Minecraft username changes cost $8 USD through the official launcher

Changing your Minecraft Java Edition username costs $8 USD each time you do it. You make the change through the official Minecraft launcher on your computer, and the fee is charged to the payment method linked to your Microsoft account. There is no free way to change your username through official channels, though you get one free username when you first migrate your account to Microsoft.

Minecraft Bedrock Edition (the version on Windows 10, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile) does not charge to change your username — you can change it as often as you want at no cost through your device's settings or the game itself. The $8 fee applies only to Java Edition, which is the original PC version that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition charges $8 USD per username change, paid through your Microsoft account.
  • Bedrock Edition allows unlimited free username changes with no fee.
  • You receive one free username change when you first convert a legacy Minecraft account to a Microsoft account.
  • Username changes take effect when ready in the launcher, though other players may see the old name briefly in-game due to server delays.
  • You can change your username as many times as you want, but each change after the first costs $8.

How to change your Java Edition username

Open the official Minecraft launcher and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, then select "Settings." In the Settings menu, look for your account name displayed at the top of the left sidebar. Click on your username, and a window will open showing your current name and an option to change it.

Type your new username into the text field. Minecraft usernames can be 3 to 16 characters long and contain only letters, numbers, and underscores. Once you enter a name you want, the launcher will tell you when ready whether it is already taken. If it is available, click the button to confirm the change, and you will be prompted to complete the $8 payment. After payment processes, your username changes right away in the launcher.

Other players in multiplayer servers may still see your old username for a few minutes because servers cache player information. This is normal and clears within a short time as the server updates. Your skin and any associated cosmetics stay with your account and follow you to the new username.

Why the fee exists and what it covers

Microsoft charges for username changes to prevent spam, account theft, and impersonation. Without a cost, someone could repeatedly change their name to match a popular player's username, confusing other players or damaging that player's reputation. The $8 fee is high enough to discourage casual abuse but low enough that legitimate players can afford to change their name if they want to.

The fee covers the backend work of updating your username across Minecraft's servers, your Microsoft account profile, and any linked services. It also helps support the infrastructure that stores and manages millions of player accounts. When you pay, you are not buying anything physical — you are paying for the service of changing your identity in the game's system.

Free username change when migrating to Microsoft

If you owned a Minecraft Java account before Microsoft required all players to use Microsoft accounts, you received one free username change when you migrated. This was a one-time offer to let players update their name as part of the account transition. If you already used that free change, any future changes will cost $8 each.

You can check whether you have already used your free migration change by attempting to change your username in the launcher. If the system tells you the change is free, you still have it available. If it asks for payment, you have already used it.

Bedrock Edition username changes at no cost

If you play Minecraft on Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or mobile devices, you are using Bedrock Edition. In Bedrock, you can change your username as many times as you want without paying anything. The process varies slightly by device, but it is always free.

On Windows 10 or 11, open the game and go to Settings, then Profile. Select your profile name and choose to edit it. On Xbox, change your username through your Xbox Live profile settings, and the change will carry into Minecraft automatically. On Nintendo Switch, change your profile name in the Switch system settings. Mobile players change their username in the game's settings menu. None of these cost money.

Things to know before you change your username

Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim as soon as you change it. If you want to keep that name reserved, do not change your username — there is no way to hold a name you are no longer using. Some players create a second account and keep it unused just to hold onto a username they might want back later.

Changing your username does not affect your game progress, skins, or items in any way. Your inventory, builds, and achievements all stay with your account. Friends will see your new name in their friends list, and you will appear as your new name in multiplayer servers and on leaderboards.

You can change your username as frequently as you want, but each change costs $8. Some players change their name multiple times a year for different reasons — seasonal themes, inside jokes with friends, or just wanting a fresh identity. There is no limit on how many times you can change it, only the cost per change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username for free if I have not changed it before?

You get one free change only if you migrated a legacy Minecraft account to Microsoft. If your account was created after Microsoft required Microsoft sign-in, you have never had a free change available. All changes cost $8 unless you fall into that migration category.

What happens to my old username after I change it?

Your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim when ready. If you change your mind and want it back, you would have to pay $8 to change to it again — but only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. There is no way to reserve a username you are no longer using.

Do I lose my skins or cosmetics when I change my username?

No. Your skins, capes, and any cosmetics you own stay with your account and follow you to your new username. Your game progress, inventory, and builds are also unaffected by a username change.

Can I change my username on Bedrock Edition for free?

Yes. Bedrock Edition allows unlimited free username changes on all platforms — Windows, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and mobile. Only Java Edition charges the $8 fee.

How long does a username change take to show up everywhere?

Your username changes when ready in the launcher and on your Microsoft account. In multiplayer servers and to other players, it may take a few minutes to show up because servers cache player data. This delay is normal and clears on its own.