Username Change Does Not Appear In-Game

If you changed your username on the Epic Games website but the old name still shows in Fortnite, close the game completely and restart it. Sometimes Fortnite caches your old username in memory and does not refresh until you fully exit and relaunch. On PC, close Fortnite entirely — do not just minimize it — then open it again.

If the new name still does not appear after a restart, sign out of your Epic Games account within Fortnite and sign back in. Go to the main menu, select Settings, then Account, and choose Sign Out. Sign back in with your email and password. This forces Fortnite to pull your current account information from Epic Games servers.

Restrictions and Things to Know Before You Change

Epic Games does not allow usernames that impersonate other players, contain hate speech, or use slurs. If your chosen name violates these rules, the website will reject it. Usernames that are too similar to famous people or brands may also be rejected, though this is less common for generic names.

You can change your username as many times as you want, but Epic Games may slow down or block changes if you switch names extremely frequently in a short period — for example, changing it five times in one day. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeover. If you hit this limit, wait a few hours before trying again.

If You Forgot Your Epic Games Password

If you cannot sign into the Epic Games website to change your username, go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In. Below the password field, click Forgot your password? Enter the email address connected to your account. Epic Games sends a password reset link to that email — check your inbox and spam folder. Click the link, create a new password, and sign in again.

If you no longer have access to the email address on your account, you will need to contact Epic Games Support. Go to www.epicgames.com/help and click Contact Us. Describe the problem and provide any information you remember about the account — your old username, the game platform you play on, or any payment information if you have made purchases. Support can verify your identity and help you regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username back to what it was before?

Yes. If you changed your username and now want your old name back, go to the Epic Games website and change it again. The only limitation is if someone else claimed your old username in the meantime — then you would need to choose something different.

Does changing my username affect my V-Bucks, skins, or battle pass progress?

No. Your username is just the display name. All your V-Bucks, cosmetics, battle pass progress, and game statistics stay exactly the same. Changing your username does not reset anything or affect your account in any way except the name other players see.

What if I see a message saying I cannot change my username right now?

This usually means you have changed your username too many times in a short period and Epic Games has temporarily blocked further changes as a security measure. Wait several hours and try again. If the message persists after waiting, contact Epic Games Support through www.epicgames.com/help.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

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

If I change my username, will my friends still be able to find me?

Yes. Your friends list does not break when you change your username. They will see your new name the next time they log in, and they can still message and play with you. You remain on their friends list under your new name.