How to Change the Name on Your PlayStation: Step-by-Step

Hi there! Have you grown tired of your old PlayStation Network username? Want to change your PSN ID but unsure how to do it correctly? Well, you‘ve come to the right place.

Changing your PlayStation username is a straightforward process – whether you own a PS4 or PS5 console. However, Sony has set a few rules around PSN ID changes that you need to keep in mind beforehand.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through how to change your PlayStation Network username smoothly, step-by-step. I‘ve also included tips to avoid potential issues and game incompatibilities.

So let‘s get started!

Overview: How Does Changing PSN ID on PlayStation Work?

Your PlayStation Network (PSN) online ID helps friends identify and connect with you on PlayStation consoles. According to Sony, over 114 million users actively use PlayStation Network worldwide as of 2021.

With so many gamers, it‘s natural that you may want to change your outdated PSN username after a while. The good news is that Sony now allows you to change your PlayStation ID on both PS4 and PS5 consoles.

However, here are some key facts to know about the PlayStation online ID change process:

• You get one free PSN ID change. After that, each change costs $9.99, or $4.99 with a PlayStation Plus subscription.

• According to PlayStation data, over 4.5 million PSN ID changes were made within the first 6 months of launch.

• It takes time for games and apps to update your new ID. Sony says it can take up to a week.

• You risk losing game data, progress, stats, currencies, etc. in some games after changing your PSN ID.

• If your new ID violates Terms of Service, Sony will revert it to a temporary ID like “Temp-xxxxxxx”.

Now that you know how the PSN username change process works in a nutshell, let‘s go through the step-by-step guide for both PS4 and PS5 consoles.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your PSN ID on PS4

Follow these simple steps to change your PlayStation Network username on a PS4 console:

1. Access Your PS4 Settings

• Press the PS button on your DualShock 4 wireless controller to bring up the quick menu.

• In the top row, select the Settings icon represented by a toolbox symbol. This will open your PS4‘s Settings screen.

Tip: You can also access Settings from your PS4‘s home screen or by scrolling the quick menu.

2. Navigate to Account Management

• In Settings, scroll down using R1 until you find the Account Management option.

• Highlight and select Account Management by pressing the X button.

Pro Tip: You can also get to it quickly by entering "Account" in the PS4 Settings search bar.

3. Open Account Information, then Select Profile

• From the Account Management screen, choose Account Information.

• Now select the Profile option below it. Profile is typically the 4th option in Account Information.

Profile on PS4">

Helpful Tip: Double check you are in the correct Profile linked to your PlayStation Network account.

4. Click on Online ID to Change Your PSN Username

• In your Profile screen, scroll down to find the Online ID option below your account Name.

• Select Online ID and accept Sony‘s pop-up warnings to proceed.

• Type your new desired PlayStation Network ID and confirm the change.

Pro Tip: Sony will notify you about name change charges ($9.99 or $4.99 for PS Plus subscribers) at this stage.

And that‘s it! Once the change is successful, your PS4 will automatically sign out of all linked devices. Simply sign back in on each device to view your shiny new PSN username.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your PlayStation ID on PS5

Much like the PS4, changing your PSN online ID on the PlayStation 5 is a breeze. Here are the steps:

1. Open Your PS5‘s Settings Menu

• From your PS5‘s home screen or game, press the PS button on your DualSense controller.

• Select the Settings icon (cog symbol) in the top row. This will take you to the Settings menu.

Tip: You can also get to Settings from the PS5‘s Game Library or by using the search option.

2. Navigate to Users and Accounts

• In Settings, use the directional pad to scroll down to the Users and Accounts option.

• Select Users and Accounts by pressing the X button (it‘s typically the 4th option).

Handy Tip: Enter "Users" in the PS5 search bar to quickly find this option.

3. Choose Accounts, then Select Profile

• From Users and Accounts, pick the Accounts option.

• Now select your PlayStation Network Profile present below your account name.

Pro Tip: Make sure you pick the Profile linked specifically to your PlayStation account.

4. Select Online ID to Change Your PlayStation Username

• In your Profile screen, highlight Online ID situated below your account Name.

• Accept Sony‘s warnings, enter sign-in credentials if prompted, and type your new desired PSN ID.

• Confirm the change and complete any steps shown to finish the process.

Key Tip: Sony will display the $9.99 name change fee at this point (or $4.99 fee for PlayStation Plus subscribers).

After successfully updating your PSN ID, your PS5 will sign out of all connected devices like PS4. Simply re-sign-in on each device to see your new online username.

And that‘s all it takes to change your PlayStation Network user ID on a PS5 console!

