Change your username through the PUBG settings menu

You change your PUBG username by opening the game, going to Settings, selecting Basic, and clicking the pencil icon next to your current name. Type your new username — it must be between 3 and 16 characters, use only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot match a name already in use. Click Confirm, and the change takes effect when ready in-game.

The process is the same whether you play on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. Mobile players on PUBG Mobile use a slightly different menu path but follow the same basic steps. Your old username becomes available for other players to claim after you change it, so if you want to keep it reserved, do not change away from it.

You can change your username once every 10 days. If you change it and when ready regret the choice, you have to wait the full 10 days before switching again — there is no undo button. Plan your new name before you start the process.

Key Takeaways

  • Open PUBG, go to Settings > Basic, and click the pencil icon next to your name to change your username.
  • Your new username must be 3 to 16 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
  • You can change your username once every 10 days, and the change takes effect when ready across all your matches and your profile.
  • Your old username becomes available for other players to claim as soon as you change it.

Username rules and what names are not allowed

PUBG blocks usernames that contain spaces, special characters other than hyphens and underscores, or offensive language. The system also rejects names that are already taken, names that impersonate PUBG staff or streamers, and names that violate the game's code of conduct — this includes slurs, hate speech, and sexually explicit terms.

If you try to set a name and it is rejected, the game tells you why: "This username is already in use," "This username contains invalid characters," or "This username violates our code of conduct." Read the message carefully, because it tells you exactly what to fix. If the name is taken, you have to choose something different. If it contains invalid characters, remove spaces and special characters except hyphens and underscores.

Names are case-insensitive in PUBG — JamesRodriguez, jamesrodriguez, and JAMESRODRIGUEZ are all treated as the same name. You cannot reserve a name by changing the capitalization.

Step-by-step for PC players

Start the PUBG launcher and log in. Click Play to open the game client. Once you are in the main menu, look for the Settings icon — it is usually a gear symbol in the top right or bottom right corner of the screen. Click it.

In the Settings menu, select the Basic tab. You will see your current username displayed with a pencil icon next to it. Click the pencil icon to enter edit mode. Delete your current name and type your new one. Check that it meets the rules: 3 to 16 characters, letters and numbers only, hyphens and underscores allowed, no spaces or other symbols.

Click Confirm. The game will check whether the name is available and whether it violates the code of conduct. If it passes, you will see a confirmation message and your new name appears when ready. If it fails, the game tells you why and you can try again with a different name.

Step-by-step for console players (PlayStation and Xbox)

Launch PUBG on your console. You must be logged into your console account — the game uses your console's account system to verify your identity. Once you are in the main menu, navigate to Settings. The location varies slightly between PlayStation and Xbox, but both have Settings accessible from the main menu.

Select Basic from the Settings tabs. Find your username and look for the edit option — on most consoles this is a button prompt that appears when you highlight your name, such as pressing X on PlayStation or A on Xbox. Press the button to open the name editor.

Type your new username following the same rules as PC: 3 to 16 characters, letters and numbers only, hyphens and underscores allowed. Press Confirm or the equivalent button on your controller. The system checks availability and code of conduct compliance. If approved, your new name takes effect when ready. If rejected, try a different name.

What happens to your old username and profile history

Your match history, rank, statistics, and cosmetics stay with your account when you change your username. Other players see your new name in matches and on leaderboards, but your old rank and wins are not reset. Friends who had you added before the change still have you on their friends list — the game updates your name automatically.

Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim when ready after you change it. If you want to keep that name reserved, do not change away from it. There is no way to lock a username or prevent others from using it once you abandon it.

If you change your name and then want to change back to your old name later, you can do so only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. If someone else took it, you cannot use it again unless that player changes their name first.

The 10-day waiting period between changes

After you change your username, you must wait 10 days before you can change it again. This timer starts the moment your new name takes effect, not when you click Confirm. If you change your name on Monday at 3 p.m., you cannot change it again until Monday at 3 p.m. the following week.

The 10-day rule applies to every change, including changing back to a previous name. If you change from "Player1" to "Player2" and then when ready regret it, you still have to wait 10 days before you can change back to "Player1" — and even then, only if no one else has claimed that name.

PUBG enforces this rule to prevent players from constantly switching names to evade reports, hide from rivals, or confuse other players. Plan your new name carefully so you do not waste a change on a name you will want to abandon quickly.

Troubleshooting: name change not working

If you click Confirm and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, first check that your internet connection is stable. Close the Settings menu and try again. If the problem persists, restart the game entirely — close PUBG completely and relaunch it from your launcher or console home screen.

If you see "This username is already in use" but you are certain the name is not taken, wait a few minutes and try again. Sometimes the system needs time to sync across servers. If the same name is rejected repeatedly, it may have been claimed by another player between when you checked and when you tried to set it.

If you see "This username violates our code of conduct" but you believe your name is acceptable, review it against PUBG's rules. Check for hidden characters, spaces, or symbols that might not be visible. If you are still unsure, choose a completely different name. PUBG does not provide detailed explanations for code of conduct rejections.

If the Settings menu itself will not open, or if you cannot find the Basic tab, verify that you are fully logged into your account. Some features are not available if you are in offline mode or if your account has restrictions. Log out and log back in, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I have an active ban or suspension?

No. If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot change your username until the suspension or ban is lifted. The Settings menu will not let you edit your name. If you believe your ban was a mistake, contact PUBG support to appeal it.

What if someone else took my old username after I changed it?

You cannot claim it back unless that player changes their name first. Usernames are first-come, first-served. If you want to use that name again in the future, you would have to wait for the other player to abandon it or change it themselves.

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your username and password are separate. Changing your username does not affect your login credentials or account security. You log in with your email address and password, not your in-game username.

Will my friends still see me after I change my name?

Yes. Friends who had you added before the change will still have you on their friends list, and they will see your new username. The game updates your name automatically across all friend lists and party invitations.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. PUBG only allows letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces and all other special characters, including @, #, $, and !, are rejected. If your desired name contains any of these, remove them and try again.