You can change your Switch username through your account settings, and it takes about five minutes

Your Nintendo Switch username is the name that appears to other players when you're online. You can change it whenever you want, and Nintendo lets you do it directly from your console without calling support or visiting a website. The process is the same whether you're using a Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED.

The change happens when ready on your console and syncs to your Nintendo Account within a few minutes. Other players will see your new name the next time they look at their friends list or encounter you in a game. Your old username is released right away, so someone else can claim it if they want.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings on your Switch, select your profile, then choose Profile Settings to find the username field.
  • Nintendo lets you change your username once every 30 days, so plan ahead if you want to change it again soon.
  • Your new username takes effect when ready on your console but may take a few minutes to show up to other players online.
  • Changing your username does not affect your save data, game library, or Nintendo Account — only the name other players see.

Step-by-step: changing your username on the console

Start at the home screen and press the X button to open System Settings. Scroll down and select Profiles, then tap on your profile picture or name. Choose Profile Settings from the menu that appears.

Look for the Username field near the top of the screen. Tap it, and a keyboard will appear. Delete your current name and type your new one. Nintendo usernames can be 1 to 10 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and some symbols (hyphens and underscores are allowed; spaces are not). When you're done typing, press OK to save.

Your new username is now live on your console. You'll see it reflected in your profile when ready. If you're signed into a Nintendo Account, the change syncs automatically — you don't need to do anything else.

What happens if you're using a local profile instead of a Nintendo Account

If your Switch profile is not linked to a Nintendo Account, your username change stays only on that console. Other players won't see your new name online because local profiles don't connect to Nintendo's servers. If you want other players to see your new name, you'll need to link your profile to a Nintendo Account first.

To link your profile, go to System Settings, select Profiles, choose your profile, then select Link to Nintendo Account. You can create a new Nintendo Account during this process if you don't already have one. Once linked, your username will sync across all your devices and be visible to other players.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

Nintendo enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. If you just changed your username, you won't be able to change it again until 30 days have passed. The system will tell you exactly when you can change it next if you try before that window closes.

This limit exists to prevent harassment — it stops someone from repeatedly changing their name to evade blocks or reports. If you need to change your username before 30 days are up, you cannot bypass this restriction through any official method.

Usernames that Nintendo will reject

Nintendo's filter blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to illegal activity. The filter also rejects names that impersonate Nintendo staff, celebrities, or other well-known figures. If you try to save a name and get an error message, it means the name violated one of these rules.

If you believe your rejected name was appropriate and the filter made a mistake, you can try slight variations — for example, adding a number or changing the spelling slightly. There's no formal appeal process for rejected usernames, so your only option is to choose a different name.

How username changes affect your games and friends

Changing your username does not delete your save data, remove you from your friends list, or change your online status in any way. Your game progress, achievements, and playtime all stay exactly the same. Friends who have you added will still see you in their friends list with your new name.

In games that track leaderboards or statistics by username, your old scores may appear under your old name for a while. Most games update this within a few hours, but some older titles may keep the old name in their records indefinitely. This is a limitation of how individual games store data, not something Nintendo can change after the fact.

Changing your username on the Nintendo website instead

You can also change your username by signing into your Nintendo Account on a web browser. Go to accounts.nintendo.com, sign in, and select Profile. Look for the Username field and click Edit. Type your new name, then click Save. This method works the same way as changing it on the console — the 30-day cooldown still applies, and the change syncs to all your devices.

Some players find the website method easier if they want to see their username options before committing, since you can type and delete without using the console's on-screen keyboard. The result is identical either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I have an active parental control PIN?

No. If parental controls are enabled on your profile, you'll need the PIN to change your username. Ask the person who set up parental controls to enter the PIN, or have them change the username for you. This is a safety feature to prevent children from changing their online identity without a parent's knowledge.

What if someone else is using the username I want?

You cannot claim a username that's already in use. If the name you want is taken, you'll get an error when you try to save it. You can try adding numbers or underscores to make it unique — for example, changing "Mario" to "Mario_1" or "Mario123". There's no waiting list or reservation system for usernames.

Does changing my username affect my Nintendo Switch Online membership?

No. Your membership stays active and attached to your Nintendo Account regardless of what your username is. Changing your name does not interrupt your online service, cloud saves, or access to online games.

Can I change my username back to one I used before?

Yes, as long as 30 days have passed since you last changed it and nobody else has claimed that old name in the meantime. If someone else took your old username, you cannot reclaim it — you'll have to choose a different name.

Will my username change show up when ready in all my games?

It shows up when ready on your console and in most online games within a few minutes. Some older games or games with their own separate account systems may take longer to update, or may not update at all if they store usernames locally rather than pulling them from Nintendo's servers.