Topic: Online id when playing online

So I signed up for a year of switch online but it was never made clear on how to come up with your online name.

It seems the online name is the same name as the user for your switch? I named it two different things and on Friday the 13th the names changed both times. How exactly does names work in this for online play?

@Awezom If a game doesn’t specify an online name, it goes by your profile name.

@HobbitGamer so how do you create the online name?

Example PS4 online your psn is what other gamers see you as not user name. I'm trying to understand how to create a switch online profile that's not my user name.

Example my username on switch is Sea so when I play online it shows that in the lobby but if I don't want that I have to change me user name again there's no solid way to have a unique online name aside from your user name?

Anyone know?

That's pretty much how it works, your nickname is your online username. If your profile name is Sea, then people will see it as Sea. I believe it can be changed any time.

As for @HobbitGamer's name, that's a Nintendo Network ID for Wii U. Wii U works the same way, it uses your Mii's nickname as your online username. Though a handful of early Wii U games did use the Nintendo Network ID as a username (Black Ops II and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed comes to mind).

@Sunsy thanks Sunsy appreciate it.

@Awezom You're welcome. Just change the profile nickname to whatever you wish to use online. I think the limit is 10 characters, which was the limit on previous Nintendo consoles and handhelds that had online gaming.

If you named it differently and it changed on Friday the 13th, it could be a glitch in the system or possibly a setting that was changed without your knowledge.

To change your Switch Online name, you can go to the System Settings menu on your Switch, select Users, and then select the user whose name you want to change. From there, you should be able to change the user name and subsequently the Switch Online name.

Please don't revive old threads.

The last comment, #6, was from September 2019, and it appears they already got the help they needed. Moderators & the community do not want old threads revived, also known as "necro posting".

@CharleyBryan I see you're new. So this is just a heads up. Welcome!
@kalonmarko isn't new, but they do appear new to using the forum.