You can change your Battle.net name, but the process and limits depend on which account type you have
Blizzard Entertainment allows you to change the name associated with your Battle.net account, though the exact steps and restrictions vary. If you have a modern Battle.net account (created after 2019 or migrated to the new system), you can change your name directly through your account settings. Older accounts that still use the legacy Battle.net system have a different process. The change takes effect when ready across all Blizzard games linked to that account—World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, StarCraft, and others.
The name you choose must follow Blizzard's naming policy: no offensive language, no impersonation of Blizzard staff, no excessive special characters, and no names that look like account numbers or email addresses. Blizzard reserves the right to force a name change if your current name violates the policy, even if you chose it years ago.
Key Takeaways
- Modern Battle.net accounts let you change your name through account settings at any time, while legacy accounts require contacting Blizzard support.
- Your in-game character names in World of Warcraft and other games remain separate from your Battle.net account name and have their own change processes.
- Changing your Battle.net name takes effect when ready across all Blizzard games and services tied to that account.
- Blizzard can force a name change without warning if your current name violates their policy, so choosing an appropriate name from the start avoids this disruption.
How to change your name on a modern Battle.net account
Log into your Battle.net account at account.battle.net. Click on your account name in the top right corner, then select "Account Settings." Look for the section labeled "Battle Tag" or "Account Name"—this is the name visible to other players and across Blizzard services. Click the edit or pencil icon next to it.
Type your new name into the field. Blizzard will check it against their naming policy in real time and tell you if it violates any rules. If the name is available and acceptable, click "Save" or "Confirm." The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to log out and back in—your new name appears right away in your account settings and in any active games.
If you have not changed your name in a long time, Blizzard may ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your registered email address. This is a security step and takes less than a minute.
What to do if you have a legacy Battle.net account
Legacy accounts are older accounts that predate Blizzard's 2019 account system overhaul. If your account was created before 2019 and you have not migrated it, you cannot change your name through account settings. Instead, you must contact Blizzard Support directly through their website.
Go to support.blizzard.com, select your region, and choose "Account and Billing." Look for an option related to account name changes or contact support through the chat or ticket system. A support agent will verify your identity and process the name change for you. This typically takes one to three business days. Blizzard has been gradually migrating legacy accounts to the new system, so you may be prompted to complete the migration yourself, which would then allow you to use the self-service name change option.
The difference between your Battle.net name and your character name
Your Battle.net account name is what other players see when you add them as a friend, what appears in your account settings, and what identifies you across all Blizzard games. Your character name is the name of your individual hero or character within a specific game—your World of Warcraft character, your Overwatch hero, and so on.
Changing your Battle.net name does not change any of your character names. If you want to rename a World of Warcraft character, you do that separately through the WoW account management page or in-game, and it may cost gold or real money depending on how often you have changed it. Overwatch character names are tied to your Battle.net name and change automatically when you change your account name, but you can customize a display name within Overwatch itself.
What happens to your friends list and game progress when you change your name
Your friends list stays intact. Friends who have you added will still see you in their list, and the change is transparent to them—they do not have to re-add you or do anything on their end. Your game progress, achievements, cosmetics, and all in-game items remain exactly as they were. Changing your Battle.net name is purely cosmetic and does not affect any account data.
If you are part of a guild or clan in any Blizzard game, your membership continues without interruption. Guild rosters and permissions update automatically to show your new name. The same applies to any Blizzard forums or community accounts tied to your Battle.net profile.
Restrictions and rules for Battle.net names
Blizzard does not allow names that contain profanity, slurs, or sexually explicit content. You cannot impersonate Blizzard employees or use names that look like official accounts. Names that consist entirely of numbers, special characters, or that mimic email addresses or account IDs are rejected. You also cannot use names of famous people or characters if the intent is to impersonate them or mislead other players.
Names with excessive punctuation or symbols are flagged. A few special characters like hyphens and apostrophes are allowed, but strings of symbols are not. If Blizzard determines your name violates the policy, they will send you a notification and force you to choose a new one the next time you log in. You will have a grace period to pick a new name before the account is restricted from playing.
How often you can change your Battle.net name
Blizzard does not publicly state a limit on how often you can change your Battle.net name. In practice, you can change it as frequently as you want through the account settings, and each change takes effect when ready. However, if you change your name very frequently—multiple times per day—Blizzard's systems may temporarily lock you out of further changes as a spam prevention measure. This lock typically lifts within 24 hours.
If you are trying to evade a name change forced by Blizzard due to a policy violation, repeatedly changing your name to similar or equally inappropriate names will result in account restrictions or suspension. Blizzard monitors for this behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my friends be able to find me after I change my name?
Yes. Friends who have you added will still see you in their list under your new name. You do not need to re-add each other. If someone searches for you by your old name, they will not find you, but anyone who already has you as a friend will see the updated name automatically.
Can I change my name back to what it was before?
Yes. There is no restriction on reverting to a previous name, as long as that name is not currently taken by another account and does not violate Blizzard's naming policy. You can change your name back and forth as often as you want.
What if my desired name is already taken?
Blizzard will tell you the name is unavailable when you try to save it. You will need to choose a different name. There is no waitlist or reservation system for Battle.net names, so if a name is taken, you cannot claim it unless the account holding it is deleted or the owner changes it.
Does changing my Battle.net name affect my World of Warcraft character names?
No. Your World of Warcraft character names stay the same. Your Battle.net account name and your WoW character names are separate. If you want to rename a character, you do that through the WoW account management page or in-game, which is a different process.
What should I do if Blizzard forces a name change on my account?
Log into your account and you will be prompted to choose a new name before you can play. Follow the on-screen instructions to pick a name that complies with Blizzard's policy. If you are unsure why your name was flagged, you can contact Blizzard Support for clarification, though the decision is usually final.