Where to change your username

You change your Minecraft Java Edition username through your Microsoft account, not through the game itself. This is because Microsoft bought Minecraft in 2014 and now manages all player accounts through their system. The username you see in-game is pulled directly from your Microsoft account profile, so changing it there changes it everywhere.

You do not need to own the game twice, pay a fee, or use a third-party tool. The change happens in one place and takes effect the next time you launch the game. If you have never signed into your Java Edition copy with a Microsoft account, you will need to migrate your old Minecraft account first — that is a separate one-time step covered in the FAQ below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Minecraft Java Edition username lives in your Microsoft account profile, not in the game launcher.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the change takes effect the next time you start the game.
  • The name you choose must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be taken by another player.
  • If you have not linked your old Minecraft account to Microsoft, you must do that first before you can change your username.
  • Changing your username does not affect your game progress, worlds, or items — those stay with your account.

Step-by-step: changing your username on the Microsoft website

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the Microsoft account that is linked to your Minecraft Java Edition copy. If you are not sure whether you are signed in, look at the top right corner — you should see your account name or a profile picture.

Once you are signed in, look for Your Info in the left sidebar menu. Click it. On the page that opens, you will see your current display name near the top. Click the blue Edit name button next to it. A text box will appear where you can type your new username.

Type the new name you want. Remember: it must be 3 to 16 characters long, use only letters (a–z, A–Z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_), and cannot already belong to another player. Once you have typed it, click Next. Microsoft will tell you whether the name is available. If it is taken, try a different one. If it is available, click Save or Confirm depending on what the page shows.

The change takes effect when ready on the Microsoft website, but the game will not show the new name until you close Minecraft completely and launch it again. You will not need to re-enter your password or restart your computer.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days. During those 30 days, nobody else can use it, but you cannot change back to it either. This is why you should be certain about your new name before you confirm the change.

Your game progress, worlds, skins, and items all stay with your account. Changing your username does not erase anything or move your data elsewhere. Friends who had you added under your old name will still see you in their friends list, though your name will update to the new one the next time they launch the game.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Microsoft enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. This means if you change your name today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. The timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when the game updates to show it.

If you made a typo or regret your choice, you will have to wait the full 30 days before you can try again. For this reason, many players test out a name by searching for it on the Minecraft launcher or a player search website before they commit to the change.

Troubleshooting: name change did not show up in-game

If you changed your username on the Microsoft website but the game still shows your old name, the most common fix is to close the game completely and launch it again. Do not just log out in the launcher — close the entire process. Then open Minecraft Java Edition and sign in again. The new name should appear.

If the new name still does not show after a full restart, check that you are signed into the launcher with the same Microsoft account you used to make the change. Look at the top right of the launcher window. If you see a different account name, click it and sign in with the correct Microsoft account. Then launch the game.

If you are certain you are using the right account and the name still has not changed after 10 minutes, wait a bit longer — Microsoft's servers sometimes take a few minutes to sync the change across all their systems. If it has been more than an hour, sign out of the launcher completely, close it, wait 5 minutes, and sign back in.

Changing your username on console or Bedrock Edition

This guide covers Java Edition only. If you play Minecraft on a console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) or on Windows 10/11 through the Microsoft Store, you are using Bedrock Edition, which has a different process. Bedrock usernames are tied to your Xbox Live gamertag, not to a separate Minecraft profile, so the steps are different.

For Bedrock Edition, you would change your Xbox Live gamertag through your Xbox or Microsoft account settings, and that change would show up in Bedrock automatically. Java Edition does not use your Xbox gamertag — it uses the display name in your Microsoft account profile — so the two processes are separate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to migrate my old Minecraft account to Microsoft before I can change my username?

Yes. If you created your Minecraft account before Microsoft bought the game and have never signed into Java Edition with a Microsoft account, you must migrate first. You can do this for free through the Minecraft launcher. The launcher will prompt you to migrate if you have not already. After migration, your old username becomes your new Microsoft display name, and then you can change it using the steps above.

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

Not when ready. After you change your username, the old one enters a 30-day holding period. You cannot claim it again during those 30 days, and you cannot change your username again until 30 days have passed. After 30 days, the old name becomes available to anyone, including you, but by then someone else may have taken it.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list and multiplayer history stay with your account. Friends who added you under your old name will still see you in their friends list, and your new username will show up the next time they launch the game. You can also still join servers and worlds you were part of before the change.

What if the username I want is already taken?

You will need to choose a different name. Microsoft will tell you during the change process whether a name is available. You can try adding numbers or underscores to make a variation of the name you want, or pick something entirely different. There is no way to reserve a name or put yourself on a waiting list if it is taken.

Does changing my username cost money?

No. Changing your display name through your Microsoft account is free. You do not need to buy anything, use a third-party service, or pay Minecraft directly. The only cost is your time to make the change.