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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes. You can change the Epic Games display name used for Fortnite without paying a fee or spending V-Bucks. Sign in to the Epic Games account linked to Fortnite, verify your email address, and edit the Display name field in Account settings. Epic permits one change every two weeks, or 14 days, counted from your last change.
The name shown can depend on the device. PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and mobile generally use the Epic display name. PlayStation and Xbox can show the name attached to the console account instead, so changing Epic’s name may not change what appears on those consoles.
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What “Fortnite name” means
Fortnite normally uses your Epic Games display name rather than a separate, game-only username. That display name identifies you in Epic’s services and is the name other players may see on PC, Mac, Switch, and mobile.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Is changing a Fortnite name free?
Epic’s official instructions describe the change as an Account settings action and do not identify a fee, paid token, V-Bucks cost, or other purchase. On that documented basis, changing the Epic display name is free.
Free does not mean unlimited. Epic applies a waiting period after each successful change, and your email must be verified before the display-name field can be changed. If you are trying to change a PlayStation Online ID or Xbox Gamertag instead, the console provider’s own rules and pricing, if any, apply separately; that is not an Epic display-name change.
How often can you change your Epic display name?
Epic’s current Player Support guidance says: “You can change your display name once every two weeks.” In practical terms, that is one change every 14 days from the time of the previous change.
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Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
- You can make one display-name change during each 14-day period.
- The timer is measured from your last change, not from the start of a calendar week or month.
- Changing platforms does not bypass the timer because the cooldown belongs to the Epic account.
- If the field is locked, wait until the displayed cooldown has ended instead of repeatedly submitting the form.
Requirements before you start
- Access to the correct Epic account: Use the account actually linked to your Fortnite profile. Signing in with a different account can show a different display name and progress.
- A verified email address: Epic requires email verification for this account-setting change. Complete verification first if Account settings asks for it.
- A name that follows Epic’s rules: Offensive, misleading, rule-breaking, or rights-infringing names can be changed or reset by Epic.
- A cooldown that has expired: If you changed the name within the last 14 days, the field remains unavailable until the interval ends.
Change the Epic name used by Fortnite
- Sign in. Open Epic Games’ account sign-in page and log in with the credentials for the account you use for Fortnite. If you normally use a console sign-in, choose the matching PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, or other linked-login option so you reach the correct Epic account.
- Open Account settings. Go to your account’s settings page rather than looking for a rename option inside a Fortnite match or lobby. The display-name control is an account-level setting.
- Find Display name. Locate the box labeled Display name. Check the existing name carefully so you know you are editing the intended account.
- Enter the new name. Type the name you want to use. Review spelling, capitalization, and characters before saving; the 14-day timer begins after a successful change.
- Select Continue. Choose Continue to submit and save the new display name. If Epic accepts it, the new name becomes the account’s Epic display name.
- Reopen Fortnite. Close and relaunch the game, or sign out and back in, if an already-open session still shows the previous name. Different services can take a short time to refresh their displayed account data.
Why the Display name box is locked
A lock icon normally means the two-week cooldown has not finished. Epic says hovering over the information icon beside the control shows when the last change occurred. Use that date and time to determine when the next change becomes available.
What to check
- Confirm that you are signed in to the same Epic account linked to your Fortnite profile.
- Hover over the information icon and note the cooldown end time.
- Allow the full 14-day interval to pass; changing a device or reinstalling Fortnite cannot remove an account cooldown.
- If the lock remains after the stated time, sign out, sign back in, and reload Account settings before contacting Epic Support.
Changing the name on PlayStation
Epic states that changing its display name does not change your PSN Online ID. If Fortnite is showing your PlayStation identity, change the Online ID through your PlayStation account settings instead of the Epic Display name box.
This is a separate account action. It may have different eligibility rules, effects on other games, and any applicable fees or limits set by PlayStation. The Epic 14-day display-name cooldown does not serve as a PlayStation Online ID schedule.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Changing the name on Xbox
On Xbox, Fortnite may show the Xbox Gamertag. To change that name, use Xbox account or console settings to change the Gamertag. Editing the Epic display name will not rename the Xbox identity that Fortnite displays in that context.
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Xbox’s own Gamertag policy determines availability, limits, and any charge. Treat it independently from the free Epic account change and its 14-day cooldown.
