Your username appears in three places on your Switch

Your Nintendo Switch username is the name that shows up when you play online, send friend requests, and appear in other players' lobbies. You can find it without digging through settings — it's visible right on your home screen, in your account settings, and in your Nintendo Account profile online.

The fastest way is to look at the top-left corner of your Switch home screen. Your username appears there next to your profile picture. If you have multiple user accounts on the same Switch, each one has its own username, so make sure you're looking at the right profile.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username displays in the top-left corner of your Switch home screen next to your profile picture.
  • You can also find it by opening your account settings and selecting your profile — the username appears at the top of that page.
  • Your Nintendo Account username (used for the online store and Nintendo Switch Online) may be different from your in-game profile name.
  • If you've forgotten your username, you can recover it through your Nintendo Account on a computer or phone by signing in with your email address.

Check your profile on the home screen

The simplest method takes five seconds. From your Switch home screen, look at the top-left corner where your profile picture appears. Your username is printed directly below or next to that picture. This is the name other players see when you're online.

If you see a different name than you expected, you may be looking at a different user account. The Switch allows multiple profiles on one console, and each has its own username. Tap on your profile picture to switch between accounts if needed.

Find it in your account settings

If the home screen display isn't clear enough, you can pull up your full account details. Press the X button on your controller to open the home menu, then select your profile picture in the top-left corner. Choose "Profile" from the menu that appears.

Your username will be displayed at the top of your profile page, along with your account creation date and other details. This view also shows your friend code — a separate number that lets people add you as a friend without knowing your exact username.

Check your Nintendo Account online

You can also see your username by signing into your Nintendo Account on any computer or phone. Go to accounts.nintendo.com and sign in with the email address and password linked to your Switch account. Your username appears on the account overview page.

This method is useful if you're away from your Switch or need to verify your username before changing it. The online account page shows the same username that appears on your console.

Understand the difference between usernames and account names

Nintendo uses two different names that can cause confusion. Your profile username is what other players see online — this is the name you're looking for if you want to change how you appear in games. Your Nintendo Account name is the email address you use to sign in, which is different and cannot be changed.

When you change your username through settings, you're changing only the profile name that shows in games and to other players. Your login email stays the same. Both names are tied to the same account, but they serve different purposes.

What to do if you can't remember your username

If you don't have access to your Switch right now, you can recover your username through your Nintendo Account. Go to accounts.nintendo.com on a computer or phone and select "Forgot your password?" Enter the email address linked to your account, then check your email for a reset link. Once you sign back in, your username will be visible on the account page.

If you've lost access to the email address itself, Nintendo's support page has additional recovery options. You may need to verify your identity using information from your original account setup, such as the console serial number or the date you created the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my friend code?

No. Your username is the name other players see, while your friend code is a 12-digit number that lets people add you as a friend. Both appear in your profile settings, but they're separate identifiers. You can share either one to let people connect with you.

Can I have different usernames on different Switch consoles?

Yes. Each Switch console can have multiple user accounts, and each account can have its own username. If you own two Switches and sign into the same Nintendo Account on both, the username will be the same across both consoles — but you can create different local accounts with different names on each console if you want.

What if my username contains characters I don't recognize?

This sometimes happens if your account was created in a different language or region. The characters are still your official username. If you want to change it to something else, you can do that through your account settings — the process is the same whether your current name uses standard letters or special characters.

Does changing my username affect my game saves or friends list?

No. Your game saves, achievements, and friends list are all tied to your account, not your username. When you change your username, all of those stay exactly the same. Your friends will see your new name the next time they look at their friends list, but they won't lose you as a friend.