Minecraft Name Checker

What the results mean

• Taken. A Java account has this name right now. You see its UUID and can open its skin. The name only becomes free if the owner changes away from it.
• Not in use. Mojang has no account with this name. You may be able to claim it, but see the next section first.
• Can’t be used. The name breaks the rules below, so no new account can take it, even if nobody has it.

Why a free-looking name can still be unavailable

Every name checker, this one included, can only ask Mojang whether an account uses a name. Mojang does not publish which names it holds back, so “not in use” can still fail when you try to claim it:

• Blocked names. Some names are reserved or blocked by Mojang and can never be claimed.
• Word filter. Names containing offensive words, or strings that look like them, are rejected.
• Recently released names. When a player changes their name, the old one is held for a while before anyone else can take it.
• Someone was faster. Good names that come free are often claimed within moments by other players watching for them.

That is why the only final answer is the name change form on minecraft.net.

Minecraft Java username rules

• 3 to 16 characters.
• Letters A to Z (upper or lower case), numbers 0 to 9 and the underscore _. No spaces, dashes, dots or accented letters.
• Unique regardless of capitals: Steve, steve and STEVE count as the same name.
• You can change it once every 30 days. Your UUID, skin and purchases stay the same.

A few very old accounts still have names shorter than 3 characters. They were allowed before the rules tightened and can’t be registered today.

How to change your Java username

1. Check the name here

   Make sure no account has it and it follows the rules.

2. Sign in at minecraft.net

   Use the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft: Java Edition and open your profile.

3. Change your profile name

   Enter the new name. The form confirms whether it is available before you save. Friends and servers see it the next time you join.

If minecraft.net won’t sign you in or the name change page keeps failing, check whether Minecraft is down before trying again.

On online-mode servers your progress follows you, because they track your UUID. On offline-mode (cracked) servers the UUID comes from your name, so a new name can mean starting over there; the UUID lookup explains why.

Bedrock gamertags

Bedrock Edition uses your Xbox gamertag, not a Java name. Gamertags are run by Microsoft with their own rules, and can’t be checked here. Change or check yours in your Xbox or Microsoft account settings.

Need ideas?

The Minecraft username generator suggests names in different styles and checks ten at a time for you.