The quickest way to change your username
You can change your PlayStation username through your account settings on any PlayStation console or through the PlayStation website. The process takes about five minutes and doesn't require you to create a new account — your games, friends list, and saved data all stay with your existing profile.
The first change is free. If you want to change it again, PlayStation charges a fee (the amount varies by region). You can change your username as often as you want after paying, but you'll pay each time.
Your new username appears to other players when ready, but some games may take a few hours to show the change in their own systems. Your old username is released and can be claimed by someone else.
Key Takeaways
- Your first username change is free, and you can do it from your console, the PlayStation app, or the PlayStation website.
- The change takes effect right away for most games, though some older games may take a few hours to catch up.
- Your games, trophies, friends list, and saved data stay attached to your account no matter what username you choose.
- If you change your username and then want to change it back, you'll pay the regional fee the second time around.
Changing your username on a PlayStation 5 or PS4
Start at the home screen and go to your profile icon in the top-left corner. Select Profile, then scroll down and choose Account. From there, select Other, then Change Your Profile.
You'll see a field with your current username. Select it and type your new username. PlayStation will check whether it's available as you type. If the name is taken, you'll see a message and need to try something different. Once you find one that's available, select Change to confirm.
The system will ask you to enter your password to verify it's really you. Type it in and select Confirm. Your new username is now active.
Changing your username through the PlayStation website
Go to www.playstation.com and sign in with your account. Select your profile icon in the top-right corner and choose Account Settings. From the menu on the left, select Profile.
You'll see a section labeled Online ID with your current username. Select the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username and select Check Availability to see if it's taken. If it's available, select Change Online ID to finish.
You may need to sign in again to confirm the change. After that, your new username is live across all your PlayStation devices.
What happens to your old username
Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for anyone else to use. You can't reserve it or get it back later unless you change your username again and happen to pick the same one — but someone else may have claimed it by then.
Your friends will see your new username in their friends list right away. Messages you sent before the change still show your old username in the conversation history, but your profile and all future messages show the new one.
Games that may not update your username right away
Most modern games pull your username from PlayStation's servers and update it within minutes. Older games, particularly those released before 2018, sometimes store your username in their own systems and may take several hours or even a day to sync the change.
If a game still shows your old username after a few hours, try signing out and back in, or restart the game entirely. If it still doesn't update after a day, the game may not support username changes at all — this is rare but happens with a small number of older titles.
If you need to undo the change
You can change your username back to your old one, but you'll pay the regional fee to do it. There's no "undo" button that reverses the change for free — each change after the first one costs money, whether you're changing to something new or reverting to something old.
If you changed your username by mistake and want to change it back when ready, you'll need to pay the fee. Some players choose to wait and see if they like the new username before deciding whether to pay to change it again.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you see a message that your username is unavailable even though you just typed it, wait a few seconds and try again. PlayStation's availability checker sometimes lags slightly, and the name may actually be free.
If you can't find the change option in your account settings, make sure you're signed into the account you want to change. You can only change the username of the account you're currently using — you can't change someone else's username from your own account.
If the change won't go through and you keep getting an error, try signing out completely and signing back in, then attempt the change again. If the problem persists, restart your console or try the change through the website instead of the console.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my games or trophies if I change my username?
No. Your games, trophies, saved data, and friends list all stay attached to your account. Changing your username is purely cosmetic — it only changes what other players see when they look at your profile.
Can I change my username more than once?
Yes. Your first change is free. After that, each change costs a fee that varies by region. You can change it as many times as you want if you're willing to pay each time.
What if someone else takes my old username?
Once you change your username, the old one becomes available when ready. If someone claims it before you change your mind, you can't get it back unless you change your username again and happen to pick the same one later.
Will my friends see the change right away?
Yes. Your friends will see your new username in their friends list within seconds. Old messages in your chat history still show your old username, but all new messages show the new one.
Why does one game still show my old username?
Older games sometimes store your username in their own systems instead of pulling it from PlayStation's servers. These games may take several hours to sync the change, or in rare cases may not support username changes at all.