Yes, you can change your PS5 username, but there are real limits

You can change your PlayStation Network username on your PS5, but Sony restricts how often you can do it and charges money after the first change. Your first username change is free. Every change after that costs $9.99. You can change it as often as you want, but you have to wait at least 30 days between changes — so you cannot change it back when ready if you regret it.

The change takes effect across your entire PlayStation Network account, which means it updates on PS5, PS4, and any other PlayStation device you use. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after about 30 days.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first username change on PlayStation Network is free; every change after that costs $9.99.
  • You must wait at least 30 days between username changes, so plan ahead if you want to switch back.
  • The change applies to your entire PlayStation Network account across all devices, not just your PS5.
  • You change your username through your account settings on the PS5 console or through the PlayStation website, not through a game.
  • Some usernames cannot be changed to — PlayStation blocks names that contain profanity, impersonation, or hateful language.

How to change your username on PS5

Go to Settings on your PS5 home screen, then select Users and Accounts. Choose your user profile, then select Account, then Profile, then Online ID. Select Change Online ID. Type your new username and select Next. Review the name, confirm the change, and select Change.

If this is your first change, you will not see a charge. If you have already changed your username once, you will be prompted to pay $9.99 before the change goes through. You can also change your username through the PlayStation website by signing into your account, going to Account Settings, then Profile, then Online ID — the process is the same and costs the same.

What usernames PlayStation will not let you use

PlayStation has a filter that blocks usernames containing profanity, slurs, or hateful language. It also blocks names that impersonate real people or celebrities, names that look like official PlayStation accounts, and names that reference illegal activity. The filter is automated, so you will know when ready if a name is blocked — you will see an error message before you pay.

Names that were acceptable years ago may now be blocked if PlayStation's filter has been updated. If you are trying to reclaim an old username and it is being rejected, it likely violates current policy. You cannot appeal the filter decision or request an exception.

What happens to your old username

Your old username does not disappear right away. For about 30 days after you change it, your old name is reserved under your account and cannot be used by anyone else. After 30 days, it becomes available for another player to claim. This means someone else could eventually use your old username, so do not assume your former name is permanently tied to you.

Any messages, friend requests, or party invites sent to your old username will not reach you. Friends who have you added will still see you in their friends list under your new name, but anyone trying to search for your old username will not find you.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

You cannot change your username again until 30 days have passed since your last change. This applies whether you changed it on PS5, PS4, or through the website — the timer is account-wide. If you change your username today and regret it tomorrow, you are stuck with it for a month unless you pay $9.99 to change it again.

The 30-day timer starts the moment the change goes through, not when you initiate it. If you change your username on a Tuesday, you can change it again on the following Tuesday at the earliest.

Why PlayStation charges for username changes

Sony charges for username changes after the first one to reduce spam and account takeover fraud. When usernames are free to change, bad actors can impersonate other players, scam people, or harass others and then switch names to avoid consequences. The $9.99 fee and 30-day waiting period make it harder to do this at scale.

The fee also discourages people from treating their username like a temporary status update. PlayStation wants usernames to be relatively stable so that friends can find you and your reputation stays attached to your account.

What does not change when you change your username

Your PlayStation Network ID — the unique number assigned to your account — stays the same. Games, trophies, saved data, and your friends list all stay attached to your account. Your payment methods, subscriptions, and purchase history do not change. Only the name that other players see changes.

Some older games may display your old username for a while because they cache the name locally. This usually updates within a few hours or after you restart the game, but it is not when ready across all titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but you have to wait 30 days after you change away from it, and then you have to pay $9.99 to change back to it (unless it is your very first change). Your old username becomes available for others to claim after 30 days, so there is a window where you could lose it to someone else if you wait too long.

Do my friends have to re-add me after I change my username?

No. Your friends list updates automatically, and your friends will see your new username in their list without doing anything. They do not have to remove you and add you again.

Will my old username show up in my game chat history?

Messages you sent before the change will still show your old username in the chat history. Your new username applies going forward, but past conversations are not retroactively updated.

What if someone else takes my old username after 30 days?

You can still change back to it if you pay the $9.99 fee, but you would have to change to something else first, wait 30 days, then change back to your old name. There is no way to reclaim a username that someone else has already taken without going through that process.

Can I change my username on my PS5 if I do not have a credit card on file?

Yes for your first change, since it is free. For paid changes, you need a payment method on your account — you can add a credit card, debit card, or PayPal through your account settings before you attempt the change.