Your Fortnite username is separate from your Xbox gamertag

When you play Fortnite on Xbox, you actually have two names: your Xbox gamertag (which Xbox controls) and your Epic Games username (which Fortnite uses). Changing one does not change the other. If you want a different name in Fortnite specifically, you need to change your Epic Games account name, not your Xbox name. This takes about five minutes and costs nothing.

Epic Games lets you change your display name once every 30 days. If you changed it recently, you will have to wait until the 30-day window closes before you can change it again. The name you pick has to be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot include spaces or most special characters.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Fortnite name lives on your Epic Games account, not on Xbox, so you change it through the Epic Games website, not through Xbox settings.
  • You can change your display name once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready across all platforms where you play Fortnite.
  • Your new name must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters and numbers but not spaces or most punctuation marks.
  • If you linked your Epic Games account to Xbox, changing your Epic Games name will not affect your Xbox gamertag or your Xbox friends list.

How to change your display name on Epic Games

Go to www.epicgames.com and sign in with the email address and password you use for Fortnite. If you are not sure whether you have an Epic Games account or what email it uses, you can check by going to the Fortnite launcher on your Xbox, selecting your profile, and looking for "Connected Accounts" — it will show you which Epic Games account is linked to your Xbox.

Once you are signed in on the Epic Games website, click your account name in the top right corner and select "Account". Then click "General" on the left side. You will see a field labeled "Display Name" — this is the name that shows up in Fortnite. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new name, then click "Save". The change takes effect when ready.

If you see a message saying you cannot change your name yet, you changed it within the last 30 days. Epic Games enforces a 30-day waiting period between changes. You can see when you will be able to change it again by looking at the same Display Name field — it will show you the date.

What happens to your name across different platforms

Your Epic Games display name is the same everywhere you play Fortnite — on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, or mobile. If you change it on the Epic Games website, it changes in Fortnite on all those platforms at once. You do not have to make the change separately on each device.

Your Xbox gamertag stays the same. Friends on your Xbox friends list will still see your Xbox gamertag, not your Fortnite name. In Fortnite itself, other players will see your Epic Games display name. This separation means you can have a professional Xbox gamertag and a different Fortnite name if you want.

Troubleshooting: name already taken or contains banned words

If you try to save a new name and get an error message, the most common reasons are: the name is already taken by another player, the name contains a word Epic Games has flagged as inappropriate, or the name includes characters that are not allowed (like spaces, hyphens, or symbols). Try removing any numbers or punctuation and using only letters, or pick a completely different name.

If you believe your name was rejected unfairly — for example, it is a common word that should not be flagged — you can contact Epic Games support through their website. Go to www.epicgames.com/help, select "Fortnite", and then "Account and Connections". You can describe the issue and submit a ticket. Response times vary, but Epic Games typically replies within a few business days.

If you cannot sign in to your Epic Games account

If you forgot your Epic Games password, go to www.epicgames.com and click "Sign In", then click "Forgot Password?" at the bottom. Enter the email address associated with your account. Epic Games will send you a link to reset your password. Check your email (including spam folders) and click the link within 24 hours.

If you do not remember which email address you used when you created your Epic Games account, you can check from your Xbox. On your Xbox, open Fortnite, go to your profile, and look for "Connected Accounts". It will show you the email address linked to your Epic Games account. Use that email to reset your password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Fortnite name affect my Xbox friends list?

No. Your Xbox friends list is tied to your Xbox gamertag, which does not change when you change your Fortnite display name. Your Xbox friends will still see your Xbox gamertag in their friends list. In Fortnite, they will see your new Epic Games display name.

Can I change my name more than once a month?

No. Epic Games enforces a 30-day waiting period between display name changes. If you change your name today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. The exact date you can change it next will be shown on your account page.

What characters can I use in my Fortnite name?

You can use letters (A–Z) and numbers (0–9). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, underscores, periods, or most other symbols. Your name must be between 3 and 16 characters long. If you try to save a name with forbidden characters, Epic Games will show you an error message.

If I change my Epic Games display name, do I have to change it on my Xbox too?

No. Your Xbox gamertag and your Fortnite display name are completely separate. Changing one does not affect the other. You only need to change your Epic Games display name if you want a different name in Fortnite.

How long does it take for my new Fortnite name to show up?

The change takes effect when ready after you click Save on the Epic Games website. The next time you launch Fortnite on your Xbox, you will see your new name. Other players will see your new name right away too.