Short answer: You can change your PlayStation Online ID as many times as you want. Sony gives you one free Online ID change; each later change is charged at the price shown for your account’s region. There is no official allowance of two free changes every 12 months, and no yearly reset. This guide reflects Sony’s current support instructions checked October 16, 2026.
“PlayStation name” usually means your Online ID, the unique handle other players can use to find you. Sony’s support page says you may change it any number of times: the first change is free and additional changes cost money. That means the free change is a one-time first-change benefit, not a pair of changes that refreshes each year.
There is no published maximum number of paid changes. You can keep changing your Online ID, but you will be charged for each change after the free one. Sony does not state one universal price on its support page. The amount can vary by account region, so check the price displayed on the confirmation screen before you complete the purchase. Older articles may quote a dollar, pound, or euro amount that does not match your store region or current checkout.
| Action | How often | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| First Online ID change | Once per account | Free |
| Later Online ID changes | No stated change-count limit | Fee shown before confirmation |
| Revert to your original ID because of an issue | Contact PlayStation Support for help | Free, according to Sony |
Sony’s Online ID change instructions are the source for the first-change rule and unlimited number of changes. The fee screen is the reliable place to check your own price.
Your Online ID is the public-facing handle attached to your PlayStation profile. It is different from your sign-in ID, which is the email address used to log in. Changing the Online ID does not change that email address or your account password.
During the rename process, you can choose whether to show your previous Online ID beside the new one on your profile for 30 days. This can help friends recognize you, but Sony says you must choose this while making the change. You cannot add the old ID display afterward. Once the change is complete, Sony signs your account out of your devices, so be ready to sign in again.
Make sure you are changing an adult account, and check Sony’s tested-games list if you play PS4 games. PS3 and PS Vita systems do not support the Online ID change feature. You can still use a PS5, PS4, PlayStation App, or Account Management in a web browser to start the change.
On PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Profile > Online ID. On PS4, go to Settings > Account Management > Account Information > Profile > Online ID. On the web, sign in to Account Management, open Profile, and select Edit beside your current Online ID. In the PlayStation App, open Play, select your profile picture, choose Edit Profile, then edit the Online ID.
Type the ID you want and use the availability check shown on screen. If it is unavailable, choose another. Before continuing, decide whether to display the old ID next to the new one for 30 days. This choice is optional and must be made during the rename.
Confirm that the screen shows the expected price: zero for your first change, or the displayed fee for a later one. On PS5, Sony labels the final purchase control Order & Pay. Finish the process only if the name and price are correct. You will be signed out of your PlayStation devices after the change, so sign back in when prompted.
Changing an Online ID is usually straightforward, but Sony does not promise that every game handles it perfectly. Its tested-games page notes that some games may continue showing an old ID, unlink a PlayStation account from a game account, or reset certain settings. Sony also lists critical issues for some titles, including possible loss of progress, virtual currency, or content.
Do not treat “tested” as a guarantee: Sony says its list may not include every issue, and games absent from the list have not been tested. Check the specific titles you care about before changing your name. After the rename, launch those games and look for missing content, account links, or progress. If something breaks, contact support promptly to ask about reverting to your original Online ID. Sony cautions that reverting may not repair every problem.
No. Sony’s current rule is one free first change. Further changes have a fee; the free change does not renew every 12 months.
Yes. Sony says there is no limit to how many times you can change it. The first change is free and later changes are charged.
No. Sony’s support page says Online IDs cannot be changed for child accounts.
If an Online ID change causes a technical problem, Sony says reverting to your original ID is free. Contact PlayStation Support for help. Reverting does not guarantee that lost game data or content will return.
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