You can change your Fallout 76 character name once for free through in-game settings, then pay Atoms for additional changes. Your Bethesda account username follows different rules depending on your platform and account age

Your Fallout 76 character name and your Bethesda account username are separate things. The character name — what other players see in the game — can be changed once for free through the in-game settings menu. Your Bethesda account username, which you use to log in, follows different rules depending on your platform and when you created the account.

If you want to change your character's in-game name, go to Settings in the main menu, select Account, and look for the character name option. You get one free rename. After that, Bethesda charges 1,000 Atoms — the premium currency — for each additional change. If you want to change your Bethesda account username itself, the path depends on whether you're on PC, console, or a legacy account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your character name (what players see) can be changed once free through in-game Settings, then costs 1,000 Atoms per change after that.
  • Your Bethesda account username follows different rules: PC accounts created after January 2021 can change it once free, older accounts cannot change it at all.
  • Console players (PlayStation and Xbox) cannot change their Bethesda username; you would need to create a new account to use a different name.
  • If you play through Game Pass on Xbox, your username is tied to your Microsoft account, not your Bethesda account.

Changing your character name in-game

The easiest change is your character's display name. Start Fallout 76 and go to the main menu. Select Settings, then Account. You should see an option for character name or display name depending on your platform. Click or select it, type your new name, and confirm. This first change is free.

Bethesda allows character names up to 16 characters and does not permit spaces or special characters — only letters, numbers, and hyphens. If you try a name that breaks these rules or is already taken by another player, the game will tell you and ask you to try again. After you confirm a new name, it takes effect when ready in-game.

If you want to change your character name a second time or more, you need Atoms. Open the Atomic Shop from the main menu, search for "Character Name Change," and purchase it for 1,000 Atoms. You can then repeat the Settings process above. There is no limit to how many times you can rename your character if you keep paying.

Changing your Bethesda account username on PC

Your Bethesda account username is what you type into the login screen. On PC, whether you can change it depends on when you created the account. If you created your Bethesda account after January 2021, you can change your username once for free through the Bethesda website. If your account is older than that, Bethesda does not allow username changes.

To change it, go to bethesda.net and log in. Click your account name in the top right corner and select Account Settings. Look for the option labeled "Username" or "Display Name" — the exact wording varies. You should see a button to edit it. Type your new username, which must be between 3 and 16 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Click Save or Confirm, and the change takes effect when ready.

If your account is older than January 2021 and you want a different username, you would need to create a new Bethesda account and start Fallout 76 from scratch on that account. Your old account and all its characters remain under the old username.

Console players and username changes

If you play on PlayStation or Xbox, you cannot change your Bethesda account username at all, regardless of when you created the account. Your Bethesda username is locked to whatever you set it to when you first linked your console account to Bethesda's service.

What you can change is your console's own username — your PlayStation Network name or Xbox Gamertag. That change happens in your console's settings, not in Bethesda's system, and other players will see your console username in the game. However, your Bethesda account username stays the same behind the scenes. If you want a completely different Bethesda username, you would need to create a new Bethesda account and link a new console profile to it, which means starting Fallout 76 over.

Game Pass and Xbox username

If you play Fallout 76 through Xbox Game Pass, your login is handled by your Microsoft account, not directly by Bethesda. When you launch the game, you sign in with your Microsoft credentials. Your in-game character name still works the same way — you can change it once free, then pay Atoms after that.

However, your Bethesda account username is still locked if your account predates January 2021, and you still cannot change it if you're on console. The Game Pass version does not change these rules. If you want to change your Microsoft Gamertag, that happens in your Xbox or Microsoft account settings, separate from Bethesda's system.

What happens to your old username

When you change your character name in-game, your old name becomes available for other players to use after a short delay — usually a few hours to a day. Other players will not see your old name in their friends list or in chat history; it updates to your new name retroactively.

If you change your Bethesda account username on PC, the same applies. Your old username becomes available, and anywhere it appeared in the game (in your profile, in messages, in friends lists) updates to your new username. You cannot reclaim your old username later — once you change it, it enters the pool of available names.

Atoms and where to get them

If you need Atoms to pay for a character name change, you can earn them in-game or purchase them. Fallout 76 gives you a small number of free Atoms for completing certain challenges and daily tasks, but earning 1,000 Atoms through gameplay takes a long time. Most players who want to rename their character multiple times purchase Atoms directly through the Atomic Shop using real money.

The price varies by region and platform, but 1,000 Atoms typically costs between $7 and $10 USD equivalent. You can also sometimes find Atoms bundled with larger purchases at a slightly better rate. Check the Atomic Shop pricing in your region before you buy, since costs differ by country and currency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my character name if someone else already has the name I want?

No. Bethesda does not allow duplicate character names across the entire Fallout 76 player base. If the name you want is taken, the game will reject it and ask you to choose something else. You can try adding numbers or hyphens to make a variation of the name you want.

Do I lose anything if I change my character name?

No. Your character, inventory, level, camp, and all progress stay exactly the same. Only the name changes. Other players will see your new name when ready, and your old name disappears from the game.

What if I created my Bethesda account before 2021 and want a new username?

You cannot change a pre-2021 Bethesda account username. Your only option is to create a new Bethesda account, link it to your platform, and start a new character. Your old account and character remain under the old username.

Is there a limit to how many times I can change my character name?

No limit exists as long as you have Atoms to pay for it. You get one free rename, then each additional rename costs 1,000 Atoms. You can rename your character as many times as you want if you keep purchasing Atoms.

Does changing my username affect my friends list or my camp?

No. Your friends list updates automatically to show your new name, and your camp, base, and all stored items remain exactly where they are. The change is purely cosmetic to your display name.