Where to change your username

You change your Minecraft Java Edition username through the Minecraft Launcher, not through the game itself. The launcher is the program you open before the game starts — it shows your profile picture and the play button. If you play Minecraft Bedrock Edition (the version from the Microsoft Store), you change your username through your Microsoft account settings instead, which is a different process covered below.

Your username is separate from your Microsoft account email. You can have a Microsoft account with an email like sarah.jones@outlook.com but display the username "SarahGaming" in Minecraft. Changing one does not change the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition usernames are changed in the Minecraft Launcher under your profile settings, and the change takes effect when ready in single-player and on servers.
  • Bedrock Edition usernames are changed through your Microsoft account settings, not the game launcher.
  • You can change your Java Edition username once every 30 days, and old usernames become available for others to claim after 37 days of non-use.
  • Changing your username does not affect your game progress, worlds, or items — those stay tied to your account.
  • If you forget your Microsoft password, you will need to reset it through account.microsoft.com before you can change your username.

Changing your username in Java Edition

Open the Minecraft Launcher and look at the top left corner. You should see your current username displayed there. Click on it or look for a settings icon next to your profile picture. This opens your profile settings.

Find the field that shows your current username — it is usually labeled "Username" or "Profile Name". Click into that field and type your new username. Minecraft usernames can be 3 to 16 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, and underscores. Spaces and special characters like hyphens or periods are not allowed.

After you type your new username, look for a button that says "Save" or "Change Name". Click it. The launcher will confirm the change, and your new username takes effect when ready. The next time you log into a server or start a world, other players will see your new name.

Java Edition limits you to one username change every 30 days. If you try to change it again before 30 days have passed, the launcher will show you a message saying when you can change it next.

Changing your username in Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition (the version you buy from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 or Windows 11) does not have a username field in the game launcher. Instead, your display name comes from your Microsoft account. To change it, go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Bedrock game.

Once you are signed in, click on "Your info" or "Profile" in the left menu. Look for a section labeled "Name" or "Display name". Click "Edit" next to it and type your new name. Microsoft allows display names to be up to 256 characters, but Minecraft will show only the first part of a very long name in-game. Save your changes.

The new name appears in Bedrock Edition within a few minutes. If you are already in a world or on a server when you change it, you may need to restart the game to see the change reflected.

What happens to your old username

When you change your Java Edition username, your old one does not disappear when ready. For 37 days, the old username is reserved under your account and no one else can use it. After 37 days, it becomes available for any other player to claim.

This matters if you want to switch back to an old username later. If you change from "Alex" to "AlexV2" and then change your mind within 37 days, you can change back to "Alex" without anyone else taking it. After 37 days, if someone else has claimed "Alex", you cannot use it again.

Your progress stays with your account

Changing your username does not affect your worlds, items, achievements, or any other game progress. Everything stays tied to your Microsoft account, not to the username. If you have a world with a house you built, that world is still yours after you change your name. Other players in that world will see your new username, but the world itself does not change.

The same is true for servers. If you are part of a server community and you change your username, your rank, inventory, and any builds you made stay with you. The server owner sees the change, but your progress on that server is not lost.

Troubleshooting a stuck or unavailable username

If you try to change your username and the launcher says it is unavailable, someone else has already claimed it. Try adding a number or underscore to make it unique — "Alex" might be taken, but "Alex_2024" or "Alex2" might not be. You can also wait to see if the person using it stops playing; if they do not log in for 37 days, the name becomes available again.

If the launcher will not let you change your username at all and shows an error message, check that you are signed into the correct Microsoft account. Open the launcher settings and look at which account is active. If it is the wrong one, sign out and sign back in with the account you want to use. If you have forgotten your Microsoft password, go to account.microsoft.com, click "Sign in", then click "Can't access your account?" to start the recovery process.

If you see a message saying you have already changed your username recently, you have hit the 30-day limit. The launcher should tell you the exact date you can change it again. You will have to wait until that date passes.

Changing your username on a server or realm

If you play on a private server or a Minecraft Realm (a world hosted by Minecraft), changing your account username automatically updates your name there too. You do not need to do anything extra. The server or realm owner will see your new name the next time you log in.

Some servers keep records of old usernames so moderators can track player history. If you have been banned or warned on a server under an old username, changing your name does not erase that record. Server owners can still see who you are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once?

Yes, but only once every 30 days in Java Edition. Bedrock Edition has no limit on how often you can change your Microsoft display name. After you change your Java username, the launcher will show you when you can change it again.

Will my friends still see me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list is tied to your account, not your username. After you change your name, you will still appear in their friends list, and they will see your new username when you play together. You do not need to re-add each other.

What if someone took my old username after I changed it?

If more than 37 days have passed since you changed away from it, the name is no longer reserved and someone else can claim it. You cannot get it back unless that person stops playing and lets it go unused for 37 days. There is no way to reclaim a name that someone else is actively using.

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your username and password are separate. Changing your username does not affect your password or your account security. You only need to change your password if you think someone else knows it or if you want to update it for safety reasons.

Can I have different usernames on Java and Bedrock?

Yes. If you own both versions and link them to the same Microsoft account, you can have one username in Java Edition and a different display name in Bedrock Edition. They do not have to match.