The fastest way: change it 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 updating your display name there. The Switch is just the device you use to play; the account settings are separate.

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Fortnite. Once you are logged in, click your account name in the top right corner and select Account. Look for the section labeled General or Profile (the exact label varies). You will see a field for your display name — this is what other players see in-game. Type your new username there, then save the change.

The new name takes effect when ready in Fortnite. You do not need to restart the game or your Switch. If you are already playing when you make the change, you may need to restart Fortnite to see the new name appear in your profile, but other players will see it right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite username is stored in your Epic Games account online, not on your Switch, so you must change it through the Epic Games website.
  • Log into www.epicgames.com, go to Account settings, find the display name field, and save your new username.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play Fortnite, including Switch.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and Epic Games does not allow certain words or phrases in usernames.

What happens if you forget your Epic Games password

If you cannot remember the password for your Epic Games account, you will need to reset it before you can change your username. Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In. Below the password field, click Forgot your password? Enter the email address linked to your account, and Epic Games will send you a reset link.

Check your email (including spam and promotions folders) for a message from Epic Games. The reset link usually arrives within a few minutes. Click the link, create a new password, and then log back in to change your username. If you do not see an email after 10 minutes, try requesting the reset again or check that you are using the correct email address.

Restrictions on usernames and how often you can change

Epic Games does not allow you to change your username more than once every 30 days. If you changed it recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. This rule exists to prevent players from constantly switching names to avoid being recognized or reported.

Your username also cannot contain certain words, phrases, or patterns. Epic Games blocks profanity, hate speech, and references to real people or organizations that could cause harm. If you try to save a username and it is rejected, the website will tell you it violates the naming policy — try a different name. Usernames are also case-insensitive, meaning "Player123" and "player123" are treated as the same name.

Changing your display name versus your account name

Epic Games has two separate name fields that can be confusing: your display name (what players see in Fortnite) and your account name (the username you use to log into Epic Games). When you change your username in Fortnite, you are changing your display name. Your account name — the one you use to sign in — stays the same and cannot be changed.

If you want to change the email address or account name you use to log into Epic Games, that is a different process and requires contacting Epic Games support. For most players, changing the display name is what matters, because that is the name other players see and recognize.

Why the change might not show up when ready on your Switch

After you change your username on the Epic Games website, it should appear in Fortnite within a few minutes. On your Switch, you may need to close Fortnite completely and reopen it to see the new name in your profile. Restarting the game forces it to refresh your account information from Epic Games' servers.

If you still do not see the new name after restarting, try signing out of your Epic Games account on your Switch and signing back in. Go to your Switch settings, select Users, then Manage User Accounts, find your account, and select Link to Nintendo Account. This reconnects your Switch to your Epic Games account and pulls the latest information, including your new username.

What to do if your username is taken

Fortnite allows multiple players to have the same display name, so you do not have to worry about someone else "owning" the name you want. However, Epic Games will reject a name if it violates their naming policy or contains characters that are not allowed. Allowed characters include letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores.

If the name you want is rejected and you are not sure why, try removing any special characters or shortening it. If it is still rejected, the name likely contains a word or phrase that Epic Games has flagged. Try a variation — for example, if "Shadow" is rejected, try "Shadow123" or "ShadowX" instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my username on my Switch account itself?

No. Your Switch account name and your Fortnite username are separate. Changing your Fortnite name does not change your Switch profile name, and you do not need to change your Switch name for Fortnite to recognize the change. Only the Epic Games website controls your Fortnite username.

Will changing my 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 your username. Changing your display name does not touch any of your items or currency. Everything stays exactly where it is.

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

Yes, but only after 30 days have passed since your last change. If you changed your name yesterday and want to go back to your old name, you will have to wait until the 30-day window closes. After that, you can change it to anything, including your previous username.

What if I share my Switch with someone else?

Each person who plays Fortnite on your Switch needs their own Epic Games account linked to their own Switch user profile. If two people share a Switch but use the same Epic Games account, they will both see the same username and cosmetics. To have separate usernames, each person must have their own Epic Games account and their own Switch user profile.

Does changing my username on Switch change it on other platforms?

Yes. Your Fortnite username is the same across all platforms — Switch, PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and mobile. When you change it on the Epic Games website, it changes everywhere you play Fortnite. You do not have to make the change separately on each device.