You change your Pokémon TCG Live username through the in-game settings menu, not through your Pokémon account page

Pokémon TCG Live stores your username separately from your main Pokémon account. This means changing your username in one place does not change it in the other. If you want a different name to appear when you play TCG Live, you need to go into the game itself and update it there.

The process takes about two minutes and does not require you to log out or restart the game. You can change your username as often as you want, though the game may enforce a waiting period between changes — typically 30 days — to prevent abuse.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Pokémon TCG Live, tap the menu icon in the top left corner, and select Settings to find the username change option.
  • Your TCG Live username is separate from your main Pokémon account username and must be changed within the game.
  • You can use letters, numbers, and underscores in your new username, but the game will reject names that are already taken or violate content policies.
  • After you change your username, it updates when ready in the game and appears to other players right away.

Steps to change your username in the game

Start by opening Pokémon TCG Live on your device. Look for the menu icon — three horizontal lines — in the top left corner of the screen and tap it. This opens a sidebar menu with several options.

Scroll down in the menu until you see Settings. Tap Settings to open the preferences page. Look for an option labeled Username, Change Username, or Profile Name depending on your game version. Tap that option to open the username editor.

Type your new username into the text field. The game will show you how many characters you have used and how many remain. Most usernames can be between 3 and 16 characters long. Once you have entered your new name, tap Confirm, Save, or explore — the exact button label varies by platform.

The game will check whether the name is available. If another player already has that username, the game will tell you it is taken and ask you to choose something else. If the name violates Pokémon's content policy — for example, if it contains hate speech or impersonates a real person — the game will reject it. If the name is available and acceptable, it will update when ready.

What characters and symbols you can use

Pokémon TCG Live accepts letters (A–Z, both uppercase and lowercase), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or special characters like @, #, or &. If you try to use a character the game does not allow, the text field will straightforward not accept it.

The game does not distinguish between uppercase and lowercase in the uniqueness check, so "JamesRodriguez" and "jamesrodriguez" are treated as the same name. You can use uppercase letters for style, but you cannot reserve a name by changing only the capitalization.

If your preferred username is already taken

When you see the message that a username is taken, you have two options: choose a different name, or wait to see if the original owner stops playing and the name becomes available again. Pokémon does not publicly state how long inactive accounts keep their usernames, so this is not a reliable strategy.

A common workaround is to add numbers or underscores to your preferred name. For example, if "JamesRodriguez" is taken, you might try "JamesRodriguez1", "JamesRodriguez_", or "James_Rodriguez". You can also check whether a slightly different spelling works — "JamesRodriquez" instead of "JamesRodriguez" — though this changes how your name appears to other players.

Waiting periods between username changes

After you change your username, you may not be able to change it again when ready. Pokémon TCG Live typically enforces a 30-day waiting period between changes to prevent players from cycling through names rapidly. This limit exists to help other players recognize you consistently and to prevent name-squatting.

If you try to change your username before the waiting period ends, the game will show you a message stating when you can change it next. Mark that date on your calendar if you know you will want to change your name again soon.

Your username versus your account name

Pokémon TCG Live uses two different names: your account name (the email or Pokémon ID you use to log in) and your in-game username (what other players see). Changing your TCG Live username does not change your account login credentials. You will still log in with your original email or Pokémon account.

If you need to change the email address or password associated with your account, you do that through the main Pokémon website or app, not through TCG Live. That process is separate and does not affect your in-game username.

Troubleshooting if the change does not work

If you tap Confirm and the username does not update, first check your internet connection. TCG Live needs an active connection to save changes to the Pokémon servers. If your connection dropped during the save, the change may not have gone through.

Close the game completely and reopen it. Sometimes the settings menu does not refresh properly until you restart. If the old username still appears after you reopen the game, try the change again. If the same error message appears every time, the username may have been taken by another player between when you first tried it and when you tried again.

If you see a message saying your account is restricted or that you cannot change your username, your account may have violated Pokémon's terms of service. Check your email for any messages from Pokémon Support explaining the restriction. You may need to contact Pokémon Support directly to restore full access to your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my TCG Live username change my Pokémon account username?

No. TCG Live and your main Pokémon account have separate usernames. Changing one does not affect the other. If you want both to match, you need to change them separately in each place.

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

Yes, but only after the waiting period ends. If you changed your username 30 days ago and want to go back to your old name, you can do so as long as no one else has claimed that name in the meantime. If someone else took it, you will need to choose a different name.

What happens to my username if I stop playing for a long time?

Pokémon does not publicly state when inactive usernames become available to other players. Your username is tied to your account, so as long as your account exists, your username is reserved. Deleting your account would free up the username, but that is permanent and cannot be undone.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. TCG Live only accepts letters, numbers, and underscores. If you try to type a special character, the game will not let you enter it into the text field.