How to Change Your PlayStation Username Online

Don‘t have access to your PS4 or PS5 console? No worries – you can also change your PSN online ID via PlayStation‘s website:

1. Go to the official PlayStation website and click Sign In at the top-right corner.

2. After signing in, select your avatar icon and click on your username.

3. From your account Profile, click on Edit adjacent to your username.

4. Read Sony‘s warnings and hit Accept. Then Continue to the name change page.

5. Enter your new desired PlayStation ID and confirm the change.

This will update your PSN username across your PS4, PS5, and other linked devices.

Pro Tip: Make sure to use a desktop or mobile browser to access the PlayStation website. The Sony PlayStation app doesn‘t allow online ID changes.

Can You Change Your PlayStation Username Back to the Original?

Made a mistake changing your PlayStation ID? No worries – you can revert back to your original PSN username at no extra cost.

However, reverting doesn‘t always fix potential issues caused by the ID change. If problems persist, it‘s best to contact PlayStation Support for help.

According to PlayStation, millions of gamers changed their online ID within the first year of launch. But a small percentage later reverted to their old username when they faced issues.

So try reverting to your original if the PSN ID change causes any problems. But call PlayStation Support if that doesn‘t resolve it.

Potential Issues to Watch Out for When Changing PSN Online ID

While changing your PlayStation username is convenient, beware – it can also lead to some potential downsides.

Here are some common problems that may occur after altering your PlayStation Network online ID:

New ID temporarily reverts to Temp-xxxxxx

• This happens if your new PSN username violates Sony‘s Terms of Service due to profanity, impersonation, etc.

• Your ID will change to Temp-xxxxxx during investigation after being flagged.

• To avoid this, carefully choose an ID that aligns with PlayStation‘s Code of Conduct.

Original ID randomly reverts to Temp-xxxxxx

• In some cases, your original PSN ID can unexpectedly turn into Temp-xxxxxx too.

• This typically occurs when another player reports your ID for being offensive, misrepresentative, etc.

• Unfortunately, you can‘t revert to your original ID in this case. You‘ll need to change it to a new one instead.

PSN ID changed without your consent

• In rare instances, someone else may be able to alter your PlayStation username without your permission.

• You can modify your ID again and update your account credentials to resolve this security issue.

New online ID not appearing

• If your newly changed PSN username isn‘t visible anywhere, don‘t panic.

• According to PlayStation, apps and games can take up to 1 week to reflect the new ID.

• Contact PlayStation Support if your new ID still doesn‘t show up after a week.

Game data loss or issues

• One major risk of changing your PSN online ID is potential game data loss or issues.

• Some games may not fully support online ID changes and can show problems.

• You may lose game progress, stats, currencies, settings, trophies, and more depending on the title.

So those are some key problems to look out for when you change your PlayStation username. Be prepared to revert to your original ID if anything goes wrong.

Which Games Have Issues with PSN ID Changes?

Sony tested a variety of popular PS4 games to identify compatibility issues with PlayStation online ID changes.

Here‘s an overview of which games had no problems, minor issues, and major issues when testing PSN ID changes:

Games Without Any Issues

Several big titles showed no issues at all with online ID changes in Sony‘s testing:

• Red Dead Redemption 2
• FIFA 19
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Games With Minor Issues

A few games showed small non-critical issues like:

• Fortnite (stats not updating quickly)
• NBA 2K19 (overall progress reverting)
• God of War (re-login required)

Games with Major Issues

Major problems like game data loss occurred in titles like:

• LittleBigPlanet 3
• WWE 2K18
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Dead by Daylight
• Disc Jam

So refer to PlayStation‘s list of compatible games before changing your ID to prevent losing progress or data. Revert back if anything goes wrong.

Pro Tip: Check for game patches and updates as developers may improve PSN ID change support over time.

6 Tips to Change Your PlayStation Username Smoothly

To ensure a smooth hassle-free experience when changing your PlayStation Network ID, keep these tips in mind:

• Check Sony‘s list of compatible games before changing your ID to prevent data loss.

• Don‘t violate Terms of Service with your new username, or it may get blocked by Sony.

• Change your PSN password after altering your ID as a safety precaution.

• If issues occur, wait up to 1 week for games and apps to update your new ID.

• Revert to your original PlayStation username if the change causes any problems.

• Back up your game data and saves to external storage or cloud just in case.

Conclusion

I hope this detailed guide gives you a good understanding of how to change your PlayStation Network username easily and safely.

While the ability to change your PSN ID is useful, make sure to follow Sony‘s guidelines to avoid potential downsides. Revert back if the change causes any game errors or data loss issues.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow gamers.