Your Fortnite username is separate from your Nintendo Switch username

Changing your Fortnite name on Nintendo Switch requires you to log into your Epic Games account, not your Switch system settings. Your Switch username and your Fortnite username are two different things — changing one does not change the other. If you want people to see a different name when you play Fortnite, you need to go through Epic Games, not Nintendo.

The process takes about five minutes and works the same whether you play Fortnite on Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or mobile. You will need to know your Epic Games password, or be ready to reset it if you have forgotten it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite username lives in your Epic Games account, not on your Nintendo Switch, so you must log into Epic Games online to change it.
  • You can change your Fortnite username once every 30 days, and the name must be between 3 and 16 characters long.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play Fortnite, including Switch.
  • If your Epic Games account is linked to a Nintendo account, you log in with your Nintendo credentials, but the username change still happens in Epic Games settings.

Steps to change your Fortnite username through Epic Games

Go to www.epicgames.com and log in. If your Epic Games account is connected to your Nintendo Switch account, you can click "Sign in with Nintendo" and use your Nintendo email and password. If you set up a separate Epic Games password, use that instead.

Once you are logged in, click your account name in the top right corner and select "Account". Then click "General" in the left menu. You will see a field labeled "Display Name" — this is your Fortnite username. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit.

Type your new name. It must be 3 to 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Epic Games will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or breaks their naming rules. Click "Save" when you are done. The change is live right away.

What happens if you forgot your Epic Games password

Go to www.epicgames.com and click "Sign In" in the top right. At the bottom of the login box, click "Forgot your password?" Enter the email address connected to your Epic Games account. Epic Games will send you a password reset link — check your email, including your spam folder.

Click the link in the email, create a new password, and log back in. Then follow the steps above to change your display name. If you do not recognize the email address tied to your account, or if you never set one up, you may need to contact Epic Games support through their website.

The 30-day waiting period between name changes

After you change your Fortnite username, you cannot change it again for 30 days. This rule applies whether you change it through the website, through the game itself, or through any other method. If you try to change it before 30 days have passed, the system will show you a countdown telling you how many days are left.

Plan your name change carefully, because you cannot undo it by changing back when ready. If you make a mistake, you will have to wait the full 30 days before you can try again.

How the name change appears on your Switch

When you launch Fortnite on your Nintendo Switch after changing your Epic Games display name, the new name will show up in the lobby and in-game. Other players will see your new Fortnite username, not your Nintendo Switch username. Your Switch system username stays exactly the same — changing your Fortnite name does not touch it.

If you are playing with friends who have you added on Switch, they will still see you in their friends list under your Switch username. But inside Fortnite, they will see your new Fortnite display name. This can be confusing at first, so let your friends know if you change your name.

Names that Epic Games will not allow

Epic Games blocks usernames that include profanity, slurs, or references to real people's names without permission. They also reject names that look too similar to existing ones — if someone already has "Shadow_Knight", you cannot use "Shadow_Kn1ght" or "ShadowKnight". Names must not start or end with a hyphen or underscore, and you cannot use spaces.

If you try to save a name and it gets rejected, the system will tell you why. Read the message carefully — it usually means the name is taken, contains forbidden characters, or violates their naming policy. Try a different variation and submit again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Fortnite username affect my progress or V-Bucks?

No. Your username is just a display name. Your account, your skins, your V-Bucks, your battle pass progress, and everything else stays exactly the same. Only the name that appears to other players changes.

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

Only after 30 days have passed. If you change your name and then regret it, you have to wait the full month before you can change it again. There is no way to speed this up or get an exception.

What if someone else took the username I want?

You cannot have it. Epic Games does not free up old usernames, and you cannot reserve a name before you are ready to use it. If the name is taken, you will need to choose something different or wait to see if that person stops playing and their account becomes inactive — but there is no may provide that will happen.

Do I need to change my Nintendo Switch username too?

No. Your Switch username and your Fortnite username are completely separate. You can change one without touching the other. Most people leave their Switch username alone and only change their Fortnite display name.

Why does my Fortnite name look different on my Switch than on my phone?

It should not. Your Epic Games display name is the same across all devices. If it looks different, you may be looking at your Switch username by mistake, or your account may not be fully synced. Log out of Fortnite on your Switch, restart the game, and log back in.