You can change your Bethesda username through your account settings, but the process depends on whether you play through Bethesda.net or Steam

Bethesda usernames are tied to your Bethesda.net account, which is separate from your Steam account even if you play games like Skyrim or Fallout through Steam. If you log into Bethesda.net directly, you can change your username once every 30 days. If you play through Steam, your Steam username is what appears in-game, and changing it does not change your Bethesda account name — you would need to do both separately if you want them to match.

The actual steps take about five minutes. You will need to be logged into your Bethesda.net account and have access to the email address attached to it, because Bethesda sends a confirmation link to that email before the change goes through.

Key Takeaways

  • Bethesda usernames can be changed once every 30 days through your Bethesda.net account settings, not through Steam or the game itself.
  • You must confirm the change by clicking a link sent to your registered email address within 24 hours, or the request expires.
  • If you play through Steam, changing your Steam username does not change your Bethesda username — you need to change both separately if you want them to match.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to use when ready after the change is confirmed, so choose carefully.

How to change your username on Bethesda.net

Go to bethesda.net and log in with your email and password. Click your account name or avatar in the top right corner, then select Account Settings. On the left side menu, click Profile. You will see your current username displayed near the top of the page.

Click the Edit button next to your username. Type your new username in the field that appears. Bethesda will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or contains blocked words. Once you enter a name that is available, click Save Changes. Bethesda will send a confirmation email to the address on your account. Open that email and click the confirmation link — you have 24 hours to do this, or the request cancels and your username stays the same.

After you click the link, your username changes right away. You can change it again after 30 days have passed from the date of this change.

What happens if you play through Steam

Steam has its own username system separate from Bethesda.net. When you launch a Bethesda game through Steam, your Steam username is what other players see in-game and in multiplayer features. Your Bethesda.net username is used only when you log into Bethesda.net itself or access Bethesda-specific features like mods on Bethesda.net.

If you want both names to match, you need to change them separately. To change your Steam username, open Steam, click your profile name in the top right, select Profile, then click Edit Profile. Change your name in the Profile Name field and click Save. This change takes effect when ready and has no cooldown — you can change your Steam name as often as you want.

Username rules and what to avoid

Bethesda blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to real people's names. The system also rejects names with certain special characters — you can use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces or symbols like @, #, or &. If you try a name and Bethesda says it is blocked, the reason is usually one of these three things.

Keep in mind that your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim as soon as your change is confirmed. If you are known by that name in a community or have it linked in videos or guides, people may get confused when someone else takes it. There is no way to reserve an old username or prevent others from using it.

If your email is no longer active

If you no longer have access to the email address on your Bethesda account, you cannot confirm a username change because the confirmation link goes to that email. You will need to update your email address first. Go to bethesda.net, log in, click Account Settings, then select Account from the left menu. Click Edit next to your email address and enter a new one. Bethesda sends a confirmation link to the new email — click it to confirm the change.

Once your email is updated, you can then change your username using the steps above.

Troubleshooting common problems

You did not receive the confirmation email: Check your spam or junk folder first. If it is not there, wait a few minutes — sometimes the email takes time to arrive. If you still do not see it after 10 minutes, go back to your account settings and request the change again. You can request a new confirmation email as many times as you need.

The confirmation link expired: Confirmation links are valid for 24 hours. If yours expired, log back into Bethesda.net, go to your profile settings, and request the username change again. You will get a new confirmation email with a fresh link.

You are locked out of your account: If you cannot log into Bethesda.net at all, go to the Bethesda login page and click Forgot your password? Enter your email address and Bethesda will send a password reset link. Use that to set a new password, then log in and change your username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once a month?

No. Bethesda enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. The timer starts from the date your previous change was confirmed, not from when you requested it. If you change your username on the 15th, you cannot change it again until the 15th of the following month.

Will changing my username affect my game progress or achievements?

No. Your username is just a display name tied to your account. Your game saves, achievements, mods, and all other account data stay exactly the same. The only thing that changes is what name appears when you log in.

What if someone else already took the username I want?

Bethesda will tell you the name is unavailable when you try to claim it. You will need to choose a different name. There is no waitlist or reservation system — if the name is taken, you cannot use it unless that person changes their username and you claim it before someone else does.

Does my Bethesda username change affect my Elder Scrolls Online or Fallout 76 account?

Your Bethesda.net username is shared across all Bethesda games tied to that account, so changing it will affect how your name appears in Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, and any other Bethesda game you play. If you play these games through Steam, your Steam username is what shows in-game, and that is separate from your Bethesda username.