Have you ever felt ready to leave your old PlayStation username behind? I‘ve been there too. As a gaming geek for over a decade, I‘ve changed my PlayStation Network ID several times when I outgrew old names.
The good news is – Sony now lets you change your PSN ID on newer PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles. Hooray! No more being stuck with outdated gamertags from your teen years.
However, the name change process has risks. Not all PlayStation games support ID changes yet. You may end up losing progress, currency or other data if you switch usernames carelessly.
That‘s why I created this definitive guide for you. I‘ll explain everything you need to know to change your PSN username smoothly and safely, from start to finish.
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- Why Change Your PSN Name Anyway?
- Step-by-Step Instructions for PS4, PS5 and Web
- Game Compatibility and Potential Issues
- Reverting Back to Your Original ID
- Expert Tips to Avoid Problems
- FAQs Around Updating PlayStation Names
Let‘s get started!
Why Change Your PlayStation Network ID?
First – why might you want to update your PlayStation username in the first place? Here are a few common reasons:
-
You created your original PSN ID when you were young and now find it immature or uncool. Hey, no judgement! We all had regrettable gamertags at some point.
-
You want an ID that better suits your current interests and gaming style. Tastes change!
-
Your ID contains a clan tag, old relationship reference or other elements no longer relevant.
-
You struggle with people mispronouncing or misspelling your complex ID when chatting online.
-
You share a console and prefer user profiles reflect actual names.
In my case, I often changed IDs to incorporate custom tags reflecting games I was currently playing competitively at tournaments and events. Other players would recognize these clantags and know my specialty!
But no matter your reasons for wanting an updated PSN username, let‘s talk about how to make it happen…
Step-By-Step: Changing PSN ID on PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 offers the most straightforward method to quickly change your online ID. Just follow these steps:
Access Your PS4‘s Settings Menu
From your PS4‘s main home screen, use your DualShock controller to highlight the Settings icon and press X to open it:
PlayStation 4‘s Settings Icon
Navigate to Account Management
Now scroll down to the option called "Account Management" – it should be a few rows down. Select it with your controller:
Locating Account Management
Open Account Information Then Select Profile
When you enter Account Management next, choose "Account Information" followed by "Profile" on the subsequent screen:
Navigating to Your PS4 Account Profile
Pick The "Online ID" Option to Change Your Username
On your Profile page, use your controller to pick the "Online ID" option and press X. This is where you can enter a new name:
Access Online ID Changes
Several warnings about potential downsides will now pop up. Press X to accept them and move forward.
Enter and Confirm Your New Desired PSN ID
Finally, input a new username that meets PlayStation‘s rules – between 3 and 16 characters, with letters, digits, dashes or underscores only. Avoid offensive words. Re-enter it to confirm the change!
And that‘s it – within seconds you‘ll have fresh new PlayStation Network ID. Exciting!
Bear in mind:
-
You‘ll immediately be signed out of all PSN services and need to sign back in with the updated ID everywhere.
-
Changes after the first one cost $9.99 USD, or $4.99 USD for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Now let‘s go over tweaks to the process for PS5 consoles…
Step-By-Step: Changing PSN ID on PlayStation 5
Changing your username on a PS5 follows nearly the same flow as PS4, with a couple small variations:
Open PS5 Settings Then Pick "Users and Accounts"
As before, select Settings (the cog icon) from your PS5‘s main screen. But this time, choose "Users and Accounts" rather than Account Management on the next page:
The "Users and Accounts" Option on PS5
Select "Accounts" Then Head to "Profile"
With Users & Accounts open, pick "Accounts" followed by "Profile" – just like on PS4:
Navigating to Your PlayStation 5 Profile
Input Your Current PSN Sign-In ID and Password
Before altering your ID, PS5 will first prompt you to enter the email address and password associated with your current PlayStation account. This verifies your identity.
Accept Warnings Then Enter Your New Online ID
After re-confirming your credentials, read Sony‘s warnings about potential issues changing IDs can cause. Accept them with X, then finally input your desired new username twice to confirm the change!
