Sony launched PlayStation Network Online ID changes on April 10, 2019—not “starting today” in 2026—and the feature remains available. Your first Online ID change is free; later changes are charged. The serious catch is compatibility: some games can lose progress, trophies, paid content or functionality after the name change, and reverting may not restore permanent losses.
What changes—and what does not
An Online ID is the public name other PlayStation users see. It is separate from your sign-in ID, which is the email address used to access your account. Changing the Online ID does not change that email address. Sony’s current account instructions are at PlayStation Support.
Price, eligibility and platform support
- The first Online ID change is free.
- Additional changes are charged. Sony’s current support page confirms a charge but does not state the amount in its visible FAQ. Sony’s April 2019 launch announcement listed $9.99 USD/CAD per additional change, or $4.99 USD/CAD for PlayStation Plus members; regional prices and current checkout charges may differ.
- Sony says you can change your Online ID as many times as you want, subject to those charges.
- Child accounts cannot change their Online ID.
- The feature is available through PS5, PS4 and the PlayStation App. You cannot perform the change on PS3 or PS Vita, and PS3/Vita games and apps do not support it.
The original launch FAQ also said your former ID remains available to you and can be reclaimed by reverting, provided it does not violate PlayStation’s Terms of Service. Treat that reservation detail as Sony’s April 2019 statement rather than a newly restated current policy.
The huge caveat: game compatibility
Sony’s tested-games list warns that an Online ID change can affect PS4 software. Potential consequences include lost saves or game progress, lost trophy progress, inaccessible paid or earned virtual currency, missing add-ons, inaccessible user-generated content, broken online or offline functions, unlinked game accounts, reset settings and the old ID continuing to appear. Some problems can be permanent.
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No known issues
Sony tested these games and found no known problems. That is a useful signal, not a guarantee that every account, platform or future update will behave perfectly.
Issues identified
These games have documented problems such as the old name remaining visible, the new name not appearing in rankings, game-account unlinking or settings returning to defaults. The impact depends on how important that title or linked account is to you.
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Critical issues
Sony says critical issues can include loss of paid or earned currency, game or trophy progress, user-created content, core online or offline functions, and permanent errors or data loss. Its U.S. list currently marks LittleBigPlanet 3, ONRUSH, The Golf Club 2, Worms Battlegrounds, Just Dance 2017, MLB 14 The Show, MLB The Show 15 and MLB The Show 16 as having critical issues. Sony does not recommend changing your ID if you need to keep playing one of these without risking existing data or entitlements.
Check the list before you change anything
Search Sony’s list for every older game you still care about, especially titles containing purchased currency, substantial downloadable content, linked publisher accounts, long-running saves or valuable trophies.
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- Listed with no known issues: lower documented risk, but not a promise of perfect compatibility.
- Listed with issues identified: expect the specific display, ranking, linking or settings problems Sony describes.
- Listed with critical issues: avoid changing the ID if the account data matters to you.
- Not listed: untested, not approved. Omission is not evidence that the game is safe.
Sony’s April 2019 FAQ says PS4 games first published on or after April 1, 2018 were developed with tools intended to support Online ID changes. That date is not a blanket guarantee: not every title was tested, and an older game’s remaster or complete edition does not automatically qualify.
How to change your Online ID
PS5
- Open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts > Account > Profile > Online ID.
- Enter a new ID and select Confirm if it is available.
- Choose whether to show your previous ID beside the new one for 30 days.
- Select Order & Pay to finish.
PS4
- Open Settings.
- Select Account Management > Account Information > Profile > Online ID.
- Enter a new ID and select Continue if available.
- Choose whether to display the old ID for 30 days.
- Confirm the purchase and change.
PlayStation App
- Open the Play menu with the controller icon.
- Select your profile picture, then Edit Profile, and enter your password.
- Select Edit beside Online ID.
- Enter the new ID and choose Check availability.
- Select Continue, choose the 30-day old-ID display option, and complete the purchase or free change.
Sony says completing the change signs you out of all devices. The 30-day old-ID choice must be made during the change; do not assume it can be added later.
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What to do immediately afterward
- Record your former ID and identify the games and linked accounts that matter most.
- Launch those games soon after changing the name.
- Check saves, progress, trophies, DLC, virtual currency, user-created content, account links, settings and online features.
- If a problem appears, revert promptly to a previous ID.
Reverting is free and Sony says it resolves most issues, but its warning is explicit: reverting may not restore lost content, progress or functionality.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failure cases
The account shows temp-xxxxxx
Sony says this means the ID was reported and the report was verified as a Terms of Service violation. You can generally select a new ID. If the original name did not violate the rules, contact PlayStation Support about reverting. If the original name itself was inappropriate, Sony says the change cannot be reversed.
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The new ID is missing
Contact support if the change was unauthorized or if more than one week has passed and the new ID still is not showing.
When changing is worth the risk
Changing is sensible when you mainly play newer or checked titles, the current name creates a genuine privacy or identity problem, and you have reviewed your valuable saves, currency and add-ons. Waiting is wiser when you regularly play a critical-issues game, depend on irreplaceable legacy progress, or cannot accept a small possibility of permanent loss. The first change costs nothing, but the meaningful downside is account-linked game data—not the fee for a later change.
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