Your Fortnite username changes through Epic Games, not through Xbox

Your Fortnite name and your Xbox gamertag are separate. Changing your Xbox name does not change your Fortnite username. To update what other players see when you play Fortnite, you log into your Epic Games account on a computer or phone and change it there. The process takes about five minutes and takes effect when ready in the game.

You will need to know the email address or username you use to log into Epic Games. If you have forgotten it, you can recover it before you start. Your Fortnite account must be linked to your Xbox account for this to work — most accounts created through Xbox are linked automatically, but you can verify this in your Epic Games settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Fortnite usernames are managed through Epic Games, not Xbox, so you change it on the Epic Games website or app, not in Xbox settings.
  • You need to log into your Epic Games account with the email address or username you registered with.
  • The new username takes effect when ready in Fortnite, but you can only change it once every 30 days.
  • If your Epic Games account is not linked to your Xbox account, you must link them first before the change will show in your game.

Step 1: Go to the Epic Games website and sign in

Open a web browser on your computer or phone and go to www.epicgames.com. Click the Sign In button in the top right corner. Enter the email address or username associated with your Epic Games account, then enter your password.

If you see a screen asking you to verify your identity, check the email address you registered with. Epic Games will send you a link to confirm it is really you. Click that link, then return to the website and sign in again.

Step 2: Open your account settings

Once you are signed in, click your account name or profile icon in the top right corner. A menu will appear. Click Account. You will see a list of options on the left side of the screen.

Look for the option labeled General (sometimes called Account in older versions). Click it. This page shows your current display name — the name that appears to other players in Fortnite.

Step 3: Change your display name

On the General page, find the field labeled Display Name. Click inside it and delete your current name. Type the new username you want. Usernames can be 3 to 16 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores, but no spaces or special characters like hyphens or periods.

After you type the new name, click the Save button. Epic Games will tell you whether the name is available. If someone else has already taken it, you will see an error message and can try a different name. Once you see a confirmation that the change was saved, your new username is active in Fortnite.

What happens if you cannot change your username

If you see a message saying you cannot change your name, the most common reason is that you changed it within the last 30 days. Epic Games limits username changes to once per month. If you changed it recently, you will have to wait until 30 days have passed since the last change.

Another reason the change might fail is if your Epic Games account is not linked to your Xbox account. To check this, go back to your account settings and click Connections. Look for Xbox Network in the list. If it shows Connect instead of a connected status, click Connect, sign in with your Xbox credentials, and authorize the link. Then try changing your display name again.

Your new username in Fortnite on Xbox One

Once the change is saved, launch Fortnite on your Xbox One. Your new username will appear in the lobby and in-game. Other players will see the new name when you join matches or appear on their friends list. The change is permanent until you change it again, which you can do after 30 days have passed.

If you are playing with friends and they still see your old name, ask them to restart Fortnite or restart their Xbox. Sometimes the game takes a few minutes to refresh the name across all players' screens, especially if they were already in a match when you made the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Fortnite username change my Xbox gamertag?

No. Your Fortnite display name and your Xbox gamertag are completely separate. Changing one does not affect the other. You can have a different name in Fortnite than your Xbox gamertag shows.

Can I change my username more than once a month?

No. Epic Games allows one username change every 30 days. If you try to change it again before 30 days have passed since your last change, you will see an error message telling you when you can change it next.

What characters can I use in my Fortnite username?

You can use letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or other special characters. Your username must be between 3 and 16 characters long.

Do my friends see my new username right away?

The change takes effect when ready on your account, but your friends may see your old name for a few minutes until their game refreshes. If they restart Fortnite or restart their Xbox, they will see the new name right away.

What if the username I want is already taken?

Try a variation of the name you want. You can add numbers at the end, use an underscore in the middle, or choose a different name altogether. Epic Games will tell you when ready whether a name is available when you try to save it.