Change your username through your Activision account

Your Modern Warfare 3 username is tied to your Activision account, not to the game itself. This means you change it by logging into Activision's website, not through the game. The change takes effect when ready in MW3 and all other Activision games you play.

You will need your Activision account email and password. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it on the Activision login page before you start. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MW3 username lives on Activision's website, so you must log in there to change it, not in the game itself.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the new name takes effect when ready across all Activision games.
  • Usernames must be between 2 and 16 characters, cannot contain spaces, and Activision will reject names that violate their code of conduct.
  • If your desired username is taken, you will see that message on the confirmation screen and must choose a different one.

Step-by-step: logging in and finding the username setting

Go to www.activision.com and click the login button in the top right corner. Enter your email address and password, then click "Sign In". If you see a two-factor authentication prompt, enter the code from your phone or email — this is a security step and is normal.

Once you are logged in, look for your account icon or profile menu in the top right corner. Click it and select "Account" or "Account Settings" from the dropdown menu. You should now see a page with your profile information. Look for a section labeled "Activision ID" or "Username" — this is where you change your name.

Entering and confirming your new username

Click the edit button next to your current username. A text box will appear. Delete your old username and type your new one. Remember that usernames must be between 2 and 16 characters, cannot contain spaces, and can only use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.

After you type your new username, click "Check Availability" or a similar button. Activision will tell you when ready whether that name is taken. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark. If it is taken, you will see a message saying the name is unavailable, and you will need to choose a different one. Once you have found an available name, click "Save" or "Confirm" to make the change permanent.

What happens after you change your username

Your new username appears in Modern Warfare 3 the next time you launch the game. You do not need to restart the game or your console — just close MW3 completely and open it again. Your friends' friends lists will update to show your new name within a few minutes.

If you change your mind, you can change your username again, but you must wait 30 days from the date of your last change. Activision enforces this rule to prevent people from switching names constantly and confusing other players.

Usernames Activision will reject

Activision has a code of conduct for usernames. Names that contain slurs, hate speech, sexual content, or impersonation of real people or celebrities will be rejected. The system usually catches these during the availability check, so you will see an error message instead of a green checkmark.

Names that are too similar to Activision staff accounts or that pretend to be official Activision accounts (like "Activision_Support") will also be rejected. If your username was previously flagged for violating the code of conduct, Activision may have forced a name change on your account, and you will be required to choose a new one the next time you log in.

Troubleshooting: username changes that do not appear in-game

If you changed your username on the Activision website but it still shows your old name in Modern Warfare 3, try closing the game completely and launching it again. Sometimes the game needs to refresh its connection to your account. Wait at least five minutes after making the change before you restart.

If the old name still appears after a restart, log out of your Activision account on the Activision website, wait 30 seconds, and log back in. Then check your username setting again to confirm the change was saved. If you still see the old name, contact Activision Support through their website — this is rare, but it can happen if there was a connection error during the save.

Changing your username on console versus PC

The steps above work the same way whether you play MW3 on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. You always go through the Activision website, not through your console's settings or your Steam account. Your console or platform account (your PlayStation Network ID, Xbox Gamertag, or Steam name) is separate from your Activision username and does not change.

If you want to change your PlayStation Network ID or Xbox Gamertag instead, that is a different process handled by Sony or Microsoft, not by Activision. Your Activision username is what appears in MW3 lobbies and on your friends list within the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once a month?

No. Activision allows one username change every 30 days. The 30-day timer starts from the date you made your last change, not from the start of the calendar month. If you changed your name on March 15, you cannot change it again until April 14.

Will my old username be available for someone else to use?

Yes. Once you change your username, your old name goes back into the pool of available usernames. Someone else can claim it when ready. If you want to keep that name reserved, do not change it.

What if I forgot my Activision password?

Go to www.activision.com and click "Sign In". Below the password field, click "Forgot your password?" Enter your email address, and Activision will send you a password reset link. Click the link in the email, create a new password, and then log in to change your username.

Does changing my Activision username change my PlayStation or Xbox name?

No. Your Activision username and your console username are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change your PlayStation Network ID or Xbox Gamertag, you must do that through your console's settings, not through Activision.

What if the username I want is taken?

You will see a message saying the name is unavailable when you click "Check Availability". Try a different variation — add a number, use an underscore, or choose a different name altogether. You can check as many names as you want before you save, so there is no penalty for trying.