You can change your Pokémon GO username, but only once and only within 30 days of creating your account

Pokémon GO lets you change your username one time during the first 30 days after you create your account. After that window closes, your username becomes permanent — Niantic, the company that makes the game, does not offer username changes for established accounts. If you created your account more than 30 days ago, you cannot change it through the normal settings.

The one-time change is meant to catch mistakes or names you regret before you settle into the game. Once you use that single change, you are locked into your new username for as long as you play.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 30 days from account creation to change your username once; after that, it cannot be changed.
  • The change happens in the Settings menu under your profile, and takes effect when ready.
  • If you miss the 30-day window, your only option is to create a new account and start over.
  • Usernames must be between 1 and 15 characters and cannot contain spaces or special characters.
  • If your username violates Pokémon GO's code of conduct, Niantic may force a change and lock you out until you pick a new one.

How to change your username before the 30-day important date

Open Pokémon GO and tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen. Select Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Tap your username at the top of the screen. You will see an option to change your name if you are still within the 30-day window. Type your new username, which must be 1 to 15 characters long and cannot include spaces or special characters like hyphens or underscores.

Tap the checkmark or confirm button to save the change. The new username takes effect when ready and appears to other players in raids, battles, and on your profile. If you do not see a change option in Settings, you are past the 30-day window and cannot make this change.

What happens if you miss the 30-day window

Once 30 days have passed since you created your account, the option to change your username disappears from Settings. Niantic does not make exceptions to this rule, even if you contact support. Your username is now permanent for that account.

If you strongly dislike your username, your only path forward is to create a new Pokémon GO account with a different email address or Google account. You will start at level 1 with no Pokémon, no items, and no progress. Any money you spent on that first account — Poké Coins, battle passes, or cosmetics — stays on the old account and does not transfer.

Username rules and what Niantic will not allow

Your username must be between 1 and 15 characters. You cannot use spaces, periods, hyphens, underscores, or other special characters. Niantic blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to real people's names, and usernames that impersonate official Pokémon GO accounts or Niantic staff.

If your username breaks these rules, Niantic may lock your account and force you to change it before you can play again. You will receive an email explaining the violation. Even if you are past the 30-day window, a forced change due to a code violation does not count against your one allowed change — you can change it again if Niantic requires it.

Why Niantic limits username changes to once

Limiting changes to a single use prevents players from constantly switching names to avoid detection if they cheat, spoof their location, or break the game's terms of service. It also keeps the friend list and raid group system stable — if a player could change their name every week, other players would lose track of who they are raiding with or battling against.

The 30-day window gives you time to test out your username in the game world and decide if you like how it looks on your profile and in battle screens before it becomes locked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after 30 days if I pay money?

No. Niantic does not offer paid username changes at any point. The one-time change is free and available only within 30 days of account creation. After that, the feature is gone permanently for that account.

What if I forgot to change my username and now it is day 31?

You cannot change it on that account. Your only option is to create a new account with a different email address and choose a new username during the first 30 days. You will lose all progress, Pokémon, and items on the old account.

Can I use the same username on a new account if I create one?

Yes. Once you delete or stop using an old account, that username becomes available for new accounts. However, Niantic may take weeks or months to fully release the old username from their system, so you might not be able to claim it when ready.

What counts as a special character I cannot use?

Spaces, periods, commas, hyphens, underscores, apostrophes, and symbols like @, #, $, %, and & are all blocked. Numbers and letters are allowed. Some accented letters may work, but it is safest to stick with standard English letters and numbers.

If Niantic forces me to change my username for breaking the rules, do I lose my one free change?

No. Forced changes due to code violations do not count against your one allowed change. You can still change your username once more if you want to, even after a forced change.