Platform comparison
| Where you play | Name Fortnite may display | Where to change it | Availability conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC or Mac | Epic Games display name | Epic Games Account settings | Verified email and an available 14-day window |
| Nintendo Switch | Epic Games display name | Epic Games Account settings | Verified email and an available 14-day window |
| Mobile | Epic Games display name | Epic Games Account settings | Verified email and an available 14-day window |
| PlayStation | Often the PSN Online ID | PlayStation account settings | PlayStation’s Online ID rules; separate from Epic’s cooldown |
| Xbox | Often the Xbox Gamertag | Xbox account or console settings | Xbox’s Gamertag rules; separate from Epic’s cooldown |
What happens to progress, purchases, and links?
Changing the Epic display name changes the label associated with the account; it does not create a new Fortnite account. Epic’s support guidance says that when Epic resets a violating name, the reset does not remove gameplay progress or purchases. The same account continuity is why you should edit the account already connected to your Fortnite profile rather than creating a new account to obtain a different name.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Your friends, cosmetics, progression, and purchases remain associated with the account. A new display name can nevertheless make it harder for friends to recognize you, so tell regular teammates when you plan to change it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Epic name resets and prohibited names
Epic’s Terms of Service allow it to change a display name that is offensive or misleading, violates Community Rules, or infringes another person’s rights. A name that passes the text box today is not guaranteed to remain acceptable if it is reported or later determined to violate those rules.
Epic’s reset support guidance says a violating name may be replaced with a random display name. After the two-week interval, you can choose a new name that complies with the rules. The reset does not remove gameplay progress or purchases, but the random replacement can make your account look unfamiliar until you rename it.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Choose a name less likely to be reset
- Avoid slurs, threats, harassment, and sexual or hateful references.
- Do not impersonate Epic, another player, a public figure, or an organization.
- Do not use wording intended to mislead players about your identity, affiliation, or status.
- Do not copy another person’s protected name, trademark, or branding in a way that infringes rights.
- Check the final spelling and meaning in the languages your teammates are likely to understand.
Common situations and the right fix
The name changed on PC but not on PlayStation
That usually reflects the platform split rather than a failed Epic update. PC uses the Epic display name, while PlayStation may show the PSN Online ID. Change the Online ID through PlayStation if that is the identity you want displayed there.
The name changed on Xbox but not elsewhere
If you changed an Xbox Gamertag, other devices that use the Epic display name may continue to show the Epic name. Conversely, changing Epic’s name will not necessarily alter the Gamertag shown on Xbox. Identify which account name each device is displaying before making another change.
I cannot find a rename option inside Fortnite
The documented Epic change is made on the Epic Games website under Account settings, not through a Fortnite gameplay menu. Sign in on the web, open Account settings, and use the Display name box.
I changed the name recently and need another change now
There is no documented paid bypass for the Epic cooldown. Wait until the 14-day period expires. If the current name creates an urgent safety or policy issue, contact Epic Support rather than attempting to evade the timer with another account.
The account asks me to verify email
Complete the verification message sent to the email address on the Epic account, then return to Account settings. If you do not see the message, check spam or request another verification email from the account page. Do not switch to a different Epic account just to avoid verification, because that can separate you from your Fortnite progress and purchases.
Quick Recap
Plan your change before submitting
- Decide whether you need the Epic name, a PSN Online ID, or an Xbox Gamertag changed.
- Prepare a compliant replacement and check its spelling.
- Confirm your email is verified and note the cooldown date shown by the information icon.
- Tell friends or clan members about the upcoming change if they identify you by your current name.
- Submit only when you are satisfied, because another Epic change is unavailable for 14 days.
Key answers at a glance
- Can you change a Fortnite name for free? Yes, the Epic display-name change is documented as a free Account settings action.
- How often can you change it? Once every two weeks, equal to 14 days from the last change.
- What does a lock mean? The Epic cooldown has not ended; the information icon shows when the prior change occurred.
- Do you change it in Fortnite? No. Change the Epic display name on the Epic Games website under Account settings.
- Why is the name different on a console? PlayStation may show the PSN Online ID and Xbox may show the Xbox Gamertag, each controlled separately from Epic.
- Can Epic replace a name? Yes. Offensive, misleading, rule-breaking, or rights-infringing names can be reset, potentially to a random display name.
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