And that‘s all it takes update your name directly through your PS5 console.
Key Points to Remember:
-
You‘ll sign out then need to sign back into PlayStation apps before the new ID takes effect everywhere.
-
Aside from the first change, edits cost $9.99 USD or $4.99 USD for PlayStation Plus members.
-
Reverting back is possible if you face issues.
Speaking of using the web, let‘s review that method too…
Step-By-Step: Changing PlayStation IDs at PlayStation.com
Alongside PS4 and PS5 instructions, Sony also allows changing your PSN username through their PlayStation website:
Visit PlayStation.com and Sign Into Your Account
Start by browsing to the official PlayStation site at playstation.com. Click the "Sign In" button in the top corner and enter your credentials to access your account:
Signing Into Your Account at PlayStation.com
Access Your PSN Profile Page
Once signed in, locate your avatar icon in the top right and select your current online ID name directly beneath it. This opens your PlayStation Network profile dashboard.
Click "Edit" Next to Your Existing Online ID
On your profile overview, click the "Edit" button alongside your current PSN username:
Locating the Edit Button for Your Online ID
Carefully read the warnings about potential downsides of changing usernames that appear next. Click "I Accept" if you understand and wish to proceed.
Submit Your New Desired Online ID
Lastly, input your new preferred username into the provided field. Enter it twice to confirm the alteration. That‘s it!
Changes made on PlayStation‘s website take effect instantly across PS4, PS5 and other PlayStation services after signing out and back in.
Plus – this online method functions identically if you need to revert back to a previous name down the road.
Now that you know how to change PSN usernames step-by-step, let‘s get into important guidance around avoiding issues…
6 Must-Know Expert Tips for Changing IDs Safely
After years assisting players through PlayStation name changes, I have crucial advice:
1. Check Game Compatibility Before Making Edits
The most vital tip is researching software compatibility before altering your established ID. Not all PlayStation 4 and 5 titles support username changes yet.
Sony splits games into categories based on testing:
No Known Issues
Fortunately, big names like Call of Duty, The Last of Us, God of War and most first-party PS5 exclusives transition gracefully. You can safely change PSN names while playing these titles without data or functionality risks.
Minor Issues
Some games saw relatively small impacts in Sony‘s testing, like temporary disconnections or settings resets. Changing IDs while playing these should still be fairly safe with minimal disruption.
Critical Issues
However, a subset of games exhibited progress loss, depleted currencies and trophies or complete crashes when tested with ID changes. I strongly advise caution or avoiding edits altogether if you actively play these titles:
| Game | Observed Issue(s) |
|---|---|
| LittleBigPlanet 3 | Loss of some user-generated content and scores |
| The Golf Club 2 | Total loss of saved data |
| Disc Jam | Loss of player rank and unlocked characters |
Sample Critical Issues from ID Changes
Check PlayStation‘s complete categorized lists of tested titles here before making a switch.
2. Sign Out and Back In Frequently
Your new ID won‘t always update instantly across PlayStation apps and games after editing it. Expect transition delays up to a week in some cases based on software and server factors.
Help speed up the change by manually signing fully out of then back into PSN services you access – especially games where your username displays prominently. This forces a refresh sooner.
3. Change Thoughtfully, Not Impulsively
Think carefully before altering an established ID tied to years of gaming memories or earned trophies and rank progress. While PlayStation claims "Reverting back to your prior ID is possible", data restoration isn‘t guaranteed if issues occur.
I advise researching software compatibility, backing up saves and avoiding unnecessary repeated flips. Protect your progress!
4. Verify Spelling of New IDs
When inputting a new PSN username, double and triple check the spelling before confirming changes. Unfortunately typos can‘t be undone – if your new ID contains a mistake, you‘ll need to change it again down the road through paid pathways. Prevent that hassle by proofreading carefully.
5. Understand Eventual Paid Changes
As noted earlier, only your first name change comes free. After that initial swap, subsequent updates cost $9.99 USD per edit, or $4.99 USD for active PlayStation Plus subscribers. Budget for these expenses if continually refreshing your ID over time.
