Change your Battle.net account name through Account Settings

You can change the name displayed on your Battle.net account by going to your Account Settings page and editing the Profile Name field. This is the name other players see when you're playing Blizzard games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, or Diablo. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in-game.

Log in to your Battle.net account at battle.net, click your account icon in the top right, and select Account Settings. Under the Profile section, you'll see a field labeled "Profile Name." Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new name, then click Save. Battle.net will confirm the change on the same page.

Your new name must be between 3 and 12 characters, contain only letters and numbers, and cannot match another player's name on the same region. If the name you want is taken, Battle.net will tell you when ready and you'll need to choose something else.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Profile Name (the name other players see) through Account Settings on the Battle.net website, not in-game.
  • The new name takes effect right away, though it may take a few minutes to appear in your games.
  • Your name must be 3 to 12 characters, letters and numbers only, and cannot be the same as another player's name in your region.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, with no cooldown period between changes.
  • If you want to change the email address tied to your account instead of your display name, that's a different process in Account Settings.

The difference between Profile Name and Battle Tag

Battle.net uses two different names, and it's straightforward to mix them up. Your Profile Name is what you just changed — the display name other players see in-game. Your Battle Tag is a unique identifier that looks like "YourName#1234" and is used to add friends and join groups.

You cannot change your Battle Tag number. If you want a different Battle Tag entirely, you have to create a new Battle.net account. Most players keep one account and just change the Profile Name when they want a fresh look.

What happens to your old name after you change it

When you change your Profile Name, your old name becomes available for other players to use. There is no grace period or reservation — as soon as you save the new name, someone else can claim the old one.

If you're worried about losing a name you've built a reputation under, think carefully before changing. You can always change back to it later if the name hasn't been taken, but if another player has claimed it in the meantime, you won't be able to use it again.

Changing your name on specific games versus your whole account

When you change your Profile Name in Account Settings, it changes across all Blizzard games linked to that account. If you play World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and Starcraft with the same Battle.net account, your new name will show up in all of them.

Some games like World of Warcraft also let you change your character name separately from your account name. In WoW, you can rename individual characters through the game's character select screen or the Blizzard Shop, and those names are specific to that character only. Your account Profile Name is still visible to other players, but your character name is what appears above your character in the game world.

Troubleshooting: name change won't save or shows an error

If you get an error message when trying to save a new name, the most common reason is that the name is already taken. Battle.net will tell you this directly. Try a different combination of letters and numbers.

If the page won't load or the Save button doesn't respond, clear your browser cache and try again. Make sure you're logged in to the correct account — if you have multiple Battle.net accounts, you may be looking at the wrong one. If the problem persists, check your internet connection and try a different browser.

If you see a message saying your account is locked or restricted, you may have a security issue. Go to the Account Security page in Account Settings and check for any unauthorized activity. If you don't recognize recent logins, change your password when ready and contact Blizzard Support.

Keeping your account find when you change your name

Changing your name doesn't affect your account security, but it's a good time to review your Account Settings for other security features. Make sure your email address is current, enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already, and check that no one else has access to your account.

If you're changing your name because you want to start fresh or distance yourself from an old online identity, that's fine — but don't assume a name change alone protects your privacy. Other players may still remember your old name or Battle Tag, and your account history remains the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Battle.net name back to what it was before?

Yes, you can change your name back anytime through Account Settings. However, if another player has claimed your old name in the meantime, you won't be able to use it again. If that happens, you'll need to choose a different name.

How often can I change my Battle.net name?

You can change your Profile Name as often as you want with no waiting period. There is no cooldown between changes, so you can update it multiple times in a single day if you choose.

Will changing my name affect my game progress or achievements?

No. Your progress, achievements, and game history stay with your account no matter what name you use. Changing your name is purely cosmetic and doesn't reset anything.

What if I want to change my email address instead of my name?

Go to Account Settings and look for the "Contact Email" field. Click the pencil icon to edit it, enter your new email address, and Battle.net will send a confirmation link to both your old and new email. You have to confirm the change from both addresses before it takes effect.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my Battle.net name?

No. Your Profile Name can only contain letters (A–Z) and numbers (0–9). Spaces, hyphens, underscores, and other special characters are not allowed.