You can change your YouTube username through your Google Account settings

Your YouTube username is the name that appears on your channel and in comments. To change it, you go into your Google Account — the same account that powers YouTube — and edit your name there. The change takes effect on YouTube within a few hours, though it can sometimes take up to 24 hours to show everywhere.

You can change your username once every 90 days. If you changed it recently, you will need to wait until that 90-day window closes before you can change it again. There is no way around this limit, even if you contact YouTube support.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube username comes from your Google Account name, so you edit it there, not in YouTube settings.
  • The change takes a few hours to show up across YouTube, but can take up to 24 hours in some places.
  • You can only change your username once every 90 days, and this limit applies even if you own multiple channels.
  • If you have a custom URL (youtube.com/yourname), changing your account name does not automatically change the custom URL.

Steps to change your username on desktop

Open YouTube in your web browser and sign in to your account. In the top right corner, click your profile picture. A menu will drop down. Click Create a channel if you do not have a channel yet, or click the channel name if you already have one. This takes you to your channel page.

In the top right of your channel page, click the user icon (it looks like a person's head and shoulders). A menu appears. Click Settings. On the left side, click Basic info. You will see a field labeled Channel name. Click in that field and type your new name. Click Save at the bottom right. YouTube will confirm the change and tell you when it will be live across the platform.

Steps to change your username on mobile

Open the YouTube app and sign in. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Create a channel or the name of your existing channel. This opens your channel page.

Tap the user icon in the top right (the same icon you see on desktop). Tap Settings. Tap Basic info. You will see the Channel name field. Tap it, delete the old name, and type your new one. Tap Save. The app will show you a confirmation message with the time the change will take effect.

What happens if you see "Create a channel" instead of your channel name

If you click your profile picture and see Create a channel instead of a channel name, you have not yet created a YouTube channel. You need to create one before you can have a username. Click Create a channel, choose a name, and follow the prompts. Once your channel exists, you can change the name using the steps above.

Creating a channel is free and takes less than a minute. YouTube will ask you to confirm the channel name, and then it is live immediately.

The difference between your username and your custom URL

Your username is the name on your channel and in your comments. Your custom URL is the web address people use to find your channel — for example, youtube.com/yourname. These are two separate things, and changing one does not change the other.

If you have a custom URL and you change your username, the custom URL stays the same. If you want to change your custom URL, you go to your channel settings and look for the Advanced settings section. You can only set a custom URL if your channel has at least 100 subscribers and has been active for at least 30 days. If you do not see the option to change your custom URL, your channel does not meet these requirements yet.

What to do if the change is not showing up

YouTube says the change takes a few hours, but sometimes it takes longer. If your new username is not showing up after 24 hours, try signing out and signing back in. Close the YouTube app completely (not just minimize it) and open it again. If you are on desktop, try a different browser or clear your browser cache.

If the name still is not showing up after 24 hours, check that you actually clicked Save after typing the new name. Many people type a new name, navigate away, and assume it saved — but YouTube requires you to click the save button. Go back to Settings and Basic info to confirm the change was saved.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. YouTube enforces a 90-day waiting period between username changes. This applies to every account, and there is no exception process. If you changed your username recently, you will have to wait until 90 days have passed since that change.

Does changing my username affect my subscribers or watch history?

No. Your subscribers stay subscribed, your videos stay on your channel, and your watch history is not affected. Only the name displayed changes. People who subscribed to you will see your new name the next time they visit your channel.

What if someone else is using the username I want?

YouTube usernames are unique — no two channels can have the same name. If the name you want is taken, you will see an error message when you try to save it. You will need to choose a different name. You can try adding numbers, underscores, or hyphens to make a variation of the name you want.

Can I change my username if I have a brand account?

Yes, but the process is slightly different. Brand accounts are managed through Google Workspace or a business Google Account. The steps are the same — go to Settings and Basic info — but the name you change is the brand account name, not a personal name. If you are not sure whether you have a brand account, check your channel settings.