Apex Legends Linked Accounts and Cross Progression Explained
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Apex Legends progress is permanently tied to the EA account, not to Steam, PlayStation or Xbox. Those platform accounts are linked to the EA account and, through Cross Progression, open the same level, legends, cosmetics and Apex Coins. For a buyer that means two things: you buy the EA account, never the seller's platform account, and any platform account still linked to it can still play it until you unlink it in EA Account > Connected Accounts. EA lets you switch linked accounts up to 3 times in a rolling year.
"Linked to Steam" or "linked to PSN" on an Apex Legends listing confuses a lot of buyers. This guide explains how EA accounts, platform accounts and Cross Progression fit together, what moves with the account and what doesn't, and what that changes when you buy one.
EA account vs platform account
You need an EA account to play Apex Legends, and EA says your Apex Legends progress is permanently tied to that EA account and can't be moved to a different one. You can only have one Apex Legends profile per EA account.
A platform account is the Steam, PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo account you launch the game from. To use Cross Progression, it has to be linked to the EA account. The link is the bridge between where you play and where the progress lives.
What Cross Progression shares, and what it doesn't
| Part of the account | Across platforms |
|---|---|
| Unlocked legends and cosmetics | Shared, except platform-exclusive items |
| XP, challenges, Battle Pass rewards and prize tracks | Bound to the EA account, same everywhere |
| Crafting Materials, Legend Tokens, Heirloom Shards | Bound to the EA account, same balance everywhere |
| Apex Coins | One balance on PC, Xbox and PlayStation; coins bought on Nintendo stay on Nintendo |
| Platform-exclusive items | Stay on their platform, for example PlayStation Plus and Xbox Gold items |
| Ranked leaderboards | Locked to each platform |
| Platform achievements and trophies | Locked to each platform |
This is based on EA's Cross Progression announcement and its help centre. Cross Progression arrived in October 2023, and it is mandatory for every Apex Legends player.
What a linked account means for a buyer
- The linked platform account is not part of the sale. It belongs to the seller. On BuyAccount, a listing names any linked Steam, PlayStation or Xbox account and marks it as not included.
- It can still get in. As long as it stays linked, the seller's platform account can launch Apex Legends on the EA account you bought. Unlink it on day one.
- Unlinking does not touch the progress. The progress stays on the EA account. What the seller loses is access through their platform account; what you keep is the EA account itself.
- Link your own platform account afterwards. Once your own Steam, PlayStation or Xbox account is linked, you play the same progress from it.
The switch limit
EA lets you switch linked accounts up to 3 times in a rolling year and advises linking to an account you will keep long-term. Two things follow. First, plan your own link: link the platform account you actually play on, not a spare one. Second, if the Unlink button is greyed out, EA says the account isn't eligible to relink yet; tell the seller and support before you confirm the order.
EA also warns that if a platform account that already played Apex Legends is unlinked and linked to a different EA account, the progress does not move with it. Progress never travels with a platform account, only with the EA account.
Where to see and change links
- Sign in to the EA account in a browser and open the account settings.
- Open the Connected Accounts tab to see every linked platform.
- Select Unlink next to each platform account that isn't yours, read the notice and confirm; EA may ask you to verify your identity.
- Launch Apex Legends on your own platform and sign in with the EA account to link it.
The full first-day routine is in how to secure an Apex Legends account after buying, and the pre-purchase checks are in how to check an Apex Legends account before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move the progress to my own EA account?
No. EA says Apex Legends progress can't be moved between EA accounts and that it can't merge Apex progress from two EA accounts. You keep the EA account you bought and link your platform to it.
Will I lose cosmetics by unlinking the seller's platform?
Ordinary cosmetics stay on the EA account. Platform-exclusive items, such as PlayStation Plus or Xbox Gold items, stay on the platform they were earned on, so they may not show up for you.
Is the seller's console or Steam library included?
No. Only the EA account is sold, and if the account doesn't match its listing, the 14-day buyer protection lets you open a dispute instead of confirming. See is it safe to buy an Apex Legends account? for the risks that come with that.
See which platforms are linked before you buy on our Apex Legends accounts page.
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