How to Change Minecraft Name on Java and Bedrock

To learn how to change minecraft name, first identify your edition. In Java Edition, change your profile name on Minecraft.net; you can do this once every 30 days. In Bedrock Edition, change the Xbox gamertag linked to your Microsoft account. Console profile names may instead come from Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo settings. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

Know which Minecraft name you are changing

Minecraft does not use one universal name on every platform. The name other players see depends on the edition and account you use.

• Java Edition: Your visible name is your Java profile name. It is separate from your Xbox gamertag, even if both names match.
• Bedrock Edition: Your visible name is normally the Xbox gamertag connected to your Microsoft account.
• Xbox: Minecraft uses your Xbox gamertag.
• PlayStation: Minecraft normally uses your PSN online ID, unless you are signed in with a linked Microsoft account, in which case the Xbox gamertag can appear.
• Nintendo Switch: Minecraft uses your Nintendo account nickname when you are not using a linked Microsoft account.

If you play on Windows, check whether you launch Java Edition or Bedrock Edition before changing anything. The Java launcher has a separate Java profile name, while Bedrock follows the Microsoft and Xbox account identity. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

How to change minecraft name on Java Edition

Java Edition lets you change your in-game profile name from your Minecraft account area. You do not need to reinstall the game, create a new world, or change your Microsoft email address.

1. Open Minecraft.net and sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Java Edition.
2. Open the All Games area of your account.
3. Find Minecraft: Java Edition.
4. Select Change Profile Name.
5. Enter the new name you want to use.
6. Select Change Your Profile Name to confirm.

After the change is saved, close and reopen the Minecraft Launcher if it still displays your old name. Joining a server again may also be necessary before the new name appears everywhere.

Java profile names can be changed once every 30 days. If you change your mind, you must wait until that 30-day period ends before changing the name again, including returning to your previous name. Choose a name you are comfortable using for at least a month. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

How to change your Bedrock Edition name

Bedrock Edition uses your Xbox gamertag as your in-game name when you play with a Microsoft account. Change the gamertag through your Xbox profile rather than through the Minecraft world settings.

Change your gamertag online

1. Open Xbox.com and sign in with the Microsoft account connected to Minecraft.
2. Open My Account and view your Xbox profile.
3. Select the pencil icon beside your current gamertag.
4. Enter the new gamertag and follow the confirmation steps.

Restart Minecraft after saving the change. If the old name remains visible, sign out of Minecraft and sign back in with the same Microsoft account. This refreshes the account information used by Bedrock. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

Change your gamertag on Xbox

1. Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
2. Open Profile & system.
3. Select your Xbox profile, or choose a profile and sign in.
4. Open My profile.
5. Select Customize profile.
6. Select your current gamertag and complete the change.

Changing this gamertag affects other Xbox services that use the same account, not only Minecraft. Make sure you are editing the Microsoft account that owns your copy of the game. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

Change your name on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch

On consoles, the steps depend on whether Minecraft is showing the platform account name or a linked Microsoft gamertag.

PlayStation

If Minecraft is using your PlayStation profile, change your PSN online ID through PlayStation account settings. If you sign in to a linked Microsoft account inside Bedrock, Minecraft can show the Xbox gamertag instead. Signing out of the Microsoft account returns the displayed name to the PSN online ID. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

Nintendo Switch

1. Open your profile from the top-left corner of the Switch home screen.
2. Open the Profile tab.
3. Select the pencil icon beside your profile name.
4. Enter the new Nintendo account nickname and save it.

If you play Bedrock while signed in with a Microsoft account, check the Xbox gamertag first. The linked Microsoft identity can control the name shown in multiplayer. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408950195341?utm_source=openai))

Changing a Minecraft name versus changing a skin

Your username and your skin are different. A name changes the text other players see above your character, while a skin changes your character’s appearance. Changing one does not automatically change the other.

For example, you can keep the same Java profile name and upload a different skin, or change your Bedrock gamertag without changing your character creator outfit.

Change a Java Edition skin

1. Open the Minecraft Launcher.
2. Select Minecraft: Java Edition.
3. Open the Skins tab.
4. Select New Skin.
5. Choose the Classic/Wide or Slim model.
6. Select Browse and choose a compatible skin file.
7. Select Save & Use.

You can also manage a Java skin from the Minecraft profile area in a browser. The uploaded skin should be a properly formatted image file, and the model must match the way the arms are designed. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408894664461-Make-a-Custom-Skin-in-Minecraft-Java-Edition?utm_source=openai))

Change a Bedrock Edition skin

1. Start Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.
2. Select Dressing Room.
3. Select the character slot you want to edit, or create a new slot.
4. Select Edit Character.
5. Open Classic Skins to choose a purchased or available skin.
6. Select the skin and choose Equip.

Bedrock’s Dressing Room also lets you change character creator items, including body and style options. Classic skins and character creator items are handled separately, so select the correct section for the appearance you want. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4408902716557-How-to-Equip-Character-Creator-Items-and-Skins-in-the-Dressing-Room-in-Minecraft?utm_source=openai))

What happens after you change your name

A name change updates the account identity used by Minecraft, but multiplayer servers may take a moment to recognize it. Restart the launcher or game before testing the new name.

• Your single-player worlds remain on the same device.
• Your skin, capes, and character items are separate from the name change.
• Your friends may need to search for your new name or gamertag.
• A server may display cached information until you disconnect and reconnect.
• Changing accounts is not the same as changing a name.

Do not create a new Microsoft account just to get a different name. A new account can be treated as a new player on multiplayer worlds and may not have access to the purchases, profiles, or progress connected to your original account. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360050865492?utm_source=openai))

Fixes when the old name still appears

If your new name does not show immediately, work through these checks in order.

1. Confirm that you changed the account that owns and launches Minecraft.
2. Close Minecraft completely, including the Launcher on PC.
3. Reopen the Launcher or game and sign in again.
4. On Bedrock, verify that the correct Microsoft account is linked.
5. On PlayStation or Switch, check whether the game is showing your platform name instead of your Microsoft gamertag.
6. Leave and rejoin the server or world where the old name appears.

If the launcher shows the wrong account, log out and select the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft. The Xbox profile page can help you verify the active gamertag and Microsoft email before you launch the game again. ([help.minecraft.net](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360045828292-Sign-Out-of-Minecraft?utm_source=openai))

Common mistakes to avoid

• Changing your Microsoft email: This is not required to change a Minecraft name.
• Changing a skin instead: A new skin changes your appearance, not your username.
• Using the wrong edition instructions: Java uses a Java profile name; Bedrock uses a gamertag or platform identity.
• Forgetting the Java cooldown: Java profile names have a 30-day change interval.
• Editing the wrong account: Make sure the account is the one connected to your Minecraft purchase.

For the fastest result, identify your edition first, change the correct account name, then restart Minecraft before checking a world or server.