If you‘re a PlayStation gamer, you may have wanted to change your PSN username at some point. The good news is that you can change your PlayStation Network ID on your PS5 completely free of charge the first time. In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through the quick and easy steps to change your PSN name on your PS5 without paying anything.
Why Would You Want to Change Your PSN Name?
There‘s a few key reasons why millions of PlayStation gamers decide to change up their PSN ID:
You made your account years ago and want a more mature name – If you‘ve had your PlayStation Network account for 5+ years, there‘s a good chance your original name was a bit silly or immature. Now as a adult, you probably want something cooler.
You want to separate personal and gaming lives – Many people use their real name on PSN without thinking. But for privacy reasons, creating a unique gaming name can be wise.
Your interests have changed – If you named your account after a game or hobby you‘re no longer into, changing your ID helps reflect who you are now.
You‘re embarrassed by your old name – We‘ve all had regrettable usernames at some point in our lives. Changing your PSN ID offers a fresh start.
So if your current PlayStation username makes you cringe or no longer reflects who you are, then yes – you should strongly consider changing it.
When Did Sony Allow PSN Name Changes?
In the past, changing your PlayStation Network ID was impossible. Once you created your PSN account, you were stuck with that username forever.
But in April 2019, Sony finally enabled PSN users on PS4 and PS5 to change their name. This was a highly requested feature and a big win for the player community.
However, there are some catches to be aware of when you change your PSN ID which I‘ll cover shortly.
What Are the Steps to Change PSN ID on PS5?
Let‘s get into the step-by-step process of how to change your PSN name through your PS5 console:
From your PS5 home screen, go to Settings.
Select Users and Accounts > Account.
Choose Profile > Online ID.
Pick Change Online ID.
Enter your new desired PSN username. Check availability.
Follow the prompts to complete the change.
It only takes about 2-3 minutes to complete the process. Sony makes it very straightforward to change your PlayStation Network name on PS5.
How Much Does it Cost to Change PSN Name on PS5?
Here‘s the exciting part – changing your PSN name on PS5 is completely free the first time you do it. Sony doesn‘t charge anything for your initial name change.
However, any subsequent name changes will cost money:
- $9.99 USD for non-PlayStation Plus members
- $4.99 USD for PlayStation Plus subscribers
So while you get one freebie, just know that you‘ll have to pay a small fee if you ever want to change your PSN ID again in the future.
Are There Any Risks or Downsides?
While changing your PSN name is easy and free, there are some potential downsides to be aware of:
You may lose access to some purchased content – A small number of older games and add-ons don‘t support name changes. You would have to contact PlayStation customer support to restore access in some cases.
Loss of progress or data – You could potentially lose trophies, save files, leaderboard rankings, etc. in games that don‘t fully support PSN ID changes.
Issues playing online – Some games may not fully function online with your new ID, depending on their compatibility.
Visibility of old ID – Your previous PSN name may still be visible to you or other players in some contexts.
So in summary, while rare, there is a risk of losing data or having issues with certain games. To avoid this, check Sony‘s list of tested games and back up your saved data to the cloud or external drive if possible.
Here‘s a Full List of Tested PS4 & PS5 Games That Support PSN Name Changes:
Sony has tested the PSN name change process with hundreds of popular PS4 and PS5 games. Here is a complete list of games that fully support online ID changes according to PlayStation:
Supported PS4 Games | |
---|---|
7 Days to Die | Dead Rising 4 |
Battlefield 4 | Enter the Gungeon |
Bloodborne | Fallout 76 |
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | Far Cry 5 |
Cities: Skylines | Final Fantasy XV |
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy | For Honor |
Dark Souls III | God of War |
Days Gone | Monster Hunter: World |
Dead by Daylight | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
Supported PS5 Games | |
---|---|
Astro‘s Playroom | Demon‘s Souls |
Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla | Destiny 2 |
Borderlands 3 | FIFA 21 |
Bugsnax | Fortnite |
Control | Madden NFL 21 |
Cyberpunk 2077 | Marvel‘s Spider-Man: Miles Morales |
Dirt 5 | NBA 2K21 |
As you can see, most major PS4 and PS5 titles are fully supported. But there‘s still a chance you may experience issues in older or indie games. Refer to Sony‘s tested games list before changing your ID.
Tips to Change Your PSN Name Smoothly
To ensure a seamless transition when you change your PlayStation Network username, keep these tips in mind:
Double check unsupported games and avoid playing them right after changing ID. Give it a week or so.
Back up important game data like save files either locally or to cloud storage.
Note down your list of PSN friends so you can re-add them if needed.
Change your ID directly on your PS5 if possible for fastest update speed.
Sign out then back in to games and apps to refresh your new ID.
Contact PlayStation support if you lose access to purchased content or DLC.
Following this advice will prevent 99% of potential issues from arising when you change your PSN name.
Can You Change Your PSN Name Multiple Times?
While the first change is free, you may be wondering – can you change your PlayStation username more than once if you‘re willing to pay?
The answer is yes. After your free name change, you can change your PSN ID unlimited additional times for a small fee:
- $9.99 USD for non-PlayStation Plus subscribers
- $4.99 USD for PlayStation Plus members
So if you later decide you want to change your name again, you definitely can. Just know it will cost you a few bucks beyond the initial free change.
Conclusion
Changing your PSN name on your PS5 is incredibly simple and completely free the first time you do it. Just head to your account settings.
While rare, be mindful of potential downsides like lost game data. Back up your files and review tested games first.
After your free change, unlimited paid name changes are possible for $9.99.
With Sony allowing PSN name changes as of 2019, take advantage of this new feature if your current username is outdated. Play on PlayStation Network with a name you‘re truly proud of.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow PS5 gamers with tips and advice.