How to Change Your Name in Clash of Clans (CoC)

Clash of Clans lets you change your in-game name, but the process comes with rules that trip up a lot of players. Whether you're rebranding your village or correcting a typo from when you first created your account, here's exactly how the system works — and what determines whether the change goes smoothly or hits a wall.

The Basic Name Change Process 🎮

To change your name in Clash of Clans:

1. Open the game and tap the Settings icon (gear icon) in the bottom-right corner of the home screen.
2. Tap More Settings at the top of the settings panel.
3. Scroll down and tap Change Name.
4. Enter your desired new name in the text field.
5. Confirm the change.

That's the core flow. But what actually happens next — and whether it costs you anything — depends heavily on where you are in your account history.

Your First Name Change Is Free

Supercell gives every player one free name change. When you first set up your account, the name you pick is provisional. The game explicitly prompts you that you can change it once without penalty. Many players use this to fix a rushed decision or a name they've outgrown.

After that first free change, the rules shift.

Subsequent Name Changes Cost Gems

Once your free change is used, every additional name change costs 500 gems. This is a deliberate design choice — Clash of Clans uses the gem cost to prevent constant name-switching, which would make it harder for clanmates and opponents to recognize familiar players.

500 gems is a meaningful in-game cost, especially for free-to-play players. It's worth keeping this in mind before experimenting with a name change casually.

The 7-Day Cooldown Rule

Name changes in CoC aren't unlimited even with gems. After changing your name, there is a 7-day waiting period before you can change it again. This cooldown applies regardless of whether you pay with gems or used your free change.

This means you can't rapidly cycle through names. If you change your name and immediately regret it, you're locked in for at least a week.

Name Requirements and Restrictions

Not every name you type will be accepted. Clash of Clans enforces content standards on all player names:

• Minimum and maximum character limits apply (names can't be blank or excessively long)
• Profanity filters are active — names that violate community guidelines will be rejected
• Special characters are limited; certain symbols or characters from non-supported scripts may not be accepted
• Names that impersonate Supercell or imply official affiliation are blocked

If your chosen name is rejected, the game will notify you and you won't lose your free change or gems — the rejection happens before the change is confirmed.

What Happens to Your Clan and War History?

A name change in CoC is cosmetic only. Your:

• Player tag (the unique # ID) stays the same
• Trophy count, donations, war stars all carry over
• Clan membership is unaffected
• Attack logs and defense logs remain tied to your account

Your clanmates will see the updated name immediately after the change. Your player tag remains the permanent identifier behind the scenes, so leaders and co-leaders using third-party clan management tools will still be able to identify your account accurately.

Changing Names Without Gems: Is There a Workaround?

Some players look for ways to change their name without spending 500 gems. The options are limited:

Supercell support has, in some documented cases, assisted players who were assigned inappropriate names through bugs or who experienced issues during the name change process. This isn't a reliable shortcut, but it's an option worth knowing about if something went wrong on the technical side.

Platform Doesn't Affect the Process 📱

Whether you play on iOS, Android, or via an emulator on PC, the name change process and rules are identical. Clash of Clans accounts are cloud-based through Supercell ID, so the same account settings apply across all devices you're logged into.

If you're using Supercell ID to manage your account (which is strongly recommended for account security and device switching), your name change reflects universally — no per-device differences.

When Linking or Recovering an Account Changes Things

If you recently recovered an old account through Supercell ID, your free name change status depends on the original account history, not when you recovered it. If the original account already used its free name change, you'll need gems for the next one — even if you're coming back after years away.

Players who link multiple accounts should track each account's name-change history separately, since the free change and gem cost apply individually to each account.

The Variables That Shape Your Situation

How straightforward or costly your name change turns out to be depends on a few key factors:

• Whether your free change has been used — the single biggest variable
• Your current gem balance — determines if a paid change is immediately viable
• How recently you last changed your name — the 7-day cooldown may still be active
• The name you want — content filters may reject certain choices
• Whether you're on a shared or recovered account — affects which account history applies

Each of those factors interacts differently depending on how long you've played, how actively you've spent gems, and what name history your account carries. Checking your current gem count and the last date you changed your name — visible in game settings — gives you the clearest picture of where you actually stand.