Change your username through Steam or your console account

Dead by Daylight pulls your username from whichever platform you play on — Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. You cannot change your name inside the game itself. Instead, you change the account name on the platform, and Dead by Daylight updates automatically within a few hours.

The steps differ depending on where you play. On PC through Steam, you edit your profile name in Steam settings. On PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch, you change your account name through that console's settings menu. The game does not store a separate username — it reads whatever name your platform account displays.

One important note: changing your platform account name affects that name everywhere you play on that platform, not just in Dead by Daylight. If you use the same account for other games, they will all show your new name.

Key Takeaways

  • Dead by Daylight usernames come from your Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch account — you cannot change the name inside the game.
  • On Steam, go to your profile, click Edit Profile, and change the name in the "Profile Name" field.
  • On console, open your account settings from the home screen and look for Profile, Account, or Gamertag settings depending on your platform.
  • After you change your account name, Dead by Daylight updates within a few hours, though you may need to restart the game to see the change.
  • Changing your platform account name changes your name in all games on that platform, not just Dead by Daylight.

Change your name on Steam

Open Steam and click your account name in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, look for an "Edit Profile" button — it appears in the top right if you are viewing your own profile. Click it.

In the edit screen, find the field labeled "Profile Name" near the top. This is the name that appears in Dead by Daylight and all other Steam games. Type your new name and scroll down to click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page. Steam saves the change when ready, though Dead by Daylight may take a few hours to display the new name in-game.

If you do not see an Edit Profile button, make sure you are logged into your own account. You can only edit your own profile name, not anyone else's.

Change your name on PlayStation

On your PlayStation console, go to Settings from the home screen. Select "Users and Accounts," then "Other" (or "Account" on older PS4 systems), then "Profile." Choose "Edit Profile" and select the field that shows your current name. Type your new name and confirm the change.

PlayStation allows you to change your account name once for free. If you want to change it again, you will need to pay a fee through the PlayStation Store. Dead by Daylight will show your new name within a few hours of the change.

Change your name on Xbox

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. Go to "Profile & system," then "Profile," then "Customize profile." Select "Gamertag," then "Change gamertag." Type your new name and follow the prompts to confirm.

Xbox charges a fee for gamertag changes after your first one. Your new gamertag appears in Dead by Daylight and all other Xbox games within a few hours. If you see your old name still showing in Dead by Daylight after that time, restart the game to force it to refresh.

Change your name on Nintendo Switch

From the home screen, select System Settings. Go to "Users," then select your user account. Choose "Profile," then "Nickname." Type your new nickname and press OK. Nintendo Switch allows unlimited nickname changes at no cost.

Dead by Daylight will display your new nickname within a few hours. If the game still shows your old name, close Dead by Daylight completely and reopen it to refresh the connection to your Switch account.

What happens to your old name in the game

When you change your platform account name, your Dead by Daylight profile keeps all your progress, perks, cosmetics, and rank. Only the name displayed to other players changes. Other players will see your new name in the lobby and in-game, but your account history and unlocked content remain exactly the same.

If you played with friends before the name change, they will see your new name the next time they load the game. There is no way to revert to your old name through Dead by Daylight — you would have to change your platform account name again.

Troubleshooting: your name did not change in Dead by Daylight

If you changed your platform account name but Dead by Daylight still shows the old name after several hours, try restarting the game. Close it completely and reopen it. This forces the game to refresh its connection to your platform account.

If the name still has not updated after a restart, check that you changed the correct field on your platform. On Steam, make sure you edited "Profile Name," not "Real Name." On console, confirm you changed your account name or gamertag, not a nickname or display name in a specific game.

If you changed your name very recently, wait a full 24 hours before troubleshooting further. Platform changes sometimes take longer than a few hours to sync across all games, especially if you were playing when you made the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Dead by Daylight name without changing my Steam or console name?

No. Dead by Daylight does not have its own username system. The name you see in the game comes directly from your Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch account. There is no separate setting inside Dead by Daylight to override it.

Will changing my name affect my rank or perks?

No. Your account keeps all progress, unlocked perks, cosmetics, and rank. Only the name displayed to other players changes. Everything else stays exactly as it was.

How long does it take for the name change to show in Dead by Daylight?

Usually a few hours, but it can take up to 24 hours in some cases. Restarting the game often speeds this up. If it has been more than 24 hours and the name still has not changed, restart your console or PC and try again.

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

Yes, by changing your platform account name again. On Steam this is free and unlimited. On PlayStation, the first change is free and additional changes cost money. On Xbox, the first change is free and additional changes cost money. On Nintendo Switch, changes are always free.

What if my friends still see my old name?

They need to restart Dead by Daylight to see your new name. The game caches player names, so their client may not update until they close and reopen the process. Once they restart, they will see your new name in lobbies and in-game.