How to change your PSN name

For twelve years you could not change your PSN name at all. People were stuck with whatever they picked as a teenager, which is how the internet ended up full of PlayStation accounts with names their owners could not say out loud. Sony finally opened it up in 2019, and the BBC even ran a piece on the players racing to bury their most embarrassing IDs. So yes, you can change it now. Here is exactly how, what it costs, and the one real risk worth understanding before you click confirm.

If you are still deciding on a name, run some options through our PSN name generator or browse cool PSN names first, then come back to make the switch.

The short version

Your first online ID change is free. After that, each change costs money. Your trophies, games, wallet, and friends stay with the account, not the name, so those carry over. The one genuine catch is older games: titles from before April 2018, and all PS3 and PS Vita games, were never built for name changes and can misbehave. Sony spells this risk out plainly, and it is the part most quick guides gloss over.

Check the name is free first

Before you start, make sure the ID you want is actually available. Our PSN name checker tells you in a second, which matters here for a specific reason: when you check a name inside the official change screen, PlayStation briefly holds it, so fishing for names there can lock the very one you are after. Confirm your pick outside that flow, then go in to claim it.

What it costs

Straight from Sony's own FAQ, the pricing is:

• First change: free.
• Every change after that: $9.99.
• PlayStation Plus members: $4.99 for each change after the first.

Reverting to a previous ID is always free. So the real math is simple: your first change costs nothing, and you only start paying if you change your mind again later.

Change it on PS5

1. Go to Settings, then Users and Accounts.
2. Select Account, then Profile, then Online ID.
3. Enter your new online ID and use Check Availability.
4. Review the change, including the compatibility warning, then confirm.

Change it on PS4

1. Go to Settings, then Account Management.
2. Select Account Information, then Profile, then Online ID.
3. Enter the new ID and check that it is available.
4. Confirm the change.

Change it in the PlayStation App

1. Open the PlayStation App and tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Edit Profile, then Online ID.
3. Enter the new name, confirm it is available, and save.

Change it on the web

1. Sign in to Account Management on the PlayStation website.
2. Open your profile settings and find Online ID under the PlayStation Network section.
3. Enter the new ID, check availability, and save.

After you confirm on any of these, PlayStation signs you out of your devices as a security step. You sign back in with the new ID and everything reconnects.

The old-game warning, explained properly

This is the part that trips people up, so here is the full picture. When Sony launched name changes, it was clear that only PS4 games published on or after April 1, 2018 were built to handle a new online ID. Everything older, plus every PS3 and PS Vita game, was not, and Sony openly says it cannot guarantee those will work correctly.

What "not working correctly" can actually mean, in Sony's own words, is not just a cosmetic old-name-showing issue. It can include lost game saved data, lost leaderboard standing, lost progress toward trophies, and even trouble accessing paid content like add-ons or in-game currency in those older titles. The community trophy site PlayStationTrophies.org ran a full PSA specifically warning trophy hunters about the progress risk, because for anyone chasing platinums it is the detail that matters most.

The good news is that PlayStation gives you a safety net, and it is easy to use well.

The safe way to do it

1. Note which older games you actually still play. If your whole library is modern, you have almost nothing to worry about.
2. Turn on the display-old-ID option. During the change, PlayStation lets you show your old ID next to the new one for 30 days, which smooths over recognition and some older-game quirks.
3. Change the name, then test. Launch the older games you care about and check that saves, progress, and add-ons are all intact.
4. Revert free if something broke. Reverting to your old ID costs nothing, and that old ID stays reserved to you, so you lose nothing by testing.

Because reverting is free, the whole thing is lower risk than it sounds, as long as you check your important old games before you settle in.

Will I lose anything?

For the vast majority of players on modern games, no. Trophies, purchases, wallet balance, friends, and saves are tied to your account, not your name, so they all follow you. The only exposure is inside those pre-2018 and PS3/Vita titles, which is exactly what the warning and the free revert are there to cover. If you do not play old games, change away.

Note that child accounts cannot change their online ID, which catches some families out.

FAQ

If I change my PSN name, will I lose everything? No. Your account keeps your trophies, games, wallet, and friends. The only risk is minor data or access issues inside older games from before April 2018, and you can revert for free if that happens.

How much does it cost after the first time? $9.99 per change, or $4.99 if you have PlayStation Plus. The first change is free and reverting is always free.

Will my trophies transfer to the new name? Yes on modern games. In some older titles, trophy progress can be affected, which is why PlayStationTrophies.org flagged it for hunters. Test your key old games after changing, and revert if anything looks off.

Can I go back to my old name? Yes, for free, and your old ID is reserved for you so nobody else can grab it in the meantime.

The name I want is taken. Online IDs are unique. Tweak the spelling, swap a word, or add an underscore. Our generator checks availability as it suggests, and the name checker confirms a single pick.