How to change your Minecraft name

You can change your Minecraft Java Edition username once every 30 days through your Mojang account settings. Go to minecraft.net, sign in with your Microsoft account, select your profile, and click the "Change name" button next to your current username. Type your new name (it must be between 3 and 16 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be taken by another player). The change takes effect immediately, though it may take a few minutes to show up in-game.

If you play Minecraft Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, or Windows, your name is tied to your Microsoft account profile rather than a separate game account. You change it by editing your Microsoft account profile directly — not through Minecraft settings. The process and 30-day cooldown are the same, but the setting lives in your Microsoft account preferences, not the Minecraft launcher.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition players change their username through minecraft.net by signing into their Mojang account and clicking "Change name" on their profile.
  • You can change your name once every 30 days, and the new name must be 3 to 16 characters with only letters, numbers, and underscores.
  • Bedrock Edition players change their name through their Microsoft account profile settings, not through the Minecraft app itself.
  • The name change takes effect immediately in-game, though it may take a few minutes to display to other players.
  • If your desired name is already taken, you will need to choose a different one — the system will tell you if a name is unavailable before you confirm the change.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Once you change your username, your old name becomes available for another player to claim after a grace period. The grace period typically lasts 30 days, though Mojang has not published an exact timeline. During this time, your old name is reserved and cannot be taken by someone else.

Your player UUID (a unique identifier behind the scenes) stays the same when you change your name. This means your world saves, server data, and achievements follow you to your new name — nothing is lost. Other players' servers and worlds will see you under your new name the next time you log in, even if they have not updated their game.

The 30-day cooldown between name changes

Minecraft enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. This means if you changed your name today, you cannot change it again for 30 days from that date. The cooldown is per account, not per name — you cannot work around it by changing to a temporary name and then to your desired name faster.

The timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when the name appears in-game. If you change your name at 3 p.m. on January 15th, you can change it again at 3 p.m. on February 14th. Mojang does not offer exceptions to this cooldown, even for new accounts or accounts that have never changed their name before.

Name requirements and what makes a name invalid

Your new username must follow these rules: it must be 3 to 16 characters long, contain only letters (a–z, A–Z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_), and not already be claimed by another player. Spaces, hyphens, special characters, and accented letters are not allowed. The system will reject your choice immediately if it violates any of these rules or if the name is already taken.

Names are case-insensitive in Minecraft, meaning "Steve" and "steve" are treated as the same name. If someone has already claimed "Steve," you cannot register "STEVE" or any other capitalization of it. The name-check happens in real time as you type, so you will see whether your choice is available before you submit it.

Changing your name on Java Edition versus Bedrock Edition

Java Edition and Bedrock Edition handle name changes through different systems. Java Edition uses Mojang accounts, and you change your name on the Mojang website. Bedrock Edition (which includes Windows 10/11, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile) uses Microsoft accounts, and you change your name through Microsoft's account settings. Both have the same 30-day cooldown and character requirements, but the location of the setting is different.

If you own both versions, each has its own separate username. You can have one name in Java Edition and a different name in Bedrock Edition. Changing one does not affect the other. Make sure you are signed into the correct account before you make the change, because it is easy to confuse which version you are using.

What to do if your desired name is taken

If the username you want is already claimed, the system will show "unavailable" when you try to register it. You have two options: choose a different name, or wait to see if the current owner stops playing and their name becomes available. Minecraft does not release inactive usernames — once someone claims a name, it remains theirs even if they never log in again.

Some players add numbers or underscores to their preferred name as a workaround (for example, "Steve_1" or "Steve123"). You can also check whether a name is available by searching for the player on namemc.com, which shows when a username was last used. If it has not been used in years, it is still not available for you to claim — only Mojang can release old names, and they do not do this routinely.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Minecraft enforces a strict 30-day cooldown between name changes. You cannot change your name again until 30 days have passed since your last change, and there are no exceptions. If you need to change your name urgently, you will have to wait.

Will I lose my worlds, skins, or progress if I change my name?

No. Your player UUID stays the same when you change your name, so all your worlds, skins, achievements, and server data follow you. Other players will see you under your new name, but nothing is deleted or lost.

Can I change my name back to my old username?

Only if no one else has claimed it. After you change your name, your old name enters a grace period (usually 30 days) before it becomes available to other players. If it is still unclaimed after that period, you can change your name back to it, but you will have to wait 30 days between changes.

What if I typed my new name wrong and want to change it immediately?

You cannot change it again for 30 days. The system does not offer a grace period or undo option for typos. If you made a mistake, you will have to wait the full 30 days before you can change it to the correct spelling.

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your password is separate from your username and does not need to change. Your account security remains the same — only the name other players see is different.