Where to change your username

You change your Minecraft Java username through the official Minecraft Launcher, not through the game itself. The launcher is the program you open before you start playing — it shows your character skin and the "Play" button. You cannot change your username in-game or through any third-party website.

The process takes about five minutes and costs nothing. You will need to know the password for the Microsoft account linked to your Java edition. If you do not remember it, you can reset it through Microsoft's account recovery page before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Minecraft Launcher, click your profile name in the top left, and select "Skins" to reach the username change screen.
  • Your new username must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be taken by another player.
  • The change takes effect when ready in the launcher, but other players may see your old name in-game for a few minutes while the change spreads across Minecraft's servers.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days — if you change it again within that window, you will see an error message telling you when you can change it next.
  • If you own Minecraft Java through a Microsoft account (not a legacy Mojang account), you have one free username change; additional changes cost money.

Step-by-step: changing your username in the launcher

Start by opening the Minecraft Launcher. In the top left corner, you will see your current username displayed. Click on it — a dropdown menu will appear with several options.

Select "Skins" from that menu. This will open a new window showing your character skin and, below it, a section labeled "Profile Name" or "Username". Click the pencil icon or the "Change" button next to your current name. A text box will appear where you can type your new username.

Type your new username into the box. Remember: it must be 3 to 16 characters long, and it can only contain letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). Spaces, hyphens, and special characters are not allowed. Once you have typed it, click "Change Name" or "Save".

The launcher will check whether that username is already taken. If it is, you will see a message saying the name is unavailable — try a different one. If it is available, the change will save when ready. You can close the window and start playing.

What happens after you change your username

Your new username appears in the launcher right away. When you join a server or single-player world, other players will see your new name almost when ready, though there may be a delay of a few minutes while the change spreads across Minecraft's network. During that time, some players might still see your old name, but this is temporary.

Your old username becomes available for another player to claim after a grace period. This means someone else could eventually take your old name, so do not count on being able to switch back to it later.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your username, you must wait 30 days before you can change it again. If you try to change it sooner, the launcher will show you an error message with the exact date and time you will be able to make your next change.

This limit exists to prevent players from constantly switching names and confusing the community. It applies whether you change your name once or ten times — each change resets the 30-day clock. Plan your username carefully so you do not feel rushed to change it again when ready.

Username rules and what you cannot use

Your username must follow Minecraft's naming rules. It cannot contain spaces, hyphens, periods, or any special characters except the underscore. It cannot be shorter than 3 characters or longer than 16. It cannot be a username that is already taken by another player.

Minecraft does not block offensive or inappropriate usernames at the point of creation, but the community and server owners can report names that violate their rules. If a server owner or moderator reports your name as inappropriate, Minecraft may force you to change it. Avoid names that impersonate staff members, contain slurs, or are designed to harass other players.

If you own a legacy Mojang account instead of a Microsoft account

If you created your Minecraft Java account before Microsoft bought Mojang (before 2020), you may still own a legacy Mojang account rather than a Microsoft account. You can tell which type you have by looking at the launcher: if you log in with an email address and password, it is a legacy account. If you log in through a Microsoft account button, it is a Microsoft account.

Legacy accounts have different rules. You get one free username change, and any changes after that cost money. The process is the same — click your username in the launcher and select "Skins" — but you will see a cost displayed if you have already used your free change. Microsoft has encouraged players to migrate legacy accounts to Microsoft accounts, which removes this cost restriction, though migration is not required to play.

Troubleshooting: what to do if the change does not work

If you click "Change Name" and nothing happens, or if you see an error message, first check that you are logged into the launcher. Log out completely and log back in, then try again. Sometimes the launcher needs to refresh your account status.

If you see a message saying you cannot change your name yet, you are within the 30-day waiting period. The message will tell you the exact date you can change it next. If you see a message saying the username is taken, that name is already in use — choose a different one.

If the launcher itself will not open, make sure you have the latest version installed. Uninstall it completely, then read it fresh from the official Minecraft website. Do not read the launcher from any other source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username delete my worlds or skins?

No. Your worlds, skins, and all your game progress stay exactly the same. The username change only affects what other players see when you join their servers or worlds. Your single-player worlds and saved skins are tied to your account, not your username.

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

Not when ready. Your old username becomes available for other players to claim after a grace period. If no one has taken it, you could change back to it after your 30-day waiting period ends, but there is no may provide it will still be available. Choose a new name you plan to keep.

What if I share my computer with someone else who plays Minecraft?

Each person needs their own Microsoft account to play Java edition. When you open the launcher, you log in with your account, and your username appears. When someone else logs in with their account, their username appears instead. Changing your username does not affect anyone else's account.

Does changing my Java username change my Bedrock username too?

No. Minecraft Java and Minecraft Bedrock are separate games with separate usernames, even though they are both linked to the same Microsoft account. Changing your Java username does not change your Bedrock username, and vice versa.

Why does the launcher say I cannot change my username when I have never changed it before?

This usually means you are within 30 days of a previous change you may have forgotten about. Check the error message — it will show you the date you can change it next. If you genuinely have never changed your username, log out of the launcher completely, wait a few minutes, and log back in to refresh your account status.