YouTube lets you change your username once every 90 days through your account settings

Your YouTube username is the name that appears on your channel and in comments. You can change it directly in YouTube's settings without needing to create a new account. The process takes a few minutes, and YouTube allows one change every 90 days.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use a Google Account or a YouTube-only account, but both routes go through the same settings page. After you change your username, it takes effect immediately across YouTube, though it may take a few hours to update everywhere the name appears.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your YouTube username once every 90 days by going to your channel settings and clicking the edit button next to your name.
  • Your new username must be between 3 and 30 characters and cannot contain spaces or most special characters.
  • Changing your username does not affect your channel URL, subscriber count, videos, or any other channel data.
  • If you have a custom URL, changing your username will not change that URL — you manage custom URLs separately.

How to change your username on desktop

Start by signing into YouTube and clicking your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Create a channel if you do not yet have one, or Settings if you do. From the Settings menu, click Edit channel info on the left side.

On the channel info page, you will see your current username at the top. Click the pencil icon next to your name to edit it. Type your new username — it must be between 3 and 30 characters — and then click Change. YouTube will confirm the change, and your new username takes effect right away.

If the pencil icon is grayed out, you have already changed your username within the last 90 days. YouTube will show you when you can change it again.

How to change your username on mobile

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right. Tap Create a channel or Settings depending on whether you have a channel. From Settings, scroll down and tap Channel.

Tap Edit channel info and then tap the pencil icon next to your username. Enter your new name and tap OK to save. The change appears on your channel immediately.

Username rules and what you cannot use

YouTube usernames must be 3 to 30 characters long and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, periods, or most special characters. YouTube will tell you if a character is not allowed when you try to save.

Your username must also be unique — if someone else is already using the name you want, YouTube will not let you save it. You cannot use a username that impersonates a public figure or brand, and YouTube may remove your channel if you do.

What does not change when you update your username

Your subscriber count, videos, playlists, and watch history all stay the same. Comments you left on other channels still show your old username for a few hours, then update to your new one. Your channel URL (the link people use to find you) does not change unless you have a custom URL, and even then, only if you change the custom URL separately.

People who subscribed to you before the change will still be subscribed after. Your channel analytics and all your channel data remain exactly as they were.

If you cannot change your username

The most common reason you cannot change your username is that you changed it within the last 90 days. YouTube enforces a 90-day waiting period between changes, and the edit button will be grayed out until that time has passed.

If the edit button is not grayed out but you still cannot save your new username, the name may already be taken. Try a different variation. If you see an error message, YouTube will usually explain what the problem is — most often that the username contains a character that is not allowed or that it is too short or too long.

Custom URLs are separate from your username

A custom URL is a personalized link to your channel, like youtube.com/c/yourname. Your username and your custom URL are two different things. Changing your username does not change your custom URL, and you cannot change your custom URL by changing your username.

If you want a custom URL, you need to set one up separately in your channel settings. YouTube requires you to have at least 100 subscribers and to have had your account for at least 30 days before you can claim a custom URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once every 90 days?

No. YouTube limits username changes to once every 90 days. If you need to change it again, you will have to wait until the 90-day period has passed since your last change. The exact date you can change it again appears next to the grayed-out edit button.

Will my old username become available for someone else to use?

Yes. Once you change your username, your old one becomes available for another person to claim. If you think you might want to use that name again, you should wait before changing it.

What happens to my comments if I change my username?

Your comments stay on the videos where you left them, but they will show your new username. This usually happens within a few hours of the change. Old screenshots or recordings of your comments will still show your old name, but the live comments on YouTube will display your new one.

Can I change my username if my channel is brand new?

Yes. You can change your username at any time, even on a brand-new channel. There is no minimum age or subscriber requirement for changing your username — only the 90-day waiting period between changes.