If you made your Genshin Impact account back when you first started playing, using a silly inside joke, old fandom alias, or even a random string of letters because you couldn’t think of anything better, you’ve definitely wondered can i change my username on genshin impact at least once. It’s an incredibly common question, especially for players who have been around for years and outgrew the name they picked as a new player. A lot of players mix up the different types of usernames tied to their account, so it’s easy to get confused about what you can edit and what’s set in stone. We’re breaking down all official rules, platform differences, and safe workarounds to help you get the name you want without risking your account.
Can I Change My Username on Genshin Impact: Official Hoyoverse Rules
First, you need to understand the two separate username types tied to every Genshin Impact account, because the rules for each are very different. Most players mean the public display name when they ask about username changes, which is the name that shows up when you join co-op sessions, appear on friend lists, or leave comments on event leaderboards. The permanent login username, on the other hand, is only visible to you when you sign into your Hoyoverse account on the official website or launcher, and no other players ever see it.
Public display names are fully editable for all players, with no hidden fees or cooldowns, per official Hoyoverse policy. If you’re one of the thousands of players asking can i change my username on genshin impact because you hate your public alias, you’ll be happy to hear that’s the easy part. Your original login username (the one you entered when you first signed up for a Hoyoverse account) cannot be changed, ever, under any official policy.
Hoyoverse uses the login username as a unique permanent identifier for your account to prevent fraud, account theft, and duplicate accounts, so they will never edit it even if you contact support. I’ve seen players reach out to support dozens of times to change their login username, especially if they used an old friend’s name or a silly alias they no longer want tied to their account, and support always declines these requests, so don’t waste your time sending tickets for that. This rule applies across all platforms: PC, mobile, PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch, no exceptions.
How to Change Your Genshin Impact Public Display Name (All Platforms)
Changing your public display name takes less than a minute, and works the same across almost all platforms, with only a small exception for PlayStation players. You don’t need to reach out to support, pay any fees, or wait for approval, as changes go live immediately once you confirm them. I tested this process last week when I wanted to change my display name to match my new main Furina, and it worked perfectly across both my PC and mobile accounts, no glitches or delays.
Follow these simple steps to update your display name on PC, mobile, or Nintendo Switch:
- Open Genshin Impact and log into the account you want to edit
- Tap the Paimon menu icon in the top left corner of your screen
- Click the Edit Profile button next to your current display name
- Select "Nickname" from the dropdown menu, enter your new desired name
- Tap confirm, and your new name will update immediately across all servers
If you play on PS4/PS5, your public display name is tied to your PSN ID by default, but you can override it by following the same steps above, and the Genshin-specific name will show up to other players even if they're not on PlayStation. If you play across multiple devices, your new display name will sync automatically within a few minutes, so you don’t have to update it separately on each platform.
There are no paid fees for display name changes, unlike many other live service games that charge $10 or more for this feature. Display names can be up to 16 characters long, including spaces and special characters, as long as they don’t violate Hoyoverse’s content policy. You can change your display name as often as you want, with no cooldown period, which is great if you like to switch up your alias to match your current main character or a new fun trend.
What to Do If You Want to Change Your Permanent Login Username
If the username you want to change is the one you use to log into your Hoyoverse account, you don’t have an official option right now, but there are a few safe workarounds you can try, depending on your situation. First, Never use third-party services that promise to change your login username for a fee, these are almost always scams that will steal your account information, lock you out permanently, or get your account banned for violating terms of service.
The most popular workaround for unwanted login usernames is to switch to email or social media sign-in. You can update your linked email address in your account settings on the official Hoyoverse website, so you can use a new email to sign in even if your original username stays the same. If you linked your account to Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Apple, you can sign in directly through those platforms and never have to type your old login username again. I had a friend who made their account in 2020 with a username that was their old high school nickname, and they just switched to logging in with their email two years ago, and they say they completely forget the old username exists now, so that's a perfectly good fix for most people.
If you’re really attached to the idea of a new login username and you don’t have a lot of progress on your current account, you can always make a new account with your desired username. Keep in mind that you can’t transfer any progress, characters, or purchases from your old account to the new one, so this is only a viable option if you’re still in Adventure Rank 20 or lower, or you don’t mind starting over from scratch. I’ve seen players who spent thousands of dollars on their old accounts make new ones just to get a better username, and almost all of them regretted losing their 5-star characters and limited-time event items, so think carefully before you go this route.
Common Username Change Mistakes to Avoid
Even though changing your display name is simple, there are a few common mistakes that can lead to frustration or even account penalties, so it’s worth keeping these in mind before you pick a new name. Don't use offensive or banned terms in your new display name: Hoyoverse has a strict content policy, and if your display name violates it, you can get a temporary mute, or even a permanent account ban if you repeat the offense. Banned terms include hate speech, slurs, sexually explicit language, and references to illegal activities.
Another common mistake is using a name that impersonates Hoyoverse staff, popular content creators, or other players, that's also against the terms of service and can lead to penalties. Players have reported getting temporary bans for using names like “HoyoverseGM” or copying a popular Twitch streamer’s exact name to trick other players in co-op, so it’s best to pick a unique alias that’s clearly yours.
If you're switching your linked email to use for sign-in, make sure you have access to both the old and new email addresses during the process, you'll need to confirm the change via both to avoid getting locked out of your account. Don’t rush through the verification steps, and double check that you entered the new email correctly before submitting the change request.
You also want to avoid putting personal information like your real full name, phone number, home address, or school name in your display name. Even if you only play with friends, it’s never a good idea to share private information in your display name, as it can be seen by anyone who joins your co-op session. If your display name gets reported and removed by Hoyoverse, you’ll be assigned a random default name until you pick a new, appropriate one so you don’t have to worry about getting banned immediately for a minor mistake, but repeated offenses can lead to harsher penalties.
At the end of the day, the answer to can i change my username on genshin impact depends entirely on which username you’re referring to. Public display names are completely free to edit as often as you want, with no cooldowns or restrictions outside of the content policy, so you can swap it out whenever you want to match your current main, a new fandom obsession, or just a fun new alias you thought of. Permanent login usernames are fixed for the life of your account, but you can easily avoid ever seeing or using them by switching to email or social media sign-in. No matter what your situation is, there’s a safe way to fix the issue of a name you don’t like, no scams or risky workarounds required.