Change your Switch username in settings

To change your Nintendo Switch username, go to System Settings, select Users, pick your profile, and choose Profile Settings. From there, tap Nickname and enter your new username — it can be up to 10 characters. The change takes effect when ready, and your new name shows on your profile and in games right away.

You do not need a Nintendo Account to change your Switch username. The nickname is stored on your console itself, so if you have multiple profiles on the same Switch, each one has its own separate username. If you change your mind later, you can follow the same steps and pick a different name at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Switch username (called a nickname) is changed through System Settings, not through your Nintendo Account.
  • The new username appears in games and online play within seconds of saving it.
  • Each profile on your Switch can have a different username, and you can change yours as many times as you want.
  • Some games may continue to show your old username briefly if they cached your profile information before the change.
  • If you want to change the email or password tied to your Nintendo Account instead, that is done on Nintendo's website, not on the console.

What happens to your username in online games

When you play online games on Switch, other players see your Switch username in lobbies, chat, and leaderboards. If you change your username, new games and new sessions will show the updated name. Games you are already in may still display your old username until you restart the game or rejoin a session.

Your Nintendo Account email address and password are separate from your Switch username. Changing your nickname does not affect your account login or your saved game data. If you want to change your Nintendo Account email or password, you do that on Nintendo's website, not on the console.

Usernames that get rejected

Nintendo blocks usernames that contain profanity, hate speech, or references to real people's names. If you try to save a username and it is rejected, the console will tell you the name violates the code of conduct. You will need to pick a different name and try again.

The character limit is 10 characters, and you can use letters, numbers, and some symbols. Spaces are allowed. If your chosen name is too long or contains characters the system does not accept, you will see an error message asking you to shorten it or remove the blocked characters.

Changing your username on a different profile

If you have multiple profiles on your Switch, each profile has its own username. To change another person's username, you need to be logged into that profile. Go to System Settings, select Users, choose the profile you want to edit, and follow the same steps as above.

If you are the account owner and someone else uses a profile on your console, you can change their username only if you log into their profile yourself. You cannot change another person's username from your own profile. If a child uses the console, their profile username can be changed by anyone with access to that profile.

When your old username still appears

Some games store your username in their own servers or cache it on your console. If a game shows your old username after you have changed it, restart the game or log out and back in. Most games refresh your profile information within a few minutes of launching.

If a game continues to show your old name after restarting, the game developer may not have updated their servers yet. This is rare and usually resolves within a few hours. You can also check the game's settings to see if there is a profile refresh option.

Usernames versus Nintendo Account names

Your Switch username and your Nintendo Account name are two different things. Your Switch username is what other players see in games and is changed in console settings. Your Nintendo Account name is the email address you use to log in and is changed on Nintendo's website.

If you have linked your Switch profile to a Nintendo Account, changing your Switch username does not change your account email. If you want to change the email address tied to your Nintendo Account, go to accounts.nintendo.com, sign in, and edit your account information there. That change does not affect your Switch username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same username on multiple Switch consoles?

Yes. Your Switch username is stored on each console separately, so you can use the same name on multiple Switches if you want. If you have a Nintendo Account linked to your profile, that account can be used on different consoles, but the username on each console is independent.

Will changing my username affect my saved games?

No. Your saved games are tied to your profile, not your username. Changing your nickname does not delete or move any of your game data. All your progress, achievements, and saves remain exactly where they are.

What if I forgot what my current username is?

Go to System Settings, select Users, and choose your profile. Your current nickname is shown at the top of the Profile Settings screen. You can see it there without changing anything.

Can I change my username if my profile is not linked to a Nintendo Account?

Yes. Your Switch username is independent of whether you have a Nintendo Account. You can change your nickname on any profile, linked or not, through System Settings.