6. Seek Help if Things Go Wrong
In rare cases, users experience stalled games, depleted currencies and lost save data from changing PSN names even after taking precautions.
First, remain calm and avoid further ID edits. Reinstall affected games to potentially restore cloud backup saves if available.
If issues persist, contact PlayStation Support teams via online ticketing or their toll-free 800 number provided. Explain your situation and what troubleshooting you‘ve tried already. In some cases Support may offer forced reversions, compensation packages or other remedies to restore functionality.
Have your system details, software versions, PSN usernames/IDs and descriptions of the problem handy when you reach out. Sony keeps extensive event logs allowing teams to dig into ID change impacts after-the-fact. They really can help!
Hopefully these warnings don‘t discourage you too greatly. When done carefully with preparation, most players transition to new PlayStation Names smoothly. Now let‘s revisit reverting just in case…
How to Change Back to Your Original PSN ID If Needed
While I always push researching software compatibility before editing your established name, I understand things happen. If you encounter issues so severe that continuing play is impossible, resetting your ID can help:
First Try PlayStation‘s One Free ID Reversion
As a welcome relief, Sony now grants players one free reversion back to a previous username following ID edits. Before paying or troubleshooting losses, attempt simply resetting to your original ID through PlayStation‘s site or consoles to automatically roll back changes. This instantly resolved problems for me twice when newer games glitched.
Second, Reinstall Affected Games
If progress or currency fails to carry back after using your free ID revert, try uninstalling then redownloading problem software. This syncs the latest cloud saves from before you switched names. Data recovery works on a per-title basis depending on in-game backup support.
Finally, Petition Additional Reversions
Should all else fail and your gaming experience remain obstructed even after reverting to your original PSN name, petition Support teams for extra reversions. Explain that you tried troubleshooting on your own but issues like stalled progression persist. With high-severity cases, Sony grants additional ID reversions although standard fees may apply.
Bottom line – don‘t panic over update issues before exploring backup restores, your free reset option and, if necessary, Support assistance. Between these you should regain functionality.
Now let‘s quickly summarize the most frequent name change errors…
Common Errors When Updating PlayStation IDs
While I aim to equip you to avoid them, several common errors can strike around altering your PSN username:
New ID Displaying As "Temp-XXXXXX"
First, seeing your newly-set username replaced with a temporary ID like "Temp-3758423" typically means you violated PlayStation‘s community rules. Change to a compliant name ASAP to resolve this.
Online Features Locking to Old ID
Rarely, games may still tie online leaderboards or trophy data to your old ID despite changing usernames. Sign out and back into affected software until your progress shifts ownership to the new tag.
Issues Persisting After ID Reversion
In worst-case scenarios, reverting to your initial PSN ID fails to fully restore game functionality if cloud backup overwrites already occurred. If so, further Support help will be needed in addition to reinstalls.
We‘re in the home stretch! Let‘s wrap up with some FAQs in case you have lingering questions…
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing PlayStation Names
Here are answers to questions I often receive around modifying PlayStation Network IDs:
Why is changing my ID impossible on old PS3 and PS Vita consoles? Unfortunately Sony restricted the feature to newer PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles so far. The option remains unavailable on aging PlayStation 3 and PS Vita hardware as of 2023.
What are the exact rules and limits around PSN usernames? PlayStation IDs must be 3-16 characters, using only letters, digits and the underscore. Usernames containing hate speech, slurs or other toxic references violate terms of service.
Will my friends see my real name if I swap my ID? No – only friends who you‘ve confirmed real-name requests with can view your actual first and last name after an ID change. To all other PSN contacts, your whatever chosen online ID will display.
Is frequently changing my ID back-and-forth risky? Yes. Every PSN name change carries small risks of temporary functionality loss or game conflicts. Plus costs add up. I‘d advise changing only when necessary rather than frivolously if the original ID still suits you.
And there you have it – everything you could need to know around successfully updating usernames on modern PlayStation consoles.
For more gaming tips, hardware help or guidance around your own PSN ID change, find me on Twitter @PlayStationHelp.
Until next time – game on!
