The process differs between Java and Bedrock Edition

Nintendo Switch runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition, not Java Edition. On Bedrock, your username is tied to your Microsoft account, not to the game itself. This means you change your username through Microsoft's account settings, not through the Switch or the game.

The Switch is just the device you play on. When you sign in with your Microsoft account, the game pulls your current username from that account. Change the username in Microsoft's system, and it changes everywhere you play Bedrock — on Switch, Windows, mobile, or any other platform.

The actual steps take about five minutes and happen on a computer or phone, not on the Switch itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Minecraft Bedrock Edition on Switch uses your Microsoft account username, so you change it through Microsoft's website or app, not through the game.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready across all devices where you play Bedrock.
  • The easiest route is to sign into account.microsoft.com on a computer, go to your profile settings, and update your display name there.
  • If you have never set a display name before, Microsoft may show your email address as your username in-game until you create one.

Change your username through Microsoft's website

Open a web browser on a computer and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the Microsoft account you use on your Switch. Once you are logged in, look for your profile picture or name in the top right corner and click it.

Select Your info or Profile from the menu. You should see a section labeled Microsoft account or Display name. Click Edit name or the pencil icon next to your current name. Type your new username into the text field, then click Next and confirm the change.

Microsoft will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm the change is really you. Do that, and the new username is live. The next time you launch Minecraft on your Switch, it will show your new name.

Change your username through the Microsoft app on mobile

If you do not have a computer nearby, you can make the change on a phone or tablet using the Microsoft Account app. read it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android), then sign in with your account.

Tap your profile picture at the bottom of the screen, then tap Edit profile. Look for the Display name field and tap it. Type your new username and tap Save. You may need to enter your password again to confirm.

The change syncs to your Switch within a few minutes. You do not need to restart the game or your console.

What happens if you change your username on Switch

Your old username becomes available for someone else to use after 30 days. During those 30 days, no one else can claim it, but you cannot change back to it either. If you change your mind within a few minutes, you can change it again when ready, but after that you are locked into a 30-day wait.

Any worlds, achievements, or progress you have made stays with your account. Changing your username does not erase your game data or reset anything. Friends who had you added will still see you on their friends list, though your name will update to the new one.

If you play on other platforms with the same Microsoft account — like Windows 10, Windows 11, or mobile — your username changes there too. There is no way to have different usernames on different devices.

Troubleshooting: Your username still shows as your email

If you see your email address in-game instead of a username, it usually means you have never set a display name in your Microsoft account. Go back to account.microsoft.com, find the display name section, and create one. Microsoft sometimes defaults to your email if no display name exists, even though you can set one.

After you set a display name, it may take a few minutes to show up in Minecraft. Close the game completely and reopen it. If it still shows your email, sign out of your Microsoft account on the Switch and sign back in.

You cannot change your username in the game itself

There is no username or name-change option inside Minecraft on Switch. The game does not have a settings menu for this. Any guide that tells you to look for a name change button in the game is pointing you to the wrong place. The only way to change it is through Microsoft's account system.

If you see a Profile or Account option in the Switch version of Minecraft, it will show you your current username and let you see your stats, but it will not let you edit your name. You have to go outside the game to make the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can I change my username?

You can change it once every 30 days. After you make a change, you are locked out from changing it again for 30 days. If you change your mind within a few minutes, you can change it again right away, but after that the 30-day timer starts.

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

Yes. Friends who have you added will still see you on their friends list, and your name will update to the new one automatically. You do not need to re-add each other or send new friend requests.

Does changing my username delete my worlds or progress?

No. All your worlds, achievements, and game progress stay with your account. Changing your username only changes what other players see when they look at your profile or encounter you in a world.

What if I forgot my Microsoft account password?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click Can't access your account at the bottom of the sign-in page. Microsoft will walk you through recovering your account using your email or phone number. Once you regain access, you can change your username.

Can I have a different username on Switch than on other platforms?

No. Your Microsoft account username is the same across all platforms where you play Bedrock Edition. If you play on Windows, mobile, or any other device with the same account, you will have the same username everywhere.