Change your username through your Nintendo Account, not in the game

Splatoon 3 does not have a username-change option inside the game itself. Your in-game name is tied to your Nintendo Account, the profile you use to sign into your Switch console. To change what other players see when you play, you change your Nintendo Account name, and the new name appears in Splatoon 3 the next time you launch the game.

The change takes effect when ready on your account but may take a few minutes to show up in active matches or in other players' recent-opponents lists. If you are mid-match when you change it, you will still appear under your old name in that battle.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Splatoon 3 username comes from your Nintendo Account name, which you change on Nintendo's website or through your Switch settings, not in the game.
  • You can change your Nintendo Account name once every 30 days, and the change is free.
  • The new name shows up in Splatoon 3 within a few minutes but may not update in active matches you are already in.
  • Changing your account name also changes your name in all other Nintendo Switch games and services tied to that account.

Change your name through Nintendo's website

The fastest way is to go to accounts.nintendo.com, sign in with your Nintendo Account email and password, and click your profile icon in the top right. Select Profile Settings, then find the Nickname field. Type your new name (up to 10 characters), click Save, and you are done.

Nintendo allows letters, numbers, spaces, and some symbols. Avoid names that are blank, contain only numbers, or use offensive language — Nintendo's system will reject those. If you see an error message, try removing special characters or shortening the name.

Change your name on your Switch console

You can also change your account name directly on your Switch without opening a web browser. Go to System Settings on your console, select Users, then choose your profile. Tap Profile Settings, then Nickname, and enter your new name. Press OK to save.

This method works the same way as the website and takes effect when ready. Use whichever is more convenient — both change the same account name across all your games.

Wait 30 days between name changes

Nintendo limits you to one name change every 30 days. If you change your name today, you cannot change it again until 30 days have passed. This rule applies to your entire Nintendo Account, not to individual games.

If you made a mistake or want to change your name again soon, you will have to wait. Plan your new name carefully before you save it. There is no way to speed up this cooldown or request an exception.

Your new name appears in Splatoon 3 within minutes

After you change your Nintendo Account name, launch Splatoon 3 and your new name will show up in the lobby and in matches. If you were already in a match when you changed your name, you will still appear under your old name in that battle — the update happens between matches.

Other players may see your old name briefly in their recent-opponents list or in saved battle replays, but those records do not update retroactively. Going forward, all new matches and replays will show your new name.

The name change affects all your Nintendo games

Your Nintendo Account name is shared across every game and service on your Switch. If you change it, the new name appears in Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing, Nintendo Switch Online, and every other title you play on that account. You cannot have different names in different games.

If you share your Switch with family members and each person has their own account, each account has its own separate name. Changing one person's name does not affect anyone else's.

What to do if your name change did not work

If you changed your name on the website or in settings but it is not showing up in Splatoon 3, restart the game completely. Close it from the Switch home screen, wait a few seconds, and launch it again. This forces the game to reload your account information.

If the name still does not appear after restarting, sign out of your Nintendo Account on your Switch, wait 30 seconds, and sign back in. Then restart Splatoon 3. If you still see the old name after that, contact Nintendo Support — this is rare, but it can happen if there is a sync delay on their servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Splatoon 3 username without changing my Nintendo Account name?

No. Splatoon 3 pulls your name directly from your Nintendo Account and does not allow you to set a separate in-game name. The only way to change what appears in Splatoon 3 is to change your account name.

How many characters can my new username be?

Your Nintendo Account nickname can be up to 10 characters long. This includes letters, numbers, spaces, and some symbols. If you need more space, use abbreviations or remove spaces.

What happens to my old name in battle replays?

Replays you saved before the name change will still show your old name in the video. New replays recorded after the change will show your new name. Nintendo does not update old replays retroactively.

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

Yes, but you have to wait 30 days between changes. If you changed your name today and want to go back, you can do so after 30 days have passed. There is no exception to this rule.

Do other players see my name change right away?

Your new name shows up in Splatoon 3 within a few minutes, but other players may see your old name in their recent-opponents list for a short time. The change is not when ready across all of Nintendo's servers, but it is usually complete within 10 minutes.