Bungie usernames are tied to your account, not your game profile

Your Bungie username is the name that appears on Bungie.net when you visit your profile or join a clan. It is separate from your in-game character name in Destiny 2 or Destiny 1. You change it through your Bungie account settings, not through the game itself.

Bungie allows one free username change. After that, each additional change costs 9.99 USD. The change takes effect when ready across all Bungie services, including the Bungie Companion app, the official website, and any clans you belong to.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Bungie account at bungie.net, go to Settings, then Account, and select Change Username to make your first free change.
  • Your new username appears on Bungie.net and in the Companion app right away, but may take a few minutes to show in-game.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 27 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot be offensive or already taken.
  • If you have already used your free change, you will need to pay 9.99 USD through your Bungie account to change it again.
  • Your in-game character name in Destiny 2 stays the same and is not affected by a Bungie username change.

Step-by-step: changing your username for free

Go to bungie.net and sign in with your account credentials. Once you are logged in, look for your profile icon or name in the top right corner of the page and click it to open the menu.

Select Settings from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, click the Account tab on the left side. Scroll down until you see the Change Username option and click it.

Type your new username into the text field. Bungie will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or breaks the naming rules. Once you see a green checkmark, click Confirm to complete the change. Your new username is now live.

Username rules and what names Bungie will reject

Bungie usernames must be between 3 and 27 characters long. You can use letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). Spaces are not allowed. The system rejects names that are already taken by another account.

Bungie also rejects usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to hate groups. Names that impersonate Bungie staff or famous people may be rejected. If your chosen name is flagged, the system will tell you why and you can try a different one.

Your username is public and visible to anyone who visits your Bungie profile or sees you in a clan roster. Choose something you are comfortable with other players seeing.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Once you change your username, your old name becomes available for someone else to use. Bungie does not hold old usernames in reserve. If you change your mind later, you cannot reclaim your previous name unless it has not been taken by another account.

Your account history, achievements, and clan membership all stay attached to your account under your new name. Other players will see your new username on your profile and in the Companion app, but your Bungie ID number (a unique number assigned to your account) never changes.

How to pay for a second or later username change

After you have used your free change, go back to Settings > Account > Change Username. The page will show a button to purchase a username change for 9.99 USD. Click it and follow the payment instructions. Bungie accepts credit cards and PayPal.

Once payment goes through, you can enter your new username right away. There is no limit to how many times you can change your username as long as you pay each time. The 9.99 USD charge appears on your credit card or PayPal statement as a Bungie purchase.

Why your in-game character name is different from your Bungie username

Destiny 2 lets you name each character you create in the game. That character name is what other players see when you are playing with them in strikes, raids, or Crucible matches. Your Bungie username, by contrast, is what appears on Bungie.net and in the Companion app.

Changing your Bungie username does not change your character names in Destiny 2. If you want to rename a character in the game, you need to use the in-game character customization menu, which is a separate process. Some players keep their Bungie username and character names the same for consistency, but they are not linked.

Troubleshooting: username change is not showing up

If you changed your username but it still shows your old name on Bungie.net, try logging out and logging back in. Clear your browser cache or try a different browser. Sometimes the change takes a few minutes to sync across Bungie's servers.

If your new username shows on Bungie.net but not in the Companion app, close the app completely and reopen it. The app may need to refresh your account data. If it still does not update after 10 minutes, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

If your new username does not appear in-game in Destiny 2, wait 15 to 30 minutes. The game client syncs with Bungie servers on a delay. If it still shows your old name after 30 minutes, restart the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Bungie username back to my old one?

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available when ready. If another player has taken it, you cannot use it again. You would have to choose a different name or wait to see if that player abandons the account.

Does changing my Bungie username affect my Destiny 2 account or progress?

No. Your account, characters, weapons, and all progress stay exactly the same. Only the name that appears on Bungie.net and in the Companion app changes. Your in-game character names are not affected.

What if the username I want is taken?

Try a variation: add a number, use an underscore or hyphen, or pick a different name altogether. Bungie will tell you when ready if a name is taken so you can try another one without wasting your free change.

How long does it take for my new username to show everywhere?

Bungie.net and the Companion app update when ready. In-game in Destiny 2, it may take 15 to 30 minutes. If it has not updated after 30 minutes, restart the game.

Can I change my username if I have not played in a long time?

Yes. As long as your Bungie account exists and you can log in, you can change your username. You do not need to have played recently or own any Destiny games.