Look. We’ve all been there. Maybe you picked a username back in 2016 when the game first launched and you thought "PikaLover420" was the height of comedy. Now you’re an adult, or at least a more sensible human being, and you’re standing at a local Raid with twenty other people who can see your avatar. It’s awkward. You want a fresh start. Honestly, the process of how do i change my name on pokemon go is actually pretty straightforward, but Niantic has some strict rules that can really trip you up if you aren't careful.
You can't just flip your name back and forth like a light switch.
Niantic limits how many times you can do this. If you burn through your allowed changes, you are essentially stuck with whatever weird string of characters you chose until the end of time—or until Niantic decides to be merciful, which doesn't happen often. Let's get into the nitty-gritty of how you actually swap that Trainer Name and what happens to your account once you do.
The literal steps to change your Pokemon Go name
Stop overthinking it. It’s right there in the settings menu, though it’s tucked away just enough that people miss it. First off, open the app. Tap that Poke Ball icon at the bottom center of your screen. That opens your main menu. From there, you’ll see the "Settings" gear in the top right corner. Tap that.
Now, look for the "Account" section.
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Once you’re in there, you’ll see an option labeled "Change Trainer Name." If you don’t see it, or if it’s greyed out, it’s probably because you’ve already hit your limit. Niantic allows a very small number of name changes—usually just one or two over the lifetime of the account, though they occasionally reset this for players who haven't changed it in years. When you tap it, the game is going to give you a very serious warning. It’s basically asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?" because once you hit "Yes," you’re committed.
Type in your new name. Make it good. If the name is already taken, the game will tell you immediately. It won't let you save a name that belongs to someone else. Once you find a unique one and confirm it, the change is instant. Your friends list will see the new name immediately, and your name on Gyms will update shortly after.
Why you might be getting an error
Sometimes people search for how do i change my name on pokemon go because the button just isn't working for them. There are a few reasons for this.
First, the character limit. You have a maximum of 12 characters. If you try to go longer, the game won't even let you hit submit. Second, profanity filters. Niantic is notoriously aggressive with their word filters. Even if your name isn't actually offensive, if it contains a string of letters that looks like a bad word in another language, the system might flag it.
I’ve seen players try to name themselves after legitimate historical figures or even just use their real last names, only to get blocked by an over-zealous filter.
Important Note: If you changed your name once years ago and now the option is gone, you are technically out of luck. Niantic’s official policy is that Trainer Names are permanent once the limit is reached.
However, there is a small "backdoor" for people who have a legitimate reason. If your current name contains your actual, real-life full name and you’re worried about privacy, or if you’re being harassed by another player who knows your handle, you can try reaching out to Niantic Support. Don't expect a fast response. They are famously slow. But if you frame it as a safety or privacy issue, they have been known to manually reset the name change option for players. Just don't lie to them—they can see your account history.
What about your Friends List and Gyms?
One big fear people have when figuring out how do i change my name on pokemon go is that they’ll lose their progress. Will your friends still know it's you?
Yes. Your Friend Code stays exactly the same. You don't need to re-add anyone. On their end, your name will simply change in their list. It might be a good idea to send a Gift with a sticker or change your Buddy Pokemon’s name to "NewName_OldName" for a day just so your friends don't delete you thinking you’re a stranger who somehow got on their list.
As for Gyms, your Pokemon will still be there. Your name updates on the Gym defender screen almost instantly. The same goes for the leaderboards in GBL (Go Battle League). Your rank, your ELO, and your win-loss record are all tied to your unique account ID, not your display name.
The psychological trap of the "Perfect Name"
Don't spend three days paralyzing yourself over the perfect name. Most people in the community identify you by your avatar's outfit or your Buddy Pokemon anyway. When you're looking at how do i change my name on pokemon go, focus on something that is:
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- Easy to type (for when people want to tag you in Discord or Campfire).
- Memorable but not obnoxious.
- Something you won't be embarrassed by in another five years.
If you’re a high-level player, maybe avoid putting your team color in your name. If you decide to switch teams later using a Team Change Medallion, having "ValorKing" as a Mystic player looks a bit silly.
Technical nuances and the Campfire factor
With the integration of Niantic Campfire, your Pokemon Go name is more public than ever. Campfire is the social map app that lets you coordinate raids. When you change your name in Pokemon Go, it should sync with Campfire, but sometimes there’s a lag. If you see two different names, try logging out of both apps and logging back in.
Also, keep in mind that Niantic IDs and Trainer Names are two different things. Your Trainer Name is what people see in-game. Your Niantic ID is a universal name across all Niantic games (like Peridot or Monster Hunter Now). Changing your Pokemon Go name doesn't automatically change your Niantic ID. You have to do that through the Niantic Profile website if you want everything to match perfectly.
Actionable steps for a successful name change
If you're ready to pull the trigger, follow this checklist to ensure you don't regret it ten minutes later.
- Check Availability First: Try to "search" for the name you want on a third-party site or just check if the name is a common word. If it’s "Pikachu," it’s taken. Guaranteed.
- Draft it in Notepad: Type the name out. Look at it. Does it look weird with the font Pokemon Go uses? Are the "I"s and "l"s confusing?
- Verify your Privacy: Ensure you aren't using your real birth year or your city in your name. Stalking is a real issue in location-based gaming. Keep it anonymous.
- Check your Settings: If the "Change Trainer Name" option is missing, go to the Niantic Support page immediately rather than trying to click around or reinstall the app. Reinstalling won't bring the button back.
- Notify your Local Community: If you use Discord, Telegram, or WhatsApp to coordinate raids, tell the admins. They might need to update your nickname in the group so people know who is requesting an invite to a Mega Rayquaza raid.
Once you’ve confirmed the change, that’s it. You’re the new you. Go out there, spin some stops, and enjoy the fact that you no longer have a username that makes you cringe every time you open the app. Your stats are safe, your Shinies aren't going anywhere, and your journey continues under a better banner.