Change Your Fortnite Username Through the Epic Games Website

Your Fortnite username lives on Epic Games' servers, not on your Nintendo Switch itself. This means you change it the same way whether you play on Switch, PlayStation, or PC — by logging into your Epic Games account online. The Switch is just the device you play on; the username belongs to Epic Games.

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password connected to your Fortnite account. Once you are logged in, click your account name in the top right corner and select Account. From there, click General on the left side. You will see a field labeled Display Name — this is what other players see in Fortnite.

Click the pencil icon next to your current display name to edit it. Type your new username. Epic Games will tell you right away if the name is taken or breaks their rules (no slurs, no impersonation of famous people, no excessive symbols). If your new name is available, click Save. The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Fortnite username on the Epic Games website, not on your Nintendo Switch console.
  • Log into epicgames.com with the email and password for your account, then go to Account > General > Display Name.
  • Epic Games will reject usernames that are already taken, contain slurs, impersonate real people, or use too many symbols.
  • The new username appears in Fortnite when ready after you save it, even if you are still playing on your Switch.
  • You can change your display name once every 30 days, so choose carefully before you save.

Link Your Switch to Your Epic Games Account First

If you have never connected your Nintendo Switch to an Epic Games account, you need to do that before you can change your username. When you first launch Fortnite on Switch, the game asks you to sign in. You can either create a new Epic Games account right then or sign into an existing one.

If you already have an Epic Games account from playing Fortnite on another device (like a phone or computer), sign into that account on your Switch. This links your Switch to that account, and you will see all your skins, V-Bucks, and progress from your other devices. If you create a brand-new account on your Switch, that account is separate from any other Fortnite account you might have elsewhere.

Once your Switch is linked to an Epic Games account, you can change the display name through the website as described above. The change will show up the next time you launch Fortnite on your Switch.

What Happens to Your Old Username

When you change your display name, your old username becomes available for someone else to use after a short delay. Epic Games does not reserve old usernames, so if you change from "Player123" to "NewName456", another player can eventually claim "Player123".

Your friends list and match history do not break when you change your name. Players who have you added as a friend will still see you in their friends list under your new name. Your stats, wins, and cosmetics stay attached to your account — the username is just the label on top.

The 30-Day Waiting Period Between Changes

Epic Games enforces a rule: you can change your display name once every 30 days. If you just changed your username, the website will show you a countdown timer telling you when you can change it again. This prevents people from cycling through names constantly or impersonating other players by stealing their name and then abandoning it.

If you made a typo or chose a name you regret, you are stuck with it for 30 days from the date you saved it. Plan your new username carefully before you click Save.

Usernames That Epic Games Will Reject

Epic Games has a list of words and patterns they do not allow in display names. The system will reject your new username if it contains slurs, hate speech, or excessive profanity. It will also reject names that impersonate real celebrities, politicians, or public figures — for example, you cannot name yourself "Elon Musk" or "Taylor Swift".

Names with too many numbers, symbols, or spaces in a row are often rejected as well. A name like "P____L____A____Y____E____R" will not work. Stick to letters, numbers, and one or two symbols like underscores or hyphens, and keep the name under 16 characters.

If your chosen name is rejected, the website tells you why. Try a different variation — add a number, change the spelling slightly, or pick a completely different name.

Troubleshooting: Your New Username Does Not Show Up on Switch

If you changed your display name on the Epic Games website but your Switch still shows your old name, try closing Fortnite completely and launching it again. The Switch sometimes caches your old username in memory and needs to refresh.

If it still shows the old name after you restart Fortnite, sign out of your Epic Games account on the Switch and sign back in. Go to the Switch home screen, open System Settings, select Users, choose your user account, and then select Link to Nintendo Account. From there you can manage which Epic Games account is linked. Sign out and sign back in to force the Switch to read your current account information from Epic Games' servers.

If you are still seeing the old name after that, wait a few hours. Epic Games' servers sometimes take time to sync the change across all their systems, especially during peak hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username on my Switch without going to a website?

No. The Switch does not have a menu option to change your Fortnite username. You must go to epicgames.com on a computer or phone, log in, and change it through your account settings. The Switch is just the device you play on.

What if someone else took the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If another player has already claimed the name you want, it is not available. You will need to choose a different name. Try adding a number, underscore, or variation of the spelling.

Do I lose my skins and V-Bucks if I change my username?

No. Your skins, V-Bucks, cosmetics, and all progress stay on your account. Only the display name changes. Everything else is tied to your Epic Games account, not your username.

Can I change my username back to my old one after 30 days?

Yes, after 30 days have passed since your last change, you can change your display name to anything available — including your old username, if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Keep in mind that old usernames do become available for others to use, so your previous name might be taken.

Why does my friend still see my old username in Fortnite?

Your friend's Switch may not have refreshed yet. Have them close Fortnite completely and launch it again. If they still see the old name, they may need to sign out and sign back into their Epic Games account. The change should appear within a few hours at most.