Where to change your username in Minecraft Bedrock

Your Minecraft Bedrock username is tied to your Microsoft account, not to the game itself. To change it, you go to the Microsoft account website, not the Minecraft launcher. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on Windows, mobile, or console, but the account change works across all of them at once.

You cannot change your username inside the Minecraft game. The game reads whatever name is set on your Microsoft account and displays it. If you change the name on your account, it updates in Bedrock the next time you launch the game.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Minecraft Bedrock username lives on your Microsoft account, so you change it there, not in the game.
  • Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for "Your info" or "Manage your Microsoft account" to find the name field.
  • The name you set on your Microsoft account becomes your Minecraft username across Windows, mobile, and console versions.
  • Changes take effect the next time you restart Minecraft, though sometimes a full sign-out and sign-in is needed.
  • You can change your name once every 30 days on a Microsoft account.

Steps to change your name on Microsoft account

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the email and password you use for Minecraft. Once you are logged in, look for a section called "Your info" or "Manage your Microsoft account" — the exact label varies depending on your region and account type.

Click into that section and find the field labeled "Name" or "Display name". This is the name that shows up in Minecraft Bedrock. Clear the current name and type the new one you want. Microsoft has a few rules: the name must be between 3 and 20 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot contain spaces or special characters like @, #, or &. Underscores and hyphens are allowed.

After you type the new name, click "Save" or "Update". Microsoft will ask you to confirm your identity — usually by sending a code to your email or phone. Enter that code, and the change is complete. You do not need to do anything else on the Microsoft side.

When the change shows up in Minecraft

Close Minecraft completely if it is open. The next time you launch the game and sign in, your new username should appear. If it does not, sign out of your Microsoft account within Minecraft, close the game entirely, and sign back in. A full restart usually forces the game to refresh your account information.

On console versions like Xbox or Nintendo Switch, the process is the same — the username change happens on your Microsoft account, and the console reads it the next time you launch Bedrock. You do not need to change anything on the console itself.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Microsoft limits how often you can change your account name: once every 30 days. If you just changed your name and want to change it again, you will see a message telling you when you can make the next change. This limit is per account, not per game, so it affects any service that uses your Microsoft account.

If you made a typo or chose a name you dislike when ready after changing it, you have to wait the full 30 days before trying again. Plan your new name carefully before you save it.

What happens to your old username

When you change your Minecraft username, your old name becomes available for someone else to use. Your game progress, worlds, and items stay with your account — they are tied to your Microsoft account ID, not to the name itself. Friends who had you added under your old name will still see you as a friend, but your name will display as the new one.

If you are worried about losing contact with people, tell them your new name before you change it, or make sure they have your Microsoft account ID or email address so they can find you again.

Troubleshooting a name change that did not work

If you changed your Microsoft account name but Minecraft still shows the old one, try signing out completely. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts and sign out of your Microsoft account. Then close Minecraft, reopen it, and sign back in. On mobile, go to Settings within the game, find the account section, and sign out, then sign back in.

If the old name persists after a full sign-out and sign-in, wait a few hours — sometimes the change takes time to sync across Microsoft's servers. If it has been more than a few hours and the name still has not updated, check the Microsoft account website again to confirm the change actually saved. If the name on your account is correct but Minecraft is not showing it, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the game, though this is rare.

Changing your name on console

On Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, you change your Minecraft username through your Microsoft account, the same way you would on a computer. You cannot change it through the console's own settings or through the Minecraft game menu. Sign into your Microsoft account on any device with a web browser, make the change, and it will appear in Bedrock the next time you launch the game on your console.

If you are using a console account that is not linked to a Microsoft account, you will need to link it first. Go to your console's account settings, find the option to link a Microsoft account, and follow the prompts. Once linked, you can change your Minecraft username through the Microsoft website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once a month?

No. Microsoft enforces a 30-day waiting period between name changes on the same account. If you need to change it again, you will have to wait until the 30 days have passed since your last change. The website will show you the exact date you can change it again.

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

Yes. Your friends list stays the same, and they will see your new name the next time they launch the game. They do not need to re-add you. However, if they do not know you changed your name, they might be confused when they see a different name in their friends list.

What if I forget what my new username should be?

Think of it before you go to the Microsoft website. You cannot undo a name change, and you have to wait 30 days to change it again. Write down the name you want and double-check the spelling before you save it.

Does changing my username affect my Realms or multiplayer worlds?

No. Your worlds, Realms subscription, and multiplayer access are all tied to your Microsoft account ID, not your username. Changing your name does not affect any of them. Other players will just see your new name when you join their world.

Can I use spaces or special characters in my new username?

No. Minecraft usernames can only contain letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), underscores (_), and hyphens (-). Spaces, periods, @, #, and other special characters are not allowed. The name must also be between 3 and 20 characters long.