Yes, you can change your Dead by Daylight username, but the process and limits depend on which platform you play on

Dead by Daylight lets you change your in-game name on most platforms, though Steam has stricter rules than console versions. On Steam, you can change your display name as often as you want through your Steam profile settings, but your actual Dead by Daylight account name — the one tied to your Behaviour account — stays the same. On PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, your username is locked to your console account, so changing it means changing your entire console identity, not just your Dead by Daylight name.

The confusion happens because Dead by Daylight uses two different name systems depending on where you play. Understanding which one applies to you saves time and prevents frustration when you're looking to rebrand.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam players can change their display name unlimited times through Steam settings, but this does not change their Behaviour account name.
  • PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch players cannot change their Dead by Daylight username without changing their entire console account name.
  • Your Behaviour account name (the one you log in with) is permanent and cannot be changed on any platform.
  • Changing your Steam display name takes effect when ready in Dead by Daylight and does not affect your progress or account security.

Changing your name on Steam

If you play Dead by Daylight on Steam, you have the most flexibility. Open Steam, click your profile name in the top right corner, and select "Profile." On your profile page, click "Edit Profile" and look for the "Profile Name" field. Type your new name and click "Save Changes." The new name shows up in Dead by Daylight within a few minutes.

You can change this name as many times as you want with no cooldown period and no cost. Other players will see your new name in the lobby, in-game, and on the scoreboard. Your Steam ID number stays the same, so friends can still find you and your account history remains intact.

One important note: changing your Steam display name does not change your Behaviour account name. Your Behaviour account is what you use to log into Dead by Daylight if you created an account through their website. If you ever need to contact Behaviour support, they will ask for your Behaviour username, not your Steam display name.

Console username changes on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

Console players face a harder limit. Your Dead by Daylight username is tied directly to your PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Nintendo Switch Online account. To change your Dead by Daylight name, you have to change your console account name itself.

On PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, go to Settings, then Account, then Profile, then Online ID. You can change your online ID, though PlayStation charges a fee for the first change and allows free changes after that (the fee structure varies by region). On Xbox, go to Settings, Account, then Personalization, then Gamertag. Xbox allows one free gamertag change and charges for additional changes. On Nintendo Switch, go to System Settings, Users, then select your profile and change your Nickname.

When you change your console account name, it changes everywhere — not just in Dead by Daylight, but in every game and service tied to that account. This is a system-wide change, not a game-specific one.

What you cannot change: Your Behaviour account name

Behaviour Entertainment, the studio behind Dead by Daylight, does not allow players to change the username on their Behaviour account. If you created an account at deadbydaylight.com or linked your Steam or console account to a Behaviour account, that username is permanent.

This matters if you use your Behaviour account to log in on multiple platforms or if you ever need customer support. Behaviour support will reference your Behaviour username in tickets, so you cannot change it to hide your account history or start fresh under a new name on their system.

Why your name might not change in-game

If you changed your Steam display name or console name but it is not showing up in Dead by Daylight, wait a few minutes and restart the game. Sometimes the client needs to refresh to pull the new name from your platform account. If it still does not appear after restarting, check that you actually saved the change on Steam or your console — it is straightforward to navigate away without confirming.

If you are playing on a console and changed your online ID but Dead by Daylight still shows your old name, the game may be pulling from a cached version of your account. Sign out of Dead by Daylight completely, restart your console, and sign back in. This forces the game to fetch your current console account information.

Changing your name does not affect your progress or rank

Your rank, bloodpoints, perks, cosmetics, and all progression stay with your account no matter what name you use. Changing your display name on Steam or your console name does not reset anything or move you to a different account. You keep your Elo rating, your seasonal rank, and your entire inventory.

The only thing that changes is what other players see when they look at you in the lobby or check the end-game scoreboard. Your friends list, your blocked players, and your account settings all remain the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. On Steam, you can change your display name back anytime. On console, you can change your account name back, though console platforms may charge a fee depending on how many times you have changed it. There is no limit to how many times you can revert to an old name.

Will changing my name get me banned?

No. Changing your name is a normal feature and will not trigger a ban. However, if your new name violates the game's code of conduct — for example, if it contains slurs or impersonates another player — Behaviour may force you to change it again or suspend your account.

Can I change my name to impersonate a streamer or pro player?

Technically you can change your name to anything, but Behaviour may take action if you use it to deceive other players. Impersonating someone to gain an unfair advantage or scam other players can result in a name change forced by support or account suspension.

What if I forgot my Behaviour account username?

You cannot change it, but you can recover it. Go to the Behaviour account login page, click "Forgot your username?" and enter the email address tied to your account. Behaviour will send you your username. If you no longer have access to that email, contact Behaviour support with proof of account ownership.

Does changing my name affect cross-progression?

No. If you have linked your Steam account to your console account through cross-progression, changing your name on one platform does not change it on the other. Each platform pulls your name from its own system, so you may appear with different names depending on where you are playing.