You can change your username, but only through your account provider, not inside the game

Genshin Impact does not have a built-in username change feature in the game itself. Your username is tied to whichever account system you used to sign in — miHoYo (now called HoYoverse), Google, Apple, PlayStation Network, or Xbox Live. To change your username, you log into that account provider's website or app, not Genshin Impact.

The process and what you can actually change depends on which account type you use. Some providers let you change your display name freely. Others let you change it only once, or not at all without creating a new account. A few let you change your username but keep your old one visible to other players.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Genshin Impact username lives on your account provider's system (HoYoverse, Google, Apple, PlayStation, or Xbox), not in the game itself.
  • HoYoverse accounts let you change your username once every 30 days through your account settings page.
  • Google and Apple accounts let you change your display name at any time, but other players may still see your old name in some places.
  • PlayStation and Xbox accounts require you to change your username through their own systems, which may have different rules or fees.
  • Changing your username does not affect your progress, characters, or items — only how your name appears to other players.

How to change your username on a HoYoverse account

If you created your Genshin Impact account directly through HoYoverse (formerly miHoYo), you can change your username through the HoYoverse website. Go to account.hoyoverse.com, sign in with your email and password, and look for "Account Settings" or "Profile Settings" in the left menu. You should see a field labeled "Nickname" — this is your in-game username.

Click the edit button next to your nickname, type your new name, and save. HoYoverse enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes, so you cannot change it again for a month. Your new username appears to other players the next time they load the game or refresh their friend list.

If you have linked your HoYoverse account to other platforms (like Google or PlayStation), changing your HoYoverse nickname changes it across all linked platforms.

Changing your username on Google or Apple accounts

If you signed up for Genshin Impact using Google or Apple, your display name comes from your Google or Apple account settings, not from HoYoverse. You can change it at any time through those providers' own account pages.

For Google: go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info" in the left menu, find "Name," and edit it. For Apple: go to appleid.apple.com, click "Personal Information," and edit your name there. Changes usually appear in Genshin Impact within a few minutes, though some cached displays may take longer to update.

One important note: other players may still see your old name in their friend lists or chat history for a while, because those displays are cached locally on their devices. The old name will eventually disappear once they restart the game or refresh their friends list.

Changing your username on PlayStation or Xbox accounts

If you linked your Genshin Impact account to PlayStation Network or Xbox Live, your username is controlled by those platforms, not by HoYoverse. You must change it through PlayStation's or Xbox's own account settings.

On PlayStation, go to your profile settings, find "Online ID," and follow the prompts to change it. Your first change is free; additional changes cost money. On Xbox, go to your profile, select "Customize profile," and change your gamertag. The first change is free; later changes also cost money. Both platforms may have restrictions on what characters or words you can use.

After you change your PlayStation or Xbox username, it can take a few hours for the change to sync into Genshin Impact. If it does not appear after a few hours, try signing out of the game completely and signing back in.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Your old username becomes available for someone else to use when ready (on HoYoverse accounts after the 30-day cooldown). Other players' cached displays of your old name will gradually update as they restart the game or refresh their friend lists. If you were in a Discord server or group chat where your username was mentioned, those messages will still show your old name — changing your username does not retroactively edit other people's messages.

Your account, characters, items, and progress remain exactly the same. The username change is purely cosmetic and does not affect gameplay or account security.

If you cannot change your username

If you see an error message when trying to change your username, the most common reasons are: you changed it within the last 30 days (HoYoverse only), you are using a character or word that the platform does not allow, or you are not signed into the correct account. Double-check that you are logged into the account provider's website, not just the game.

If you linked your account to multiple platforms and want to change your username, make sure you are changing it on the correct provider. For example, if you signed in with Google but later linked a PlayStation account, changing your PlayStation username will not change your display name in Genshin Impact unless you unlink Google and make PlayStation your primary login method.

Creating a new account if you want a completely different username

If you want a username that is very different from your current one and do not want to wait for cooldown periods, the only option is to create a new HoYoverse account or sign up with a different email address. This means starting the game from scratch — your characters, items, and progress on your old account will not transfer.

Before you do this, understand that you cannot merge accounts or move progress between them. If you have spent money on your current account, that money is tied to that account and cannot be moved. Most players find it easier to straightforward wait for the 30-day cooldown and change their username on their existing account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my username affect my friends' ability to find me?

Your friends can still find you by your user ID number, which never changes. However, if they search for your old username, it will not appear. They can still see you in their friends list under your new name. If you want to make sure friends can find you, give them your user ID (a number that appears on your profile) rather than your username.

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

Yes, but only after the 30-day cooldown has passed (on HoYoverse accounts). You can change your username to anything, including a previous name, as long as no one else has claimed it and you have waited the required time.

What if someone else took my old username?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If someone else claimed your old username after you changed it, you cannot get it back. You would need to choose a different username. This is why some players add numbers or special characters to their usernames — to make them harder for others to guess and claim.

Will my username change affect my Spiral Abyss rank or leaderboard position?

No. Leaderboards and rankings are tied to your account ID, not your username. Your position and rewards remain the same even after you change your display name.