October 10, 2018April 10, 2019

PSN Online ID Change Feature Entering PlayStation Preview Program Soon

Update: Read this post for the latest information and details on the online ID change feature.

We’re happy to announce that we will soon begin testing the long-awaited feature that will allow users to change their PlayStation Network Online ID from their PlayStation 4 system. The PSN Online ID Change feature beta will be a part of the PlayStation Preview Program, and will become available to select users that have pre-registered as testers for previous PS4 system software betas.

During the preview program, you will be able to change your online ID as many times as you want. The first change is free, and changes after that will cost $9.99 USD / CAD. For PlayStation Plus members, it will cost $4.99 USD/ CAD after the first change. Changes to online ID can be made through the Settings menu or via the Profile page of your PS4.

When you change your online ID, you will have the option to display your previous ID with your new ID, so your friends can recognize you. Once you decide to display your old ID or not, you won’t be able to adjust this after completing the online ID change process.

~~This feature is compatible with PS4 games originally published after April 1, 2018, and a large majority of the most-played PS4 games that were released before this date.~~ However, please note not all games and applications for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita systems are guaranteed to support the online ID change, and users may occasionally encounter issues or errors in certain games. If for any reason you experience issues after changing your ID, you can revert back to your original ID for free at any time (you will only be able to revert once during the preview program). Reverting back to an old ID will resolve most issues caused by the ID change. In addition, when this feature officially launches, a list of compatible games published before April 1, 2018, will be provided on PlayStation.com for reference before you make a change.

The preview program for this feature is scheduled to conclude at the end of November 2018. The full rollout of the feature to all PS4 owners is planned for early 2019, so stay tuned for updates down the road!

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182 Comments

GURSIMRAN
October 10, 2018 at 9:55 am PDT

Wow this ID changing thing is so messed up… Sony did something really wrong in their younger days can’t it b as smooth as xbox gamer tag change… & yea I want to change my Country!!!
- CaptainAlbator
  October 10, 2018 at 11:31 am PDT
  
  They didn’t “mess up’, they designed it so that your PSN ID is your account name, rather than having it be a number. And changing countries is going to be more difficult because of things like tax laws, language laws, social customs, and with games being regionalized. If you change your country then you’re going to be locked out of certain games and movies because those games might be banned in the new country you select, and you won’t be able to buy any DLC because the billing addresses won’t match. Never mind that DLC won’t work with your existing games anyway.
shauryamessi9500
October 10, 2018 at 9:55 am PDT

Yeah me too like 4 years ago I made a very cringe name and a long one and I want to change it so bad because everyone makes fun of my ID
ThoasBrand
October 10, 2018 at 10:05 am PDT

you reap what you sow
Sokratis_09
October 10, 2018 at 10:05 am PDT

Is xXxKingBossDestroyerxXx still free?
Youneedchurch56
October 10, 2018 at 10:48 am PDT

Ok the changing of your user name will that affect my gta 5 character I’m a level 265 and I don’t want to start from scratch. But one thing If it doesn’t affect my account I would like to change it to Rebeldipper200
PMSConfessor
October 10, 2018 at 10:49 am PDT

This is greatly appreciated. Just want to remove 3 digits from my name. Happy dance.
Youneedchurch56
October 10, 2018 at 10:51 am PDT

Ok the changing of your user name will that affect my gta 5 character I’m a level 265 and I don’t want to start from scratch. But I would like to change it to Outlawchurch56
bithez
October 10, 2018 at 11:04 am PDT

Finally actually brought a tear to my eye
Haydude
October 10, 2018 at 11:23 am PDT

Great new PlayStation. Will one be able to change their region as well? I haven’t lived in Canada for 8 years now and would like to update my credit card.
- CaptainAlbator
  October 10, 2018 at 11:33 am PDT
  
  Most likely, no. They don’t specify anything in this news about changing regions. That’s going to be more difficult and even if you could change it that will create other problems with DLC not working with games, and being locked out of certain games and movies because of bans in different regions. .
sinbad3598
October 10, 2018 at 11:40 am PDT

This is a good update but at least make it cheaper dont be like Microsoft and make it 10 all the time
Fast_Fluffy
October 10, 2018 at 11:58 am PDT

They finally announced it.

