Look, your 2018 username probably sucks. We’ve all been there—rocking something like "NoobSlayer99" or a cringey clan tag for a group that disbanded before the Chapter 1 map even flooded. You’re staring at the lobby screen, thinking it’s finally time for a fresh start. Honestly, changing your display name is one of the easiest ways to breathe a little life back into the game, but there are a few quirks with the Epic Games ecosystem that might trip you up if you aren't careful.
First things first: your name in Fortnite isn't actually a "Fortnite name." It's an Epic Games account name. This is a massive distinction because whatever you pick is going to follow you across Rocket League, Fall Guys, and the Epic Games Store. If you pick something weirdly specific to a Battle Royale meme, you're stuck with it while you're trying to play a tactical shooter or a racing game later.
How to change your name in Fortnite without breaking anything
To get started, you have to head over to the official Epic Games website. Don't try to do this through the game client on your PC or through the settings menu on your console—it’s just going to frustrate you. Once you log in, you’ll want to navigate to the Account Settings page. There’s a little blue pencil icon next to your current display name. Click that, type in the new handle you’ve been dreaming of, and hit confirm.
But wait. There is a catch.
Epic Games has a strict two-week cooldown. If you make a typo or decide five minutes later that "LootLlamaKing" was a terrible mistake, you are stuck with it for 14 days. No exceptions. Epic Support used to be a bit more lenient about this in the early days of 2017 and 2018, but now their automated systems handle it entirely. They won't bypass the timer just because you misspelled your own name.
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The Console Complication: PlayStation and Xbox users beware
This is where things get genuinely confusing for a lot of people. If you play exclusively on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, your in-game name might not even be your Epic Games name. It's usually your PSN ID or your Xbox Gamertag.
If you change your name on the Epic Games website, it will update for your friends on PC and mobile, but your overhead name in a match on PS5 will still be your PlayStation Network name. To change that, you actually have to go through Sony or Microsoft's ecosystem. Sony gives you the first one for free, but after that, they’ll charge you about ten bucks. Microsoft has a similar "pay to play" model for name changes. It’s a bit of a racket, honestly, but it’s how those platforms have operated for over a decade.
If you’re a "connected" player—meaning you have an Epic account linked to your console—Epic’s systems try to sync them, but the console's platform ID usually takes priority in the actual match UI. Always double-check which "identity" your friends are seeing before you drop money on a Gamertag change.
Verification and those pesky special characters
You've probably seen people in your lobbies with weird Greek letters or symbols that look like tiny crowns. While Epic allows some special characters, they’ve cracked down on "invisible" names or characters that break the UI. If you try to use a character that isn't supported, the system will either give you a generic error or, worse, show you as a string of boxes (the "tofu" effect) to everyone else in the match.
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Also, you can't change your name if your email isn't verified. This is a security measure to stop account hijackers from stealing a rare account (like one with the Renegade Raider skin) and immediately flipping the name to hide their tracks. If that "edit" button is greyed out, check your inbox. You likely missed a verification link from three years ago.
Dealing with the "Name Already Taken" nightmare
Fortnite has millions of players. Every "cool" name like Shadow, Ace, or Ghost was taken before the game even left beta. If you're dead set on a specific word, you're going to have to get creative with non-standard characters or adding "Shorty" prefixes. However, keep in mind that if you use a name that impersonates a famous streamer like Ninja or MrBeast, you're asking for a ban. Epic’s Terms of Service are pretty clear about deceptive identities.
Why you might be seeing "Player[384]" instead of a name
Sometimes you change your name and it works, but when you hop into a match, everyone is just a generic "Player" followed by a number. This isn't a bug with your name change. It’s actually Anonymous Mode.
If you have this toggled on in your social settings, nobody can see your new, expensive name. Similarly, if you see everyone else as "Player," you might have "Hide Other Player Names" turned on. It’s a great tool if you're a streamer trying to avoid being targeted, but for the average person, it just makes the game feel a bit lonely. Turn it off if you want to flex your new handle.
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Taking the leap: A quick checklist before you click confirm
Before you commit to that 14-day lock-in, do a quick sanity check.
- Check the spelling. Seriously. Read it out loud.
- Verify your email. If you don't, the button won't work.
- Think about other games. Do you really want to be "FortniteGod" while playing Alan Wake 2 via the Epic Store?
- Check your platform. If you're on Xbox, changing it on Epic's site won't change your Gamertag.
Changing your identity in the loop is a ritual of growth. Whether you're dropping the "TTV" from your name because you gave up on streaming or you're finally joining a serious competitive roster, the process is straightforward as long as you respect the 14-day rule. Go to the Epic Games portal, hit the personal details tab, and make sure you're 100% sure before hitting save. Once it’s done, restart your game client to force the cache to update, and you’ll see the new name shining in the top left corner of the lobby.
Next Steps for Your Account
After updating your display name, your next priority should be securing the account. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) through the "Password & Security" tab if you haven't already. Not only does this protect your new identity, but it’s also the only way to send gifts to friends or participate in competitive tournaments like the Cash Cups. If you're on a console, ensure your console's primary email matches your Epic Games email to prevent "account ghosting" where progress gets stuck on a platform you no longer use.