Change your username through Steam, not in the game itself

Phasmophobia does not have a built-in username change feature. The game pulls your name directly from your Steam account, so changing it there is the only way to change it in Phasmophobia. When you update your Steam profile name, the change appears in Phasmophobia the next time you launch the game.

This matters because Phasmophobia is a multiplayer ghost-hunting game where other players see your username in the lobby and during missions. If you want a different name visible to other players, you are updating your Steam identity, not a game-specific setting.

Key Takeaways

  • Phasmophobia reads your username from Steam, so you must change it in your Steam account settings, not in the game.
  • Go to your Steam profile, click Edit Profile, and change the name in the "Profile Name" field.
  • The new name shows up in Phasmophobia after you close and relaunch the game.
  • You can change your Steam profile name as often as you want, though Steam may rate-limit very frequent changes.
  • Your Steam username (the account login name) is different from your profile name and cannot be changed.

Step-by-step: updating your Steam profile name

Open Steam on your computer and sign in. Click your username in the top right corner of the window, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your public profile page.

Look for the "Edit Profile" button, usually in the upper right area of your profile. Click it. You will see a form with several fields. Find the one labeled "Profile Name" — this is the name other players see in games like Phasmophobia. Delete the current name and type the new one you want. Click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.

Close Phasmophobia completely if it is running. Relaunch the game. Your new name will now appear in the lobby and to other players during missions.

Why the game does not have its own username setting

Phasmophobia is built on the Unreal Engine and uses Steam's backend for multiplayer connections. Rather than maintain a separate username system, the developers chose to use Steam's profile name directly. This keeps the code simpler and means your identity across Steam games stays consistent.

The trade-off is that you cannot have a different name in Phasmophobia than you do in other Steam games. Your profile name is your identity across your entire Steam account.

The difference between your Steam username and profile name

Steam has two separate name fields, and they do different things. Your Steam username is the account login name you created when you first set up Steam — the name you type in to sign in. This name cannot be changed and is not visible to other players.

Your profile name is the display name other players see. This is what shows up in Phasmophobia. You can change your profile name whenever you want by following the steps above. Your Steam username stays the same for the life of your account.

What happens to your old name in saved games and chat history

Phasmophobia does not store a copy of your username in your save files. When you load a mission you completed under your old name, the game queries Steam for your current profile name and displays that instead. You will see your new name retroactively on all past missions.

If you were in a Steam chat or voice call with other players under your old name, those messages and call logs still show your old name — Steam does not rewrite chat history. But in the game itself and in the lobby, only your current name appears.

Changing your name frequently and Steam's rate limits

Steam allows you to change your profile name as often as you want. However, if you change it many times in a short period — typically more than once per day for several days running — Steam may temporarily prevent further changes as a spam prevention measure. The restriction usually lifts within 24 hours.

For normal use, changing your name once or twice a month will never trigger any limits. The rate-limiting only kicks in if you are testing names obsessively or using the feature in an unusual way.

If your name is not updating in Phasmophobia after you changed it on Steam

The most common reason is that Phasmophobia is still running in the background. Close the game completely — not just the window, but the entire process. You can check the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for "Phasmophobia" under the Processes tab. If it is there, right-click it and select "End Task".

After the game is fully closed, relaunch it. The new name should appear. If it still does not, restart your computer and try again. In rare cases, Steam itself may need a few minutes to sync the change across its servers, so waiting 10 minutes and relaunching can also help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes. Go back to your Steam profile, click Edit Profile, change the name back in the Profile Name field, and save. The change takes effect in Phasmophobia the next time you launch the game. There is no cooldown or penalty for reverting to an old name.

Will other players see my old name in their chat logs if I change it?

Yes. Messages you sent before the name change will still show your old name in other players' chat history. Only new messages and your in-game appearance going forward will show your new name. Steam does not update past chat records.

Does changing my Steam profile name affect my username on other websites or games?

No. Your Steam profile name only affects games and services connected to Steam. Websites like Discord, Reddit, or other game platforms have their own separate accounts and names. Changing your Steam name does not touch those.

What if I want a different name just for Phasmophobia, not for all my Steam games?

You cannot do that. Phasmophobia uses your Steam profile name directly, so any change you make affects your name across all Steam games. If you need a separate identity for Phasmophobia, your only option is to create a second Steam account.

How long does it take for the name change to show up in Phasmophobia?

It is when ready once you relaunch the game. Close Phasmophobia completely, make the change in Steam, and open the game again. The new name will be there. You do not need to wait for any background sync — the game fetches your current name from Steam when it starts.