Let’s be real: we’ve all made a username we immediately regretted. Maybe you were ten years old and thought "PandaLover2012" was the pinnacle of comedy, or perhaps you just went through a phase that you’d rather not discuss in public. Now you’re stuck. You head over to the settings page, click that little edit icon, and—BAM—the screen tells you it’s going to cost 1,000 Robux. At current rates, that’s about $12.50 just to fix a typo or a lapse in judgment. It feels like a total rips-off.
But here’s the thing. There is a massive difference between your Username and your Display Name. People get these mixed up constantly. If you want to change your actual login username, the one you use to sign in and the one that uniquely identifies your account across the whole database, Roblox is going to make you pay. They claim it’s to prevent scamming and identity hopping. Honestly? It’s also a great way for them to make money. However, if you just want people in a server to see a different name over your head, you can do that for absolutely zero dollars.
The Display Name loophole: How to change roblox name for free right now
Roblox introduced Display Names a while back, and it basically solved the "I'm broke and stuck with a bad name" problem for 90% of players. Your Display Name is what appears in the player list, above your character's head in experiences, and in the chat.
To do this, you just need to hop into your Account Settings. If you’re on a computer, click that gear icon in the top right. On mobile, it’s the three dots in the bottom right corner. Once you hit Account Info, you’ll see "Display Name" right at the top. Click the edit button. Type in your new identity. Save.
It’s that simple.
There are rules, though. You can only change this once every seven days. If you wake up tomorrow and decide you hate your new name, you're stuck with it for a week. Also, it doesn’t have to be unique. You could change your Display Name to "Builderman" if you wanted to, though you’ll probably just get mocked for it. The real username (the one with the @ symbol) stays attached to your account profile in small grey text, so people can still tell who you actually are.
What about the "location trick" for usernames?
You might have seen old YouTube videos or TikToks claiming you can get a full username change for free by using a VPN to set your location to Germany or some other specific region.
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Let's clear this up: This doesn't really work the way it used to. Back when Display Names were first rolling out, they were region-locked. People used VPNs to "teleport" to a country where the feature was live so they could change their name early. Since Display Names are now available globally, there is no "secret country" that gives you a free pass on the 1,000 Robux fee for a permanent username change.
If you see someone telling you to download a specific "Roblox Name Generator" or a "Free Robux Hack" to change your name, run. Seriously. Those are almost always phishing attempts designed to steal your account cookies or password. Roblox has a very tight grip on their database. There is no external tool that can reach into their servers and change a string of text in the Users table without an authorized transaction.
When Roblox support might actually help you
There is one very narrow, very specific "official" way to get a username change for free, but it requires you to have a really bad name to begin with.
If your current username contains your real life name (like "JohnSmith2010") and you are a minor, or if it accidentally contains personally identifiable information (PII) like your phone number or address, you can try pleading your case to Roblox Support.
- Go to the [suspicious link removed].
- Enter your account details.
- Under "Type of help category," select Account Safety or Privacy & Security.
- Explain that your username violates your personal privacy because it contains your real-world identity.
Sometimes—and it’s a big "sometimes"—a support agent will grant a one-time name change to protect your safety. They won't let you pick a "cool" name; usually, they'll just reset it to something generic or let you change it to something safer. Don't try to lie and say your name is "CoolGamer42" in real life just to get a free change. They aren't dumb.
Why the 1,000 Robux fee exists (and why it sucks)
From a technical standpoint, changing a primary identifier in a database that holds millions of accounts is a bit of a headache. Every item you own, every badge you’ve earned, and every game pass you’ve bought is linked to your UserId. Your UserId is a number that never changes. However, many older systems in the game used the username string instead.
When you change your username, Roblox has to ensure that all your "stuff" follows you to the new name.
If it were free, people would change their names every five minutes. Imagine a scammer stealing items in a trade, changing their name instantly, and disappearing. The 1,000 Robux fee acts as a "friction cost." It makes you think twice. It also keeps the "OG Name" market alive, which is a whole weird subculture of Roblox where people pay thousands of dollars for accounts with short or rare names.
Step-by-step for the skeptical
If you're still worried about clicking things, here is exactly how the free Display Name process looks on most devices. No fluff.
- Open Roblox. Log in. Obviously.
- Navigate to Settings. It's the gear on desktop or the "..." circle on the app.
- Select Account Info. This is the first tab.
- Locate Display Name. It's right under the "Account Info" header.
- Hit the Edit Icon. It looks like a pencil and paper.
- Type the new name. It must be between 3 and 20 characters.
- Save.
If the "Save" button is greyed out, you probably haven't waited the seven days since your last change. Or you're trying to use a name that is blocked by the chat filter. Roblox is notoriously strict about filters. Even "innocent" names get tagged sometimes if they contain a string of letters that looks like a bad word in another language.
Does it change your @name?
No. If your name is @OldStinkyName and you change your Display Name to EpicHero, people will see EpicHero in the game. But if they go to your profile, they will still see @OldStinkyName.
If you absolutely, positively must change that @ name, you have to save up the Robux. If you’re a developer, you can earn this through your games. If you’re a trader, you can work the market. But for the average player, the "free" method is 100% limited to the Display Name system.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are ready to refresh your identity without opening your wallet, here is what you should do right now:
- Verify your email and enable 2FA. Before messing with account settings, ensure you won't get locked out. Roblox occasionally flags "suspicious" setting changes if you're on a new IP address.
- Check your "Previous Usernames." If you do decide to pay for a name change later, remember that your old names stay on your profile. People can see your history. If you're trying to hide from someone, a name change won't stop them if they have your
UserId. - Draft your Display Name first. Since you can only change it once a week, don't waste it on a joke that gets old in an hour. Type it into a notepad first. See how it looks.
- Use the "Display Name" for branding. If you are starting a YouTube channel or a clothing group, set your Display Name to match your brand. It's the best free marketing tool on the platform.
The days of needing a VPN or a "hack" are over because the feature is already built-in. Just stick to the settings menu and avoid any site asking for your password in exchange for a "free name change." They are lying.