Change Your Fortnite Username Through the Epic Games Website

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, Xbox, or PC — 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 takes effect everywhere you play Fortnite.

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password connected to your Fortnite account. Once you are logged in, look for your account icon in the top right corner and click it. Select Account from the dropdown menu. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options — click General. Your current display name appears on this page. Click the pencil icon or Edit button next to your display name to change it.

Type your new username into the text box. Epic Games has rules: your username must be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but cannot have spaces. The system will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or breaks the rules. Once you enter a name that works, click Save or Confirm. The change takes effect right away — the next time you launch Fortnite on your Switch, you will see the new name.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Fortnite username on the Epic Games website, not through your Switch settings or the Fortnite app itself.
  • Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play Fortnite, including your Switch.
  • If the name you want is taken, the website will tell you right away so you can try a different one.

What Happens If You Forget Your Epic Games Password

If you cannot remember the password to 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 Password. Enter the email address connected to your account. Epic Games will send you a link to reset your password — check your email inbox and spam folder.

Click the link in the email and create a new password. Make it something you can remember this time, or write it down somewhere safe. Once you have reset your password, sign back in to your Epic Games account and follow the steps above to change your username.

Linking Your Switch Account to Epic Games If It Is Not Already Connected

Before you can change your Fortnite username, your Nintendo Switch account must be linked to your Epic Games account. If you created your Fortnite account directly on the Switch without linking it, you may not be able to change the username from the website. To check if your accounts are linked, go to www.epicgames.com, sign in, and look at your Connections page under Account settings. If Nintendo Switch does not appear in the list, you need to link them.

On your Switch, open Fortnite and go to the main menu. Select your profile icon in the top right corner, then choose Settings. Scroll down and look for Connections or Link Accounts. Select Nintendo Switch or Connect next to the Nintendo option. The Switch will prompt you to sign in to your Epic Games account. Enter your email and password, then confirm the link. Once linked, you can change your username from the Epic Games website.

Why Your New Username Might Not Show Up Right Away on Your Switch

Sometimes your Switch continues to show your old username for a few minutes after you change it on the Epic Games website. This is normal — it just means the Switch has not refreshed its connection to your account yet. Close Fortnite completely and reopen it. If the new name still does not appear, restart your Switch entirely. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Launch Fortnite again and your new username should display.

If you still see the old name after restarting, sign out of your Epic Games account on the Switch and sign back in. Go to your Switch home screen, open System Settings, select Users, choose your user account, and look for Link to Nintendo Account or account connection options. Sign out and sign back in to force a full refresh. This almost always fixes the display issue.

Changing Your Display Name Versus Your Account Email

The display name is what other players see when you play Fortnite — this is what you change on the Epic Games website. Your account email is different. It is the login credential you use to sign into Epic Games and is not visible to other players. If you need to change your email address instead of your username, that is a separate process done in the Email section of your account settings, not the General section where you change your display name.

Make sure you are editing the right field. If you want other players to see a different name in Fortnite, change your display name. If you want to use a different email to log into your Epic Games account, change your email address. Both changes happen on the Epic Games website, but in different places.

What to Do If Your Desired Username Is Already Taken

Fortnite usernames must be unique — no two players can have the exact same display name. If you try to save a username and the website says it is already taken, you will need to choose something different. Try adding a number to the end, using an underscore or hyphen, or spelling it slightly differently. For example, if "ShadowKnight" is taken, you could try "ShadowKnight1", "Shadow_Knight", or "ShadowKnight22".

Keep in mind that usernames are case-insensitive in Fortnite, so "shadowknight" and "ShadowKnight" are considered the same name. The website will suggest variations or let you know when ready if a name is available. You can try as many names as you want until you find one that is not taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username on the Switch itself without going to the Epic Games website?

No. The Switch does not have a built-in option to change your Fortnite username. You must go to www.epicgames.com, sign in to your account, and change it through the website. The change will then appear on your Switch the next time you launch Fortnite.

How many times can I change my username?

Epic Games allows you to change your display name as often as you want. There is no limit on how many times you can do it or how long you must wait between changes. You can change it again when ready after your first change if you want.

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

No. Your username is just what other players see. Your account progress, V-Bucks, skins, and everything else you own stays exactly the same. Changing your username does not reset your account or lose any of your items.

What if I change my username and then want to change it back?

You can change your username back to whatever it was before. There is no restriction on going back to an old username, and you can do it when ready. Just follow the same steps on the Epic Games website.

Does my Nintendo Switch username need to match my Fortnite username?

No. Your Nintendo Switch username and your Fortnite username are completely separate. You can have any Switch username you want and any Fortnite username you want, and they do not have to be the same. Only your Fortnite username shows to other Fortnite players.