Your Fortnite name changes separately from your PlayStation Network name

When you change your PlayStation Network username, your Fortnite account does not automatically update. Fortnite uses its own username system tied to your Epic Games account, not your PSN name. This means you need to make the change in a different place — through Epic Games, not through your PS5 settings.

The process takes about five minutes and requires you to sign into your Epic Games account from a web browser. Your new Fortnite username will show up the next time you launch the game on your PS5.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite username is controlled by Epic Games, not PlayStation, so you must change it on the Epic Games website.
  • You need to know the email address or phone number linked to your Epic Games account to sign in and make the change.
  • Fortnite allows one free username change every 30 days; additional changes within that period cost 1,000 V-Bucks (the in-game currency).
  • The new username appears in Fortnite after you restart the game, not when ready.

Steps to change your Fortnite username through Epic Games

Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In in the top right corner. Enter the email address or phone number connected to your Epic Games account, then your password. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will need to complete that step as well.

Once you are signed in, click your account name in the top right corner and select Account. On the left side menu, click General. You will see a field labeled Display Name — this is your Fortnite username. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit.

Type your new username in the text box. Epic Games will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or violates their naming rules (no profanity, no impersonation of real people, no excessive symbols). Once you see a green checkmark, click Save. The change takes effect the next time you launch Fortnite on your PS5.

What happens if you change your PSN name but not your Fortnite name

Your PSN username and your Fortnite display name are completely separate. If you change only your PlayStation Network name, other players will see your new PSN name on your PS5 profile, but they will still see your old Fortnite username when you are in a match or on their friends list in Fortnite.

This can be confusing if you change your PSN name and forget to update Fortnite. Your friends might not recognize you in the game. The solution is to follow the steps above and change your Epic Games display name to match.

The 30-day free change window and V-Bucks cost

Epic Games allows you to change your Fortnite username once every 30 days for free. If you want to change it again before 30 days have passed, the second change costs 1,000 V-Bucks. A third change in the same 30-day period costs 1,000 V-Bucks again, and so on.

The 30-day timer starts from the date of your last successful change, not from when you attempted a change. If you make a free change on January 15, you can make another free change on February 14. After that, any changes cost V-Bucks until 30 days have passed from the February 14 change.

Reasons your username change might not work

If you click Save and see an error message, the most common reason is that the username is already taken. Try a different name. Epic Games also blocks usernames that contain slurs, impersonate celebrities or public figures, or use excessive numbers and symbols in a row.

If you are getting a different error — such as "Something went wrong" — try signing out and signing back in. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If the problem persists, you may need to wait a few hours; Epic Games sometimes has brief outages on their account management pages.

Linking your PSN account to Epic Games if you have not already

Your PS5 Fortnite account must be connected to an Epic Games account for any of this to work. When you first launch Fortnite on PS5, the game usually prompts you to link your accounts. If you skipped that step, you can link them manually.

Go to www.epicgames.com, sign into your Epic Games account, and click your account name in the top right. Select Connections. Find PlayStation Network in the list and click Connect. You will be asked to sign into your PSN account. Once you authorize the connection, your PS5 Fortnite progress is tied to that Epic Games account, and you can change your username from there.

What other players see when you change your name

When you change your Fortnite username, players who were already your friends will see the new name the next time they log in. In your match history and on leaderboards, your new name will appear for future matches, but past matches will still show your old username.

If someone was not your friend and only knows you by your old Fortnite name, they will not be able to find you by searching for that old name anymore. They would need to know your new username or your PSN name to locate you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Fortnite username on my PS5 without going to a website?

No. You must use the Epic Games website to change your Fortnite username. There is no way to do it directly from your PS5 console. You need a web browser and access to your Epic Games account.

What if I forgot the email or phone number linked to my Epic Games account?

Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In. Click Trouble signing in? and select I forgot my email or phone number. Epic Games will ask you to verify your identity using your PSN account or another method. Once verified, they will show you the email or phone number on file.

Do I lose my V-Bucks or cosmetics if I change my username?

No. Changing your username does not affect your V-Bucks, skins, emotes, or any other items in your account. Only the display name changes. All your progress and purchases remain exactly the same.

How long does it take for my new Fortnite username to show up in the game?

The change takes effect the next time you close and relaunch Fortnite on your PS5. You do not need to restart your console. If you are already in a match when you make the change, finish the match, close the game completely, and open it again.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes, but only if you have a free change available. If you changed your name and then want to revert to your old name within 30 days, you will have to pay 1,000 V-Bucks to do so (unless your free change is still available). After 30 days, you get one free change again.