Your Fortnite username lives on Epic Games, not on your Switch
When you play Fortnite on Nintendo Switch, you are signing in through an Epic Games account. Your Fortnite username — the one other players see in matches and on leaderboards — is tied to that Epic Games account, not to your Switch username. This means you change it through Epic's website, not through Switch settings.
The process takes about five minutes and does not require you to own a Nintendo Switch anymore if you have already linked your account. You can change your username from any device with a web browser, though you will need to know the password to your Epic Games account.
Key Takeaways
- Your Fortnite username is stored on Epic Games' servers, so you change it on their website, not on your Switch.
- You must sign into your Epic Games account and verify your email address before you can change your username.
- Epic Games allows one free username change every 30 days, then charges 1,000 V-Bucks (roughly $10) for each additional change in that month.
- After you change your username on Epic's website, the new name appears in Fortnite the next time you launch the game on your Switch.
- If you have never linked your Switch to an Epic Games account, you must do that first before you can change your username.
Check whether your Switch is linked to an Epic Games account
Before you can change your Fortnite username, you need to know if your Switch profile is connected to an Epic Games account. If you created your Fortnite account on Switch without linking it, you may have a guest account instead, and guest accounts cannot change their usernames.
The easiest way to check is to open Fortnite on your Switch, go to the main menu, and look at the top left corner. If you see an Epic Games username there, your account is linked. If you see "Guest" or a string of numbers, your account is not linked to Epic Games yet.
If your account is not linked, you will need to link it before you can change your username. Go to www.epicgames.com, sign in or create an account, then go to your Account settings and find the Connections tab. Select Nintendo Network and follow the prompts to link your Switch profile to your Epic Games account.
Sign into Epic Games and navigate to your account settings
Go to www.epicgames.com in any web browser and sign in with the email address and password for your Epic Games account. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot password" on the login page and follow the email recovery steps.
Once you are signed in, look for your account icon in the top right corner of the page. Click it and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. You will be taken to your account overview page.
Find the username change option and check your may be able to access
On your account overview page, look for a section called "General" or scroll down until you see "Display Name" or "Username." Click on that section or the edit button next to it. Epic Games will show you your current username and a text box where you can type a new one.
Before you type anything, Epic Games will tell you whether you are may be able to access to change your username for free. If you have not changed your username in the past 30 days, the change is free. If you have already changed it once this month, Epic Games will tell you the cost in V-Bucks — the in-game currency — and ask you to confirm before charging your account.
You can also see your next free change date on this page. Epic Games resets the 30-day timer from the date of your last change, not from the first of the month.
Type your new username and verify your email
Type your new username into the text box. Usernames on Epic Games must be between 3 and 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed. Epic Games will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or violates their naming policy.
After you type a name that is available, Epic Games will ask you to verify your email address. Check your email inbox for a message from Epic Games with a verification code or a link. Click the link or copy the code into the box on the Epic Games website. This step confirms that you own the email address attached to the account.
Once you have verified your email, click the button to confirm your username change. Epic Games will show you a confirmation message with your new username.
Launch Fortnite on your Switch to see the change
The username change takes effect when ready on Epic Games' servers, but your Switch may not show the new name right away. Close Fortnite completely on your Switch — do not just go to the home screen, but fully quit the game. Then launch Fortnite again.
When you sign back in, your new username should appear in the top left corner of the main menu. Other players will see your new name in matches, on your profile, and on leaderboards. If the old name still appears after you relaunch, restart your Switch entirely and try again.
What to do if you cannot change your username
If Epic Games tells you that your username cannot be changed, the most common reason is that you have already used your one free change in the past 30 days. In that case, you can either wait until the 30-day window closes or pay V-Bucks to change it when ready.
If you see an error message instead, make sure you are signed into the correct Epic Games account — the one linked to your Switch. If you have multiple Epic Games accounts, you may be signed into the wrong one. Sign out, clear your browser cookies, and sign back in with the email address you use on your Switch.
If your account is very new or you have never verified your email address, Epic Games may not let you change your username yet. Verify your email first and wait 24 hours, then try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my Fortnite username on Epic Games change my Nintendo Switch username?
No. Your Switch username and your Fortnite username are separate. Changing one does not change the other. Your Switch username is what appears on your Switch profile and in other Switch games. Your Fortnite username is what other Fortnite players see.
Can I change my Fortnite username more than once a month?
Yes, but it costs V-Bucks after your first free change each month. Epic Games charges 1,000 V-Bucks per change after the free one. The 30-day timer resets from the date of your last change, so if you change your name on the 15th, your next free change is available on the 15th of the following month.
What if I forgot the email address for my Epic Games account?
Go to www.epicgames.com and click "Forgot password." Enter the email address you think you used, or try the email address linked to your Nintendo Network account. If neither works, you may need to contact Epic Games support directly through their website to recover your account.
Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?
Yes. Your friends list and party invitations are tied to your Epic Games account, not your username. After you change your name, your friends will see your new username, but they will not lose you from their friends list.
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Yes, but only if no one else has claimed that username in the meantime. If someone else has taken your old username, you cannot use it again. You would need to choose a different name or wait to see if the other person stops using it.