Change your Epic Games name through your account settings

You can change the display name on your Epic Games account by logging into your account on the Epic Games website, going to your Account settings, and updating the name in the Display Name field. The change takes effect immediately, though it may take a few minutes to appear across all Epic Games services and games that use your Epic Games account.

Your display name is what other players see when you play games like Fortnite, Rocket League, or Fall Guys. This is different from your account login email, which you cannot change. You can change your display name as often as you want, though Epic Games may place a short waiting period between changes if you do it repeatedly.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Epic Games account on the website, then navigate to Account settings and select Display Name to make the change.
  • Your display name appears to other players in games but is separate from your login email address.
  • Display name changes take effect immediately in your account but may take a few minutes to show up in active games.
  • Epic Games may temporarily prevent you from changing your name again if you change it multiple times in a short period.

Step-by-step process to update your display name

Start by going to www.epicgames.com and clicking the Sign In button in the top right corner. Enter the email address and password you use for your Epic Games account. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will need to enter the code from your authenticator app or email.

Once logged in, click your account name or profile icon in the top right corner and select Account. On the Account page, look for the Display Name field on the left side under your profile information. Click the pencil icon or the edit button next to your current display name. Type your new name into the field, then click Save or Confirm. The system will check that your new name follows Epic Games' naming rules — it cannot contain certain characters, be blank, or be already taken by another account.

If your new name is rejected, you will see an error message explaining why. Common reasons include special characters that are not allowed, a name that is already in use, or a name that violates Epic Games' content policy. Try a different name and submit again.

What happens after you change your name

Your new display name becomes active in your Epic Games account right away. However, it may take up to 15 minutes to appear in games you are currently playing or in the friends list of other players. If you are in the middle of a match when you change your name, you may still appear under your old name until you restart the game or log out and back in.

Your old display name becomes available for other players to use after you change it. If you want to keep a name reserved, do not change away from it — there is no way to reclaim an old name once you have switched to something new.

Name change restrictions and waiting periods

Epic Games does not charge money to change your display name, but the company does limit how often you can change it. If you change your name multiple times within a short period — typically within 24 to 48 hours — Epic Games may lock you out of making another change for a set amount of time, usually between one and seven days.

Your display name must be between 3 and 16 characters long. It cannot start or end with a space, contain consecutive spaces, or use certain special characters like @, #, or $. Names that are offensive, impersonate real people or public figures, or violate Epic Games' community standards will be rejected or removed by Epic Games staff.

Changing your name on console or mobile

You cannot change your display name directly from the Fortnite app on your phone or from a console. You must use the Epic Games website on a computer or mobile browser. Log in to www.epicgames.com, follow the steps above, and your new name will sync to all devices where you play games linked to that account.

After you change your name on the website, launch the game on your console or phone and log in with the same Epic Games account. Your new display name will appear once the game has synced with your account, which usually happens within a few minutes of launching the game.

Troubleshooting common name change problems

If you see an error saying your name is already taken, someone else has claimed that exact name. Try adding numbers, underscores, or slight variations. If the system says your name contains invalid characters, remove any symbols except underscores and hyphens, which are usually allowed.

If you are locked out of changing your name due to the waiting period, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. You cannot bypass this restriction. If your name was removed by Epic Games for violating community standards, you will receive an email explaining why. You can then choose a new name that follows the rules and try again.

If your new name is not showing up in games after 15 minutes, try restarting the game or logging out of your Epic Games account and logging back in. Clear your browser cache if you are checking the name on the website and it still shows your old name.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Once you change your display name, your old name becomes available for other players to use. If you want to use that name again, you would have to wait for someone else to claim it, then hope they change their name at some point. It is better to choose a name you plan to keep.

Does changing my display name affect my progress or cosmetics in Fortnite?

No. Your display name is only what appears to other players. All your skins, battle pass progress, V-Bucks, and game statistics stay exactly the same. Changing your name does not reset or delete anything in your account.

What if I forgot my Epic Games password and cannot log in to change my name?

Go to www.epicgames.com and click Sign In, then click Forgot Password. Enter the email address for your account and Epic Games will send you a password reset link. Click the link in the email, create a new password, and then log in to change your display name.

Can I use spaces in my Epic Games display name?

Yes, you can use spaces in the middle of your name, but not at the beginning or end. You also cannot use two or more spaces in a row. For example, "Cool Player" is allowed, but " Cool Player" or "Cool Player" is not.