Change your World of Tanks username through your Wargaming account

You change your World of Tanks username by logging into your Wargaming account and editing your profile. The username you see in-game is called your in-game name, and it is separate from your Wargaming account login. You can change your in-game name once for free; after that, each change costs gold, which is World of Tanks' premium currency that you buy with real money.

The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely on the Wargaming website, not inside the game itself. You do not need to uninstall or reinstall World of Tanks to make the change take effect.

Key Takeaways

  • Your first in-game name change is free; you make it on the Wargaming website after logging into your account.
  • Every name change after the first one costs gold, which you purchase with real money through the Wargaming store.
  • The new name appears in-game when ready after you confirm the change, though it may take a few seconds to sync across all servers.
  • You cannot use special characters, spaces, or names that are already taken by another player.
  • If you change your mind within 24 hours, Wargaming support may restore your old name if you contact them before the window closes.

Steps to change your in-game name for free

Go to the Wargaming website and log in with your account credentials. Click on your account name or avatar in the top right corner and select Account Management or My Account. Look for a section labeled Profile or Personal Info.

Find the field that shows your current in-game name. It may be labeled Nickname, In-Game Name, or Player Name. Click the edit button or pencil icon next to it. Type your new name into the text box. The name must be between 3 and 25 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and cannot be a name already used by another player. Click Confirm or Save. The system will tell you when ready if the name is taken or invalid.

Once you confirm, your new name takes effect in World of Tanks within a few seconds. You may need to restart the game client to see the change reflected everywhere, but this is not required. Your account login name stays the same — only your in-game display name changes.

What happens if you want to change your name again

After your first free name change, each additional change costs gold. The exact price varies, but typically ranges from 250 to 500 gold depending on the length of your new name. You purchase gold through the Wargaming store using a credit card, PayPal, or other payment methods accepted in your region.

To buy gold, log into your account on the Wargaming website, go to the store, and select the gold package you want. The gold appears in your account when ready. Then return to your profile settings and change your name the same way you did the first time. The system will deduct the gold cost when you confirm the new name.

Rules for choosing a new username

Your new name cannot contain spaces, special characters like @, #, or !, or numbers in certain positions that make it look like a player ID. The name must be unique — no other player in World of Tanks can have the exact same name. If you try to use a name that is taken, the system will reject it and ask you to choose another.

Wargaming also blocks names that contain profanity, hate speech, or impersonation of famous people or Wargaming staff members. If you choose a name that violates these rules, the system may reject it during the confirmation step, or Wargaming support may force a name change later if other players report it.

Reverting your name change within 24 hours

If you change your mind shortly after changing your name, you may be able to get your old name back. Contact Wargaming support through their website within 24 hours of the change and explain that you want to revert. Support staff can restore your previous name if the 24-hour window has not closed and if no one else has claimed that name in the meantime.

After 24 hours, your old name enters a cooldown period and becomes available for other players to use. Wargaming will not restore it after this window closes, even if you ask. If you want your old name back after 24 hours, you would need to wait for the other player to abandon it or change their own name.

Troubleshooting name change problems

If the system says your chosen name is invalid but you believe it follows the rules, check that you have not used spaces or special characters. Copy and paste your desired name into a text editor to see exactly what characters you are using. If the name contains only letters, numbers, and underscores and is still rejected, the name is likely already taken by another player.

If your name change does not appear in-game after 10 minutes, restart the World of Tanks client completely. Close the game, wait 30 seconds, and open it again. Log back in and check your profile. If the name still has not changed after a restart, contact Wargaming support and provide a screenshot of your account profile page showing the new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can revert to your previous name within 24 hours by contacting Wargaming support. After 24 hours, your old name enters a cooldown and may be claimed by another player. If that happens, you cannot get it back unless the new owner changes their name later.

Do I have to pay gold for my very first name change?

No. Every account gets one free in-game name change. After you use that free change, all future changes cost gold. The free change does not expire, so you can use it whenever you want.

What if someone else took the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If another player has the name you want, you cannot use it. You must choose a different name. You can try adding numbers or underscores to make a variation, like "TankMaster_1" instead of "TankMaster".

Will changing my name affect my tanks, garage, or progress?

No. Your in-game name is only your display name. All your tanks, credits, experience, and account progress stay exactly the same. Only other players see your new name; your account data does not change.

How long does it take for my new name to show up in-game?

Your new name appears in your profile when ready after you confirm the change. In-game, it usually shows within a few seconds, but restarting the World of Tanks client guarantees it will display correctly everywhere.