Your PlayStation username and Fortnite display name are separate

Changing how your name appears in Fortnite on PS4 involves two different systems, and they do not automatically sync. Your PlayStation Network (PSN) username is what appears on your PS4 console and in your PSN profile across all games. Your Fortnite display name is what other players see inside Fortnite matches and on your Fortnite profile — this is controlled by Epic Games, not Sony.

If you want to change only how you appear to other Fortnite players, you change your Fortnite display name through Epic Games. If you want to change your PSN username itself (which affects your entire PS4 account and all games), that is a separate process through PlayStation. Most players who ask about changing their Fortnite name are looking to change the Fortnite display name, since that is faster and does not affect other games.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite display name is controlled by Epic Games and is separate from your PlayStation username — changing one does not change the other.
  • To change your Fortnite display name, log into your Epic Games account on a web browser, go to Account Settings, select Display Name, and enter a new name.
  • Fortnite display names can be changed once every 30 days, and the name must be between 3 and 16 characters with no spaces or special characters except underscores and hyphens.
  • If you want to change your actual PlayStation username instead, that is done through your PS4 console settings and costs $9.99 for the first change, then $4.99 for each change after that.
  • Your old Fortnite display name becomes available for other players to use when ready after you change it.

How to change your Fortnite display name through Epic Games

Go to www.epicgames.com in a web browser and sign in with the Epic Games account linked to your PS4. Once you are logged in, click your account icon in the top right corner and select Account. From the left menu, click General, then scroll down to find the Display Name field.

Click the pencil icon next to your current display name to edit it. Type your new name — it must be between 3 and 16 characters, and you can use letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens, but no spaces or other special characters. Click Save when you are done. The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite, though it may take a few minutes to update across all servers.

You can only change your Fortnite display name once every 30 days. If you try to change it again before 30 days have passed, the system will tell you when you are may be able to access to change it next. This cooldown applies whether your previous change was successful or you changed it back to an old name.

What happens if your desired name is already taken

Fortnite display names are not unique — multiple players can have the same display name. However, Epic Games reserves certain names and does not allow them to be used. If you try to save a name and get an error message, the name is either reserved by Epic or contains a word or phrase that violates Fortnite's code of conduct.

Common reasons a name is rejected include profanity, slurs, impersonation of celebrities or streamers, or references to illegal activity. If your name is rejected, try a different combination. You are not charged or penalized for attempting a name that is rejected — you straightforward try again with a different name.

Changing your PlayStation username instead

If you want to change your actual PSN username (the name that appears on your PS4 console and in all games, not just Fortnite), you do that through your PS4 settings, not through Epic Games. On your PS4, go to Settings, then Account, then Profile, then Edit Profile. Select Change Name and enter your new username.

Your first PSN username change costs $9.99. Each change after that costs $4.99. You cannot change your PSN username more than once every 60 days. When you change your PSN username, it changes across your entire PS4 account and affects how you appear in all games, not just Fortnite — your Fortnite display name does not automatically update.

If you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, you get one free PSN username change. Check your account to see if you have already used this free change, because once it is used, all future changes cost money.

Linking a new Epic Games account to your PS4

If you want to start fresh with a completely different Fortnite account on your PS4, you can unlink your current Epic Games account and link a different one. On your PS4, go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Other, then Connected Services. Find Epic Games and select Disconnect.

Once disconnected, start Fortnite on your PS4. You will be prompted to link an Epic Games account. You can either sign in with a different existing Epic Games account or create a new one. If you create a new account, you will start with a fresh Fortnite profile, no cosmetics, and no Battle Pass progress — this cannot be undone.

Why your Fortnite name might not be updating in-game

If you changed your Fortnite display name but it is still showing your old name in matches, the change may not have fully synced across Fortnite's servers yet. Wait 5 to 10 minutes and restart Fortnite on your PS4. Close the game completely (not just the menu), then launch it again.

If your name still has not updated after restarting, sign out of your PS4 account completely, then sign back in. This forces your PS4 to refresh your account data. If the name still does not update after that, the issue may be on Epic Games' end — check the Epic Games status page at status.epicgames.com to see if there are any known server issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite display name more than once every 30 days?

No. Epic Games enforces a 30-day cooldown between display name changes. If you try to change it before 30 days have passed since your last change, the system will show you the exact date you are may be able to access to change it again. This applies even if you change your name back to a previous name.

Does changing my Fortnite display name affect my PSN username?

No. Your Fortnite display name and your PlayStation username are completely separate. Changing one does not affect the other. If you want to change both, you have to do each one separately through its own system.

What characters can I use in my Fortnite display name?

You can use letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), underscores (_), and hyphens (-). You cannot use spaces, periods, or other special characters. Your name must be between 3 and 16 characters long.

If I change my Fortnite display name, can someone else take my old name?

Yes. Your old display name becomes available for any other player to use when ready after you change it. If you want to keep that name reserved, do not change it. There is no way to reclaim an old name once someone else has taken it.

Do I lose my cosmetics or progress if I change my display name?

No. Changing your Fortnite display name does not affect your cosmetics, Battle Pass progress, V-Bucks, or any other account data. Only the name that appears to other players changes.