Change your VRChat display name through the in-game menu or the website

You can change the name other players see in VRChat in two ways: directly in the game using the main menu, or through your account settings on the VRChat website. The in-game method is faster if you are already playing. The website method works if you are away from your headset or computer. Both changes take effect when ready across all VRChat worlds and social features.

Your display name is separate from your account username — changing your display name does not affect your login credentials or how you sign into VRChat. You can change your display name as often as you want, though VRChat may rate-limit very frequent changes to prevent spam.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the main menu in VRChat, select Settings, then choose your avatar and edit the name field directly.
  • On the VRChat website, log into your account, go to Account Settings, and update your display name under your profile information.
  • Display name changes appear when ready to all other players in worlds and on your profile.
  • Your display name can include spaces and most characters, but VRChat filters out offensive language automatically.

Changing your name in the VRChat game menu

Start VRChat and put on your headset or sit at your computer. Once you are in a world or in the home space, open the main menu by pressing the menu button on your controller (on Meta Quest, this is the button with three horizontal lines) or by pressing Escape on keyboard.

Navigate to Settings in the menu. Look for the section labeled Avatar or Profile — the exact wording depends on your VRChat version, but it is always near the top of the Settings menu. Select this section and you will see your current display name in an editable text field. Highlight the existing name, delete it, and type your new name. Press confirm or submit to save the change. You will see the new name appear on your avatar when ready, and other players in the world will see it update within seconds.

Changing your name on the VRChat website

Open a web browser and go to www.vrchat.com. Log in with your VRChat account username and password. Once you are logged in, click on your profile icon or avatar in the top right corner of the page and select Account Settings from the dropdown menu.

In Account Settings, find the section labeled Profile or Display Name. You will see a text field containing your current display name. Click into the field, clear the existing text, and type your new name. Scroll down and click the Save or Update button to confirm the change. The new name will be live across VRChat within a few seconds, even if you are currently in a world.

What characters and length limits explore to display names

VRChat display names can be up to 24 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores, and most punctuation marks. Names are not case-sensitive for matching purposes, but VRChat preserves the capitalization you type — so "JohnSmith" and "johnsmith" are treated as the same name, but your profile will show whichever capitalization you entered.

VRChat has an automatic filter that prevents names containing slurs, hate speech, or other prohibited language from being saved. If your name is rejected, you will see an error message telling you the name is not allowed. Choose a different name and try again. Spaces at the beginning or end of your name are automatically removed.

Troubleshooting name changes that do not appear

If you change your name but other players still see your old name, wait 30 seconds and ask them to refresh their view. In most VRChat worlds, player names update automatically, but occasionally a player's client does not refresh when ready. They can fix this by looking away and back at you, or by leaving and re-entering the world.

If your own name still shows the old version in your menu after you saved it, restart VRChat completely. Close the process, wait 10 seconds, and launch it again. This forces your client to sync with the VRChat servers. If the old name persists after a restart, log out of your account and log back in.

If the website tells you the name is already taken, it means another account is currently using that exact name. VRChat allows multiple accounts to have the same display name, but the system may occasionally prevent this during a brief window. Wait a few minutes and try again, or choose a slightly different name.

Changing your name on different VRChat platforms

The steps above work the same way whether you are using VRChat on Meta Quest, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, or PC. The menu layout is identical across all platforms. If you are on a mobile device or tablet, you cannot launch VRChat itself, but you can still change your name through the website method described in the second section.

If you use VRChat on multiple platforms with the same account, changing your name on one platform changes it everywhere. Your display name is tied to your account, not to a specific device or headset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username instead of my display name?

No. Your username is your login credential and cannot be changed. You can only change your display name, which is what other players see. If you want a completely different account identity, you would need to create a new VRChat account with a different username.

Will changing my name affect my friends list or social connections?

No. Your friends will still see you in their friends list, and all your social connections remain the same. They will straightforward see your new display name next to your profile. Your account ID stays the same behind the scenes.

How often can I change my display name?

You can change your name as often as you want in most cases. VRChat does not publish a specific limit, but extremely frequent changes within minutes may trigger a rate limit to prevent spam. In normal use, you can change your name multiple times per day without issue.

What happens if I use a name that is offensive or breaks the rules?

VRChat's automatic filter will reject the name and show you an error message. You will not be able to save it. If you somehow bypass the filter and use a prohibited name, VRChat moderators may force a name change on your account and issue a warning.

Can I have special characters or emojis in my display name?

Most punctuation and special characters work, but emojis are not supported in display names. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores, and standard keyboard punctuation. If you try to paste an emoji, VRChat will either reject it or convert it to a text representation.