Where to change your username

You change your Minecraft username through the official Minecraft Launcher, not through the game itself or any third-party site. The launcher is the program you use to start the game — it's what opens when you click the Minecraft icon on your computer.

The process is different depending on whether you own a Java Edition account (the original PC version) or a Bedrock Edition account (the newer cross-platform version). Both are free to change, but the steps and the rules about how often you can change differ between them.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition lets you change your username once every 30 days through the Minecraft Launcher by going to your account settings.
  • Bedrock Edition uses your Microsoft account name, which you change through Microsoft's account settings, not through Minecraft itself.
  • Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days if you don't change back to it.
  • Changing your username does not affect your worlds, skins, or anything else you own in the game — only the name other players see.

How to change a Java Edition username

Open the Minecraft Launcher and sign in with your account. Click on the account icon in the top right corner (it looks like a person's head), then select "Preferences" or "Account" depending on your launcher version. You should see a section labeled "Name" or "Username" with your current name displayed.

Click the button next to your username that says "Change" or shows an edit icon. Type your new username — it can be 3 to 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores. Click "Change Name" to confirm. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in multiplayer servers.

You can change your Java Edition username once every 30 days. If you change your mind within that window, you can change it back, but you'll still have to wait 30 days before changing it again. After 30 days from when you change it, your old username becomes available for another player to claim.

How to change a Bedrock Edition username

Bedrock Edition is tied to your Microsoft account, so you don't change your username inside Minecraft. Instead, you change your Microsoft account's display name, and that change shows up in Bedrock Edition automatically.

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Bedrock game. Click on "Your info" or "Profile" in the left menu. Find the section that says "Microsoft account name" or "Display name" and click "Edit name" or the edit icon next to it. Type your new name and save the change. It may take a few minutes to show up in the game.

Microsoft allows you to change your display name once every 30 days as well. Unlike Java Edition, your Bedrock username is not separate from your Microsoft account name — they are the same thing.

What stays the same after you change your username

Your worlds, skins, achievements, and everything else you own in Minecraft stays exactly as it is. The username change only affects the name that appears above your character when other players see you in multiplayer. Your friends list, your inventory, and your game progress are all tied to your account, not to your username.

If you're playing on a server or realm with other people, they'll see your new name the next time you log in. Old chat messages or signs with your old name won't update — those stay as they were written.

If you want to use a name someone else has

If the username you want is already taken, you have to wait for that player to either change their name or for their account to become inactive. Minecraft doesn't have a public list of when usernames will become available, and there's no way to reserve a name in advance.

Some players monitor inactive accounts and change to a desired username the moment it becomes available. If you're looking for a specific name, you may be competing with others who want it too. There's no official way to claim a name — it goes to whoever changes to it first.

Changing your username on different devices

If you play Bedrock Edition on multiple devices — a phone, tablet, console, or Windows PC — your username change applies to all of them automatically because they all use the same Microsoft account. You only need to change it once.

If you play Java Edition on multiple computers, the change applies to your account everywhere, but you may need to restart the launcher on each device for it to show up. The change is stored on Mojang's servers, not on your computer, so logging in from a different device will show your new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition enforce a 30-day waiting period between changes. If you change your name and want to change it again, you must wait 30 days from the date of your last change.

What happens to my old username after I change it?

Your old username becomes available for another player to claim after 30 days. If you change your mind within that window, you can change back to your old name without waiting, but you'll still be locked into the 30-day cooldown for your next change.

Do I lose my worlds or progress if I change my username?

No. Your worlds, skins, achievements, and everything tied to your account stays with you. Only the name that appears to other players changes.

Why is my new username not showing up in multiplayer?

Changes can take a few minutes to sync across Minecraft's servers. Try restarting the launcher or logging out and back in. If it still doesn't show after 10 minutes, restart the game entirely.

Can I change my username on a console version of Minecraft?

On Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox, your username is your console account name. You change it through your console's system settings, not through Minecraft itself. The change will show up in Bedrock Edition once you restart the game.