I want to get rid of this name since I had to take it because I lost a bet to my brother like many, many years ago.

Thank you Sony!
BlaqMagiq24
October 10, 2018 at 12:30 pm PDT

Allow for actual spaces in people’s names to be used and not underscores. That’s annoying to see.
zavior1o1
October 10, 2018 at 12:32 pm PDT

I am really glad for this feature because I really like my other name I had in mind but I could Not change.
jose213jose
October 10, 2018 at 12:39 pm PDT

Its about time, can’t wait to change my username ID now. I can name myself after something better. I hope all games we brought, trophy’s earn, and ect is safe when changing name. Hope their workout all the bugs and problems before releasing this then.
mimikyu2
October 10, 2018 at 12:55 pm PDT

Finally, im tired of my bad name, ive been wanting to change it since like this year
Isnpty
October 10, 2018 at 1:11 pm PDT

Cool, but recently i created an account with a nickname that I like… And what i should to do ? It’s a headache, really.
Papou_InMissouri
October 10, 2018 at 1:22 pm PDT

This is nice but can you please add a feature to merge psn accounts, because I had an old account where I had grinded many games (mostly skyrim)and I want to be able to play it on my new account(and also have all my trophies) if you can do this it would be awesome.
gargux
October 10, 2018 at 2:14 pm PDT

Sony: I hope you’re considering letting people use names of current users who say haven’t been active for like 1 year or more. Then if that person ever logs back in they are hit with a message to create a new name.
LEGENDARYGOD27
October 10, 2018 at 2:32 pm PDT

I wish I could do this back before the PS4 came out and made a new account, I’d like to combine my old account with my new, didn’t like my old name but I had enough progress of trophies on there I wish I could have on one account
Nyan-Ouji
October 10, 2018 at 2:38 pm PDT

If I change my username, will this affect the content I’ve acquired in Overwatch?
bigbooboy2003
October 10, 2018 at 2:55 pm PDT

My name is embarrassing and I just hate it so I’m so happy that i will be able to change it soon
DragonKeeper69
October 10, 2018 at 2:59 pm PDT

Where do I sign up to become a beta tester at for this?
john_5313
October 10, 2018 at 3:01 pm PDT

this is a cool feature but you also need to consider making it possible to give a status/messge above our name like was on ps3 and I also think you seriously need to consider making the ps4 backwards compatible I have a jewer full of ps2 games and would be nice to play them again
Faulk-ner
October 10, 2018 at 4:44 pm PDT

.
Ethosla7
October 10, 2018 at 5:02 pm PDT

The day has come where I can no longer have Ethosla7 as my name, when I was 7 why did I choose Ethosla7????
jaguarpaw666127
October 10, 2018 at 5:20 pm PDT

Its finally coming and I’m really hyped when I heard the news because I would like to change my gamertag its not offensive but people would ask me just because of what the there numbers I had in my gamertag so thank you PlayStation.
jaguarpaw666127
October 10, 2018 at 5:22 pm PDT

Thanks PlayStation for doing this I been wanting this for a while and it’s finally coming soon just glad you guys decided to follow threw.
RedGiant17
October 10, 2018 at 5:27 pm PDT

Are there plans to free up account names that are and have been abandoned for a long time?
mun3mike
October 10, 2018 at 5:30 pm PDT

I’m stoked, I’ve wanted to change mine soooooooo bad for years now. I want it to match my social media accounts now that I’m older and more settled in my decision. Can’t wait!!!
tendon320
October 10, 2018 at 5:32 pm PDT

What about leaderboards? For example, if we are on a leaderboard for a game with our original PSN ID will that be replaced by our new one in the exact same rank of that leaderboard or will it stay the same?
subzer007
October 10, 2018 at 6:31 pm PDT

I’m always going to subzer007 I’ve had this PSN account since early the early days of PS3 my online friends call me Sub ,subby ,subbeth
mjc0961
October 10, 2018 at 6:52 pm PDT

So… I can pay you $10. Then you break my ability to play anything older than April 2018. Then I can revert, which fill fix most, not ALL, of the issues that paying you $10 caused.

