You just landed. You’re looking at your character’s back and realize you’re still wearing that default Ramirez or Jonesy skin. It’s frustrating. Especially when everyone else in the lobby is flexing a glowing neon samurai or a giant banana.
Honestly, the menu system in Fortnite has become a bit of a maze over the years. Epic Games loves to move things around. If you’re coming back after a long break or you're brand new to the island, finding out how to change character on Fortnite feels like you're trying to solve a puzzle before the storm closes in.
It’s actually pretty simple once you stop looking for a button labeled "Character" and start looking for the Locker.
The Locker is Your Virtual Closet
Forget the "Shop" tab. Forget the "Play" tab. If you want to swap your skin, you need to head straight to the Locker tab at the top of your screen. This is where every cosmetic item you’ve ever earned or bought lives.
Once you’re in there, you’ll see a grid of icons. The very first one—usually the biggest—is your character skin. Click that. You’ll be greeted by your collection. If you’ve been playing for a while, this might be a massive list. If you're new, it might just be the defaults.
Pick the one you want and hit Equip. That’s it. You’re done.
But wait. There’s a catch.
If you are currently in a match, you can’t change. You’re stuck. Epic doesn't let you swap identities mid-game because of competitive integrity (and probably some technical limitations with loading assets). You have to be in the main lobby to make the magic happen.
What If My Character Won't Stay Changed?
This is a common headache. You pick a skin, go into a game, and suddenly you’re someone else. Or maybe your skin is shuffling every single match.
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Check your Presets.
Fortnite introduced a system where you can save entire "outfits"—the skin, the back bling, the pickaxe, and the glider—into one slot. If you have "Shuffle" turned on, the game will ignore your manual selection and just pick a random preset from your library. Look for a small icon that looks like a recycling symbol or a "Shuffle" toggle on the main Locker screen. Turn that off.
Also, keep in mind that some game modes (like certain Creative maps) might force a specific character on you for the sake of the game's theme. If you're in a "Cops vs Robbers" map and you look like a generic prisoner, that's why.
Dealing with "Edit Styles"
Some characters have multiple looks. Take the classic Omega or the newer Battle Pass skins. They often have different colors or armor pieces.
When you select a character in the Locker, look for a button prompt at the bottom that says Edit Style. If you don't hit this, you're stuck with the base version. It’s a huge miss for players who spend hours grinding for those gold or chrome variants only to realize they never actually "turned them on."
The Default Skin Lottery
If you haven't bought any skins yet, you might wonder why your character changes every time you start a new session.
That’s just how Fortnite works.
If you don't own a skin, the game assigns you one of the "Default" characters at random. One match you’re Jonesy, the next you’re Spitfire. There is actually no way to "lock in" a specific default character without buying a skin or earning one through a Battle Pass or a free event.
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It’s Epic’s subtle way of nudging you toward the Item Shop.
Changing Skins on the Fly (Sorta)
There is one major exception to the "No changing during a match" rule. Built-in Emotes.
Some characters, like Iron Man (Tony Stark) or Superman (Clark Kent) from previous seasons, have special emotes that transform them. You start the match as a human and, with the press of a button, you suit up.
There are also "reactive" skins. These change based on how many kills you get or how much damage you deal. For example, the Midas skin turns weapons to gold, and some skins start glowing brighter as the match progresses. It’s not technically "changing your character" in the menu sense, but it’s the only way to get a fresh look without backing out to the lobby.
The Evolution of the UI
If you’re looking at old YouTube tutorials from 2018, the screen is going to look completely different. Epic Games overhauled the UI (User Interface) in Chapter 5, and it was... controversial, to say the least.
The new "Locker" is now segmented. Your character skin is separate from your "Lobby Pose" and "Wraps" in a way that feels a bit clunky. You now have to navigate through sub-menus for things like your vehicle skins or your LEGO styles.
Yes, LEGO styles.
With the launch of LEGO Fortnite, every character now has a blocky counterpart. When you’re in the Locker, you can toggle between the Battle Royale look and the LEGO look. Just make sure you’re looking at the right version before you get confused why your character looks like a plastic toy.
Quick Fix Checklist for Character Swapping
If you're still struggling, run through these steps:
- Back out to the Lobby. You cannot be in a game or a loading screen.
- Navigate to the Locker. It's the hanger icon at the top.
- Click the Character Tile. This is the first slot on the top left.
- Select your Skin. Scroll through your library.
- Press Equip. On consoles, this is usually 'X' (PlayStation) or 'A' (Xbox).
- Check for Shuffle. Ensure the random shuffle icon isn't highlighted.
- Save your Preset. If you want to keep this look, save it to a slot so you can find it faster next time.
Why Skins Actually Matter
It’s easy to say skins are "just cosmetic." And they are—they don't give you extra health or faster running speed. But in the world of Fortnite, your character is your reputation.
Using a "Sweaty" skin (like Aura or Focus) might make people think you're a pro, while using a giant, bulky skin like The Scientist might actually put you at a slight disadvantage because your character model takes up more of your screen real estate. It's called "ADS" (Aim Down Sights) obstruction. Competitive players almost always choose female skins with "slim" models to maximize their field of vision.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your character customization, you should immediately go into your Locker and Archive any skins you know you'll never use. This cleans up your menu and makes it way faster to find your favorites during the short window between matches.
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If you’re looking for a specific vibe, use the Filter tool in the Locker to sort by "Rarity" or "Season." This is a lifesaver if you have hundreds of skins and can't remember the name of that one knight you unlocked three years ago. Finally, keep an eye on the "Quests" tab—often, Epic hides character styles behind specific challenges that you have to manually track to unlock.