Change your Minecraft username through your Mojang account settings

You change your Minecraft username by logging into your Mojang account on the web, not through the game itself. Go to account.mojang.com, sign in with your email and password, and look for the "Change" button next to your current username. You can change it once every 30 days, and the new name takes effect when ready in multiplayer servers and on your profile.

The process is the same whether you play on Windows, Mac, or Linux. If you play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox, your username is tied to that console's account instead, and you change it through the console's settings — not through Mojang.

If you own a Minecraft Realms world (a private server you pay for), changing your username does not affect your Realms subscription or world access. Your world stays yours, and other players' access does not change.

Key Takeaways

  • You must log into account.mojang.com on a web browser to change your username; you cannot do it from inside the game.
  • Minecraft usernames can be changed once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready across all servers and your profile.
  • If you play on console (Switch, PlayStation, Xbox), you change your username through that console's account settings, not Mojang.
  • Changing your username does not affect your Realms world, subscription, or other players' access to it.

Step-by-step: changing your username on Mojang

Open a web browser and go to account.mojang.com. Click "Sign in" in the top right corner. Enter the email address you use for Minecraft and your password, then click "Sign in".

Once you are logged in, look at the left side of the page. You will see a section that says "Profile Name" with your current username displayed. Click the "Change" button next to it. A text box will appear where you can type your new username. Type the name you want, then click "Change Name". The system will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or if it breaks Mojang's naming rules (for example, names with certain symbols or offensive words are not allowed).

If your new name is available, it takes effect right away. You do not need to restart the game or log out and back in — the change is live across all servers within seconds.

What happens to your old username

Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after 37 days. During those 37 days, no one else can use it, but you cannot use it either. If you change your mind within those 37 days, you can change back to your old username without waiting for the 30-day cooldown — but once the 37 days pass, your old name is gone for good.

Your skin (the character appearance) and any skins you have uploaded stay with your account, not with the old username. When you log in with your new username, your skins are still there.

Console players: changing your username on Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox

If you play Minecraft on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S, your username is part of that console's account, not your Mojang account. You change it through the console itself.

On Nintendo Switch, go to System Settings, select your user profile, choose "Profile", then "Nickname". Type your new name and save it. On PlayStation, go to Settings, select your profile, choose "Edit Profile", then "Online ID", and follow the prompts. On Xbox, go to Settings, select your profile, choose "Customize Profile", then "Gamertag", and enter your new name.

Console usernames have different rules than Mojang usernames. Some characters that are allowed on Mojang are not allowed on consoles, and the length limits vary. The console will tell you if your chosen name breaks its rules.

If you cannot find the Change button

If you log into account.mojang.com and do not see a "Change" button next to your username, one of three things is happening: you changed your username within the last 30 days and are still in the cooldown period; your account is a child account (parental controls prevent username changes); or you are not actually logged in.

To check if you are logged in, look at the top right corner of the page. You should see your email address. If you see "Sign in" instead, click it and log in again. If you changed your username recently, the page will show you when you can change it again — usually something like "You can change your name again on [date]".

If your account is a child account and you are the parent, you can change the parental controls to allow username changes. Go to account.microsoft.com (because Mojang accounts are now part of Microsoft accounts), sign in, select the child's account, go to "Privacy & online safety", then "Xbox One/Windows 10 Online Safety", and adjust the settings. If you are the child on the account, ask the parent to make this change.

Migrating from an old Minecraft launcher to the new one

If you have an old Minecraft account that was created before Mojang merged with Microsoft, you may have had to migrate it to a Microsoft account. During migration, your username might have changed or you might have been given a temporary one. You can change it the same way — log into account.mojang.com and click "Change" next to your profile name.

If you never migrated your old account and still use the old launcher, you cannot change your username through account.mojang.com. You will need to migrate to a Microsoft account first. Mojang has instructions for this on their website, and migration is free.

What other players see when you change your name

When you change your username, other players see the new name when ready in multiplayer worlds and servers. If you were in the middle of a game when you changed it, you may need to rejoin the server for the name to update on their screens, but it usually happens within a few seconds.

If you have a skin that shows your old username on it (like a custom skin with text), that skin will still show the old name until you upload a new skin. Your actual in-game username is separate from your skin, so changing one does not change the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once every 30 days?

No. Mojang enforces a 30-day cooldown between changes. If you try to change your name before 30 days have passed since your last change, the system will show you the exact date when you can change it again. You cannot pay to skip this wait.

What if someone took the username I want?

If the name you want is already taken, the system will tell you when you try to claim it. You will need to choose a different name. You can check if a name is available before you try to change to it by searching for the player on minecraft.net — if no player profile appears, the name may be available.

Do I lose my worlds or items when I change my username?

No. Your worlds, items, skins, and Realms subscription all stay with your account. Changing your username is purely cosmetic — it does not affect anything you own or any progress you have made.

Why does my username still show the old name in some places?

Some servers and third-party websites cache player data and do not update when ready. The official Minecraft launcher and servers update within seconds, but older servers or skin websites may take hours or days to reflect the change. This is not a problem with your account — it will update on its own.

Can I change my username if I play on Minecraft Realms?

Yes. Your Realms subscription is tied to your account, not your username. When you change your username, your Realms world stays yours, and other players keep their access to it. You do not need to do anything special.