OR. Stay with me on this, PlayStation. Or I can keep my $10 and not have my account broken in the first place.

Yeah… Gonna have to go with option B on this one. You need to do better.
Vanitas1985
October 10, 2018 at 7:18 pm PDT

I like that
conorbarry152011
October 10, 2018 at 7:59 pm PDT

Yassss, its about damn time, ive been waiting for this since 2014, my online id sucks, so i cant wait to change it to my new one :D thank you psn
- conorbarry152011
  October 10, 2018 at 8:00 pm PDT
  
  2011*
glenwing
October 10, 2018 at 8:10 pm PDT

That’s good, and I don’t see how the same concept can’t be applied to changing the country of residence, a feature I’m confident that many will want.
ATD_Ash
October 10, 2018 at 8:43 pm PDT

I’d like to sign up to beta test. I know this beta is only for people who are already signed up but I’d love to beta test things in the future but all the links to sign up seem to be broken
CEOIII1117
October 10, 2018 at 10:25 pm PDT

Honestly? Thanks for handing us the option, but I think I’m good.
IP6IX
October 10, 2018 at 10:34 pm PDT

Are the new usernames unique? that’s a rather important question no one has asked.
KindOliver222
October 11, 2018 at 12:00 am PDT

I can’t wait look at this rubbish name, good old 7 year old me thought this name was good but man I was wrong
King_of_Kings__3
October 11, 2018 at 12:21 am PDT

What would be good if you delete all users that haven’t logged in for over a year that way all those names will again become available to use.
farmessi
October 11, 2018 at 2:47 am PDT

hawe anyone god some cool names
‘
LastPlace09
October 11, 2018 at 4:07 am PDT

It would be cool to know what Sid means by “issues and errors.”

Everyone seems to be talking about should I or shouldn’t I or even who had the capability of name changing first. I don’t see how that matters.

What are the issues or errors?
tusunami
October 11, 2018 at 7:01 am PDT

I guess now everyone can stop complaining about when can they change their online name. Let’s just hope that this time people pick the right name.
tusunami
October 11, 2018 at 7:07 am PDT

Watch people try to abuse the name changing feature and still complain about getting charged after the fact.One thing I will say it’s not Sony’s fault when people find a way to mess this up people are so fickle.
ThatGuyTyler2341
October 11, 2018 at 7:55 am PDT

If i go back to my old Id after changing to solve problems for certain games will i still be able to my new it for free or will I have to pay 10 or 5 dollars to change back?
Superstone
October 11, 2018 at 11:29 am PDT

Cool. Now give us backwards compatibility for ps4. Thx
- Superstone
  October 11, 2018 at 11:31 am PDT
  
  And a new handheld. Lol
gamergay
October 11, 2018 at 1:08 pm PDT

FINALY, I CAN STOP HAVING THIS NAME THAT WAS MEANT TO BE THROWAWAY, BUT ENDED UP SPENDING MONEY ON, SO IT WAS TOO LATE TO CHANGE
SkulloX248
October 11, 2018 at 2:29 pm PDT

now i get to change my Fortnite username
Alastor424
October 11, 2018 at 2:42 pm PDT

Cool, definitely a step in the right direction.

On another note, I just want to throw it out there that I still am interested in PS2 classics. From what I understand, you guys stopped doing them becaise around 13% of players only play them. Well we matter too, please don’t forget your slogan: “for the player”.

I was disspointed to see that Legaia 2 wasn’t released after the initial copyright.
LEFT__4__DEAD__2
October 12, 2018 at 4:17 am PDT

PlayStation is the best hehe