You can change your Pokémon GO username, but only once
Pokémon GO allows you to change the username you chose when you first created your account. However, you get exactly one free username change during the entire life of your account. After you use that change, you cannot alter your username again — the name you pick the second time is permanent.
The change takes effect when ready once you confirm it. Other players will see your new name in gyms, raids, and PvP battles right away. Your Pokédex, items, and progress all stay exactly the same; only the name displayed changes.
Key Takeaways
- You have one free username change available on any Pokémon GO account, and it cannot be undone or repeated.
- To change your username, open the app, tap your profile icon, select the username field, and choose a new name from the confirmation screen.
- Your new username must be between 1 and 15 characters and cannot contain spaces, special characters, or offensive language.
- The name change is when ready and visible to all other players when ready, but Niantic may reject names that violate their content policy.
How to change your username in the app
Open Pokémon GO and tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen. Select your profile picture or avatar in the top left corner. On your profile page, look for your current username displayed near the top. Tap directly on the username text to open the edit field.
Type your new username into the text box. The name must be between 1 and 15 characters long. You cannot use spaces, periods, hyphens, underscores, or any special characters — only letters and numbers are allowed. Once you have typed the new name, tap the checkmark or confirm button to proceed.
Niantic will check your new username against their content policy. If the name contains language they consider offensive, sexually explicit, or otherwise against their rules, the system will reject it and ask you to choose a different one. If your name is accepted, you will see a confirmation message, and the change takes effect when ready.
What happens if you have already used your one change
If you have already changed your username once on your account, the edit option will no longer appear on your profile page. Tapping your username will show it as a fixed field with no way to modify it. Niantic does not offer a second username change under any circumstances, even if you contact their support team.
Some players contact Niantic support hoping to request a second change as a special exception. Support will not grant this request. The one-change limit is a permanent account restriction, not a quota that resets or that can be waived.
Rules for what your new username can be
Your username must contain only letters (A–Z, a–z) and numbers (0–9). Spaces, hyphens, underscores, periods, and all other punctuation are not allowed. The minimum length is 1 character and the maximum is 15 characters.
Niantic blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, sexual content, or references to illegal activity. Names that impersonate real people, celebrities, or Niantic staff are also rejected. If your chosen name is flagged, you will be told it violates the content policy and given the chance to enter a different name before you confirm the change.
Why you might want to change your username before it is too late
Many players choose a username quickly when they first start playing and later regret it. Common reasons to change include a name that is too similar to someone else's, a username that no longer fits your interests, or a name you created as a joke that you have grown tired of. Since you only get one change, it is worth thinking carefully about what name you want to keep permanently.
If you are part of a team or community group, you might also want to align your username with a theme or prefix that other players in your group use. Making that change while you still have your one free change available means you can coordinate with your community without losing the ability to change later.
What does not change when you change your username
Your trainer level, Pokédex, caught Pokémon, items, Poké Coins, and all other account data remain exactly the same. Friends will still see you as the same person; your friend list does not reset. Your raid and gym history stays on your account. The only thing that changes is the name displayed above your avatar to other players.
If you have a custom avatar or profile picture set, that stays the same too. The username change is purely cosmetic and does not affect any of your game progress or account standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username more than once?
No. You have one free username change for the entire life of your account. After you use it, your username becomes permanent and cannot be changed again, even if you contact Niantic support or pay money.
How long does it take for my new username to show up?
Your new username appears when ready to all other players once you confirm the change in the app. You do not need to restart the game or wait for a server update.
What if someone else already has the username I want?
Pokémon GO allows multiple players to have the same username. You can choose any name that follows the character rules and content policy, even if another player is already using it.
Can I change my username back to my old one?
Technically yes, but only if you have not yet used your one free change. If you have already changed your username once, you cannot change it again, so you cannot revert to your original name.
What happens if Niantic rejects my username choice?
The system will tell you the name violates the content policy and let you type a new one. You can keep trying different names until you pick one that is accepted. Rejected attempts do not count against your one free change.