Your Fortnite username changes through Epic Games, not through Nintendo Switch settings

Your Fortnite name is tied to your Epic Games account, not your Nintendo Switch profile. This means you cannot change it from the Switch itself — you have to go through Epic Games' website or the Fortnite launcher on another device. The process takes about five minutes and does not require you to own a new console or restart the game.

If you have never linked your Switch to an Epic Games account, you will need to do that first. Once linked, you can change your display name (the name other players see) or your account username (the name you use to log in). Most people want to change the display name, since that is what shows up in matches.

Key Takeaways

  • Fortnite usernames are managed through Epic Games, so you must visit the Epic Games website or use the Fortnite launcher on PC or mobile to change yours.
  • You need to link your Nintendo Switch account to an Epic Games account before you can change your Fortnite name.
  • Display names (what other players see) can be changed once every 30 days, but account usernames cannot be changed after creation.
  • After you change your display name on the Epic Games website, the new name appears in Fortnite the next time you launch the game.

Link your Nintendo Switch to Epic Games first

If you have already linked your Switch to Epic Games, skip to the next section. If you have not, you need to do this before you can change your name. Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with your Epic Games account, or create one if you do not have one yet.

Once you are signed in, go to your Account settings and select Connections. Find Nintendo Network and click Connect. You will be asked to sign in with your Nintendo account. After you do, Epic Games will link your Switch profile to your Epic Games account. This usually takes a few seconds.

Change your display name on the Epic Games website

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in to the Epic Games account linked to your Switch. Click your account name in the top right corner and select Account.

On the left side, click General. You will see a field labeled "Display Name" — this is the name that appears to other players in Fortnite. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new name and click Save. Epic Games will tell you if the name is already taken or contains blocked words.

Your new display name takes effect the next time you launch Fortnite on your Switch. You do not need to restart the console or delete the game.

Understand the rules for changing your name

Your display name can be changed once every 30 days. If you change it today, you cannot change it again for 30 days from that date. Epic Games counts the days from the moment you save the change, not from midnight.

Your account username — the name you use to log in to Epic Games — cannot be changed after you create it. If you want a different login name, you would have to create a new Epic Games account and link a new Switch profile to it. This means you would lose access to any V-Bucks, cosmetics, or battle pass progress on your current account, so most people do not do this.

What to do if your desired name is taken

If the name you want is already in use, Epic Games will show you a message saying the display name is unavailable. You can try adding numbers, underscores, or hyphens to make it unique — for example, "YourName_123" or "YourName-1". Many players use this approach when their first choice is taken.

You can also wait and try again later. Display names that have not been used in a long time may become available, though Epic Games does not publish how long that takes. There is no way to reserve a name or request that an inactive account release theirs.

Troubleshoot if your name did not change in Fortnite

If you changed your display name on the Epic Games website but it still shows your old name in Fortnite, try closing the game completely and launching it again. Do not just go back to the home screen — fully close Fortnite from the Switch menu.

If the new name still does not appear after relaunching, sign out of your Epic Games account on the Switch and sign back in. Go to Settings on the Switch home screen, select Users, choose your profile, and then select Linked Services. Find Epic Games and disconnect it, then reconnect it. This forces the Switch to sync with your Epic Games account again.

Change your display name on PC or mobile if you do not have a web browser

If you have Fortnite installed on a PC or Mac, you can also change your display name through the Epic Games Launcher. Open the launcher, click your account name in the top right, select Account, and then General. The Display Name field works the same way as on the website.

On mobile, you can change your display name through the Epic Games app if you have it installed. Open the app, tap your account icon, go to Account, and select General. The process is identical to the website version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username on the Nintendo Switch itself?

No. Fortnite usernames are managed by Epic Games, not Nintendo. You must change it on the Epic Games website, through the Epic Games Launcher on PC, or through the Epic Games mobile app. The Switch does not have a way to change your Fortnite name.

Will changing my display name affect my V-Bucks or cosmetics?

No. Your V-Bucks, skins, emotes, and all other cosmetics stay with your account when you change your display name. The change only affects what name appears to other players — nothing about your progress or purchases changes.

What if I forgot my Epic Games password?

Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In. Below the password field, click "Forgot password?" and enter the email address connected to your Epic Games account. Epic Games will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link and create a new password.

Can I change my display name more than once a month?

No. Epic Games enforces a 30-day waiting period between display name changes. If you change your name today, you cannot change it again until 30 days have passed. The timer starts when you save the change, not at the start of the next calendar month.

What happens if I unlink my Switch from Epic Games?

If you unlink your Switch from your Epic Games account, you lose access to that account's progress, cosmetics, and V-Bucks on that Switch. You can link a different Epic Games account to the same Switch profile, but you cannot recover the old account's items. Make sure you want to unlink before you do it.