Where to change your username

You change your Minecraft username through the Microsoft account website, not through the Minecraft launcher or game itself. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Minecraft profile, and look for the section labeled "Your info" or "Account settings." The username you see there is the one that appears in-game to other players.

This process works the same way whether you play Minecraft Java Edition or Bedrock Edition — both pull your username from your Microsoft account. If you have never linked your Java Edition account to Microsoft, you will need to do that first before you can change the username through Microsoft's website.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Minecraft username lives on your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, not in the Minecraft launcher.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready in-game.
  • Your old username becomes available for other players to claim after 37 days of not being used.
  • If you play on a realm or server, other players will see your new name the next time you log in.
  • Changing your username does not affect your inventory, achievements, or any worlds you have created.

Step-by-step: changing your username

Start by opening a web browser and going to account.microsoft.com. Click "Sign in" in the top right corner and enter the email address and password for the Microsoft account connected to your Minecraft profile. If you are not sure which account that is, check the Minecraft launcher — it shows your current Microsoft account email at the top.

Once you are signed in, look for "Your info" in the left menu or at the top of the page. Click it, then find the section that says "Manage your Microsoft account" or "Account settings." You should see a field showing your current username. Click "Edit name" or the pencil icon next to it. Type your new username in the box that appears — it must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, and underscores, but no spaces or special characters.

After you type the new name, click "Save" or "Next." Microsoft will ask you to confirm your choice. Review the name one more time, because once you save it, the change is permanent for the next 30 days. Click the final confirmation button, and your username updates when ready. You do not need to restart the Minecraft launcher or your game — the new name will show the next time you log in or the next time another player sees you in-game.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Microsoft enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. This means if you change your username today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. The timer starts the moment you save the new name, not when you click the button to start the change.

If you try to change your username before 30 days have passed, the edit button will be grayed out or you will see a message telling you when you can change it next. There is no way to skip this waiting period — it applies to every account. Plan your username carefully, because you are stuck with it for a month.

What happens to your old username

When you change your username, your old one does not disappear when ready. For the first 37 days, only you can claim it back if you change your mind. After 37 days, the old username becomes available for any other player to use. This gives you a window to undo the change if you regret it, but only if you wait less than 30 days and then change back before the 37-day mark expires.

If someone else takes your old username after 37 days, you cannot get it back. Your worlds, inventory, and achievements stay with your account no matter what username you use — they are tied to your Microsoft account, not to the name itself.

Checking your username change history

If you have changed your username multiple times and want to see what names you have used, Microsoft does not show a public history on the account page. However, you can see your current username and when you last changed it by going back to account.microsoft.com, signing in, and opening "Your info." The page will show the date of your most recent change.

If you need to know every username you have ever used for support reasons, you can contact Microsoft Support through the account website. They can pull up your full history, though this is rarely necessary unless you are troubleshooting a technical problem.

Troubleshooting: username change did not work

If you changed your username on the Microsoft website but it still shows your old name in the Minecraft launcher, try signing out of the launcher completely and signing back in. Close the launcher entirely — do not just click "Sign out" — and reopen it. This forces the launcher to refresh your account information from Microsoft's servers.

If the old name still appears after you sign back in, wait a few minutes and try again. Changes can take up to 10 minutes to sync from Microsoft's website to the Minecraft launcher, though it usually happens when ready. If more than 10 minutes have passed and the name has not updated, clear your launcher cache: go to the launcher settings, find "Launcher" in the left menu, and click "Clear launcher cache." Then sign out and back in again.

If you see an error message saying the username is unavailable or already taken, it means someone else claimed it while you were trying to change. This happens rarely but can occur if the name became available recently and another player was also trying to use it. Try a different username instead.

Changing your username on realms and multiplayer servers

When you change your Minecraft username, it updates everywhere — in single-player worlds, on realms, and on multiplayer servers. Other players will see your new name the next time you log in or the next time they see you in-game. Your player data (inventory, location, permissions) stays the same; only the name changes.

If you are an owner or operator of a realm or server, you do not need to do anything special. Your permissions and operator status follow your account, not your username. If you have set up a whitelist on a server (a list of players allowed to join), the server owner may need to update it with your new username, depending on how the server is configured. Contact the server owner if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I have never played Minecraft before?

Yes. As long as you have a Microsoft account, you can set a Minecraft username even if you have never launched the game. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and edit your username. The name will be ready to use the next time you start Minecraft.

What if the username I want is already taken?

If another player is actively using the name, you cannot claim it. If the name belonged to someone who has not played in over 37 days, it may become available — but you cannot reserve it in advance. Check back periodically, or try a variation of the name you want (adding a number or underscore, for example).

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

No. Your worlds, inventory, achievements, and all game progress are tied to your Microsoft account, not your username. Changing your name does not affect any of it. You will see everything exactly as you left it the next time you log in.

Can I change my username on mobile or console?

You must change it on the Microsoft website using a computer or mobile browser — you cannot do it through the Minecraft app on phone or tablet, or through the Xbox or Nintendo Switch versions of the game. However, once you change it on the website, it updates on all devices automatically.

What if I forgot which email is linked to my Minecraft account?

Open the Minecraft launcher and look at the top of the screen — it shows the email address of the Microsoft account currently signed in. That is the account linked to your Minecraft profile. If you need to change which Microsoft account is linked, sign out of the launcher, then sign in with a different Microsoft account email.