Your Fortnite username is separate from your Xbox username
When you change your Xbox username, your Fortnite account does not change automatically. Fortnite uses its own username system tied to your Epic Games account, not your Xbox profile. This means you need to log into Epic Games directly to change how your name appears in Fortnite — changing your Xbox name alone will not affect what other players see in the game.
The process takes about five minutes and requires access to the email address linked to your Epic Games account. You do not need to own a PC or be away from your Xbox to do this; you can make the change on any device with a web browser.
Key Takeaways
- Your Fortnite username lives in your Epic Games account, not your Xbox profile, so you must change it through Epic Games' website.
- You will need to know the email address connected to your Epic Games account and be able to receive a confirmation code sent to that email.
- Epic Games allows one username change every 30 days, so choose carefully — you cannot change it again for a month.
- The change takes effect when ready in Fortnite, but may take a few minutes to show up in your friends' lists and in-game chat.
Steps to change your username through Epic Games
Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email and password for your Epic Games account. If you are not sure whether your Xbox is linked to an Epic Games account, sign in anyway — if the account exists, you will see your Fortnite progress and cosmetics once you log in.
Once logged in, click your account name in the top right corner and select Account. Then click General in the left menu. You will see a field labeled Display Name — this is what appears in Fortnite. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit.
Type your new username. Epic Games requires usernames to be between 3 and 16 characters, using only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. No spaces or special characters are allowed. If the name is already taken, the website will tell you when ready and you can try another.
Click Confirm. Epic Games will send a six-digit code to the email address on your account. Check your inbox (and your spam folder if you do not see it right away) and enter the code on the confirmation page. Once you enter the code correctly, your new username is live in Fortnite.
What happens if you forget your Epic Games password
If you cannot remember the password to your Epic Games account, click Forgot Password on the Epic Games sign-in page. Epic Games will email you a link to reset it. Click that link, create a new password, and then follow the username-change steps above.
If you do not have access to the email address linked to your Epic Games account, you will need to contact Epic Games Support through their website. They can verify your identity and help you regain access, but this process takes longer than a password reset.
The 30-day waiting period between changes
Epic Games allows you to change your display name once every 30 days. If you have changed your username recently, you will see a message on the Display Name field telling you when you can change it again. This limit applies across all Epic Games titles, not just Fortnite.
If you made a typo or chose a name you regret, you have to wait the full 30 days before trying again. There is no way to speed this up or request an exception, so take your time choosing a name you will be happy with.
How your friends will see the change
Your new username appears when ready in your own Fortnite client. However, your friends may see the old name in their friends list for a few minutes while the change syncs across Epic Games' servers. In-game chat and match history will show your new name right away.
If a friend searches for you by your old username after you change it, they will not find you. Make sure to tell them your new name if they might try to add you or search for you in the next few minutes.
If your Xbox account is not linked to Epic Games
If you have never linked your Xbox account to Epic Games, you will need to do that first before you can change your Fortnite username. Start Fortnite on your Xbox One and look for a prompt to link your Epic Games account, or go to www.epicgames.com/signin and select Link next to Xbox. Sign in with your Xbox credentials, and Epic Games will either find your existing account or create a new one.
Once linked, follow the username-change steps above. Linking your account does not change your existing Fortnite progress or cosmetics — it just connects your Xbox profile to your Epic Games account so you can manage it from the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my Fortnite username affect my Xbox profile or my friends list?
No. Your Xbox username and Fortnite username are completely separate. Changing one does not touch the other. Your Xbox friends list stays the same, and your Fortnite friends will still see you as a friend — they will just see your new name.
Can I change my username more than once a month?
No. Epic Games enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. If you have already changed your name recently, you will have to wait until the cooldown expires before you can change it again.
What if the username I want is already taken?
The Epic Games website will tell you when ready if a name is taken when you try to confirm it. You will need to choose a different name. Taken names do not become available again unless the person who owns them deletes their account, which is rare.
Do I need to change my password after changing my username?
No. Changing your display name does not affect your password or account security. Your password stays the same unless you choose to change it separately.
How long does it take for my new username to show up in Fortnite?
Your new username appears in your own game when ready after you confirm the email code. It may take a few minutes to show up in other players' friends lists and in-game chat, but the change is live right away on your end.