How to change your name on minecraft ps4

Every Minecraft player has a username that shows up above their head. Mojang

If you're playing Minecraft online, your username is usually the first thing that people see when they look at you. So if you don't like your username — maybe it's silly, outdated, or just has a typo — you'll want to change it right away.

It shouldn't take long to change your Minecraft username, but the exact method you use depends on what version of the game you play. Here's what you need to know.

There are two major versions of Minecraft: Java and Bedrock. They have a whole host of differences, and one of those differences is the steps you need to follow to change your username.

If you're not sure which version you have, think about what system you're using. 

  • If you're playing on a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, iPhone, iPad, or Android device, you're playing Bedrock.
  • If you're playing on a Mac or Linux computer, you're playing Java.
  • If you're playing on a PC, it could be either. Open Minecraft and see if it says Java Edition below the title — if it does, you're playing Java. If it doesn't, you're playing Bedrock.

In Bedrock Edition, your username is connected to your Microsoft account's "Gamertag." So to change it, you'll need to change the Gamertag.

1. Head to the Xbox website and sign into your account by clicking Sign In in the top-right, if you haven't already.

2. Once you're logged in, open up your Xbox Profile and click Customize under your name.

3. Click the pencil icon next to your current username.

Click the pencil to change your username. Microsoft; William Antonelli/Insider

4. Type in the new name that you want to change to, then click Check availability. If no one else has that name, it's now yours.

Quick tip: The first time you change your Gamertag here, it'll be free. But afterwards, you'll need to pay $9.99 per change.

Some versions of Minecraft Bedrock — specifically, the versions for Switch, PlayStation, iPhone, iPad, and Android — don't require you to have a Microsoft account to play. Not having a Microsoft account locks you out of multiplayer, but if you still want to change your username, you have options.

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android, the default name without a Microsoft account is "Steve." You can change it by tapping Settings and then Profile.

Mobile users get "Steve" as their default username. Mojang; William Antonelli/Insider

On a PlayStation, your name will match your PlayStation Network name. There are three ways to change that, which you can find more details on here. 

And on the Nintendo Switch, your name will be whatever your console's profile name is. You can change your Switch name through the user profile screen.

If you're logged into your Microsoft account, you might see both names. Mojang; William Antonelli/Insider

Java Edition is the original version of Minecraft, and works a bit differently than its newer counterpart.

1. Open the official Minecraft website and log into your Microsoft account.

2. Once you're logged in, head to the My Games screen. Underneath Minecraft: Java Edition, click Profile Name.

You have to go through a separate menu to change your Java username. Mojang; William Antonelli/Insider

3. Enter your new username, and then click Change Profile Name.

Unlike in Bedrock, changing your username is free in Java. But you can only do it once every 30 days.

The next time you log into Minecraft, you should see your new username.

  • What do I do if I changed my name and now I can't get into servers?

    After you change your name, open the launcher, click on Switch User, re-log into your account and you will be able access servers again.

  • I have changed my name, and now when I try to log into any server it gives me an error message. How do I fix it?

    Close the game, go to the launcher (the grass block app), click Switch User, log out and log back in again. You should be able to join servers now!

  • Why is there a 30-day wait?

    They actually tell you here in the article, "In an effort to keep users from changing their names constantly, Mojang enforces a mandatory 30 day waiting period between name changes. This means that once you change your name, you'll have to wait at least 30 days before you can do it again."

  • When I try to log in to a server after I've changed my name, the system says, "Not authenticated with Minecraft.net." What do I do?

    It does that sometimes. Just log out of your account and log back in. That should fix the problem.

  • Why does my username have to be less than 16 letters?

    Minecraft set the minimum to 3 letters and maximum to 16. It may be to avoid "spam names," and probably also to make coding easier.

  • How long does it take for the change to show up on my Mojang account?

    It should show up immediately after you change your name and re-open the Minecraft Launcher. Contact Mojang Customer Support if you have problems with it.

  • Is my username case sensitive?

    No, your username isn't case sensitive: "Banana Head" will work just like "banana head".

  • What is the longest that a name can be?

    A Minecraft username is required to be 3 to 16 characters, so 16 characters is the maximum length.

  • After I've changed my name, why do I see an error when trying to connect to a server?

    Click on your first name in the top right of the launcher and press "Switch account." Afterwards, try logging in again.

  • How do I change my Minecraft username within the 30 days?

    Follow the instructions listed in the article above.