You can change your YouTube channel name directly from your account settings
Your YouTube channel name is separate from your Google account name, so you can change it without affecting your email or other Google services. The process takes about two minutes and you can do it from any device with a web browser. YouTube lets you change your channel name as often as you want, though there is a small delay before the change appears everywhere on the platform.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a computer or a phone, but the settings are in the same place either way. If you have multiple YouTube channels linked to one Google account, you will change each one separately.
Key Takeaways
- Your YouTube channel name is different from your Google account name and can be changed without affecting your email or passwords.
- You change your channel name in the YouTube settings menu under "Create a channel" or "Channel settings," depending on your device.
- The new name appears on your channel page right away, but may take a few hours to show up in search results and recommendations.
- You can change your channel name as many times as you want, but YouTube may flag repeated changes as suspicious activity.
How to change your channel name on a computer
Start by going to YouTube.com and signing in to your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen — it is a small circle with your initial or photo inside. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Look for the option that says "Create a channel" or "Channel settings." If you see "Create a channel," click it and you will be taken to your channel page. If you see "Channel settings," click that instead. Either way, you will end up on a page that shows your channel information.
Once you are on your channel page, look for a button or link that says "Edit channel" or a pencil icon next to your channel name. Click it. A text box will appear with your current channel name highlighted. Delete the old name and type your new one. Click the "Publish" or "Save" button to confirm the change.
How to change your channel name on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. You will see a menu with several options. Tap "Create a channel" or "Settings" depending on what appears on your screen.
If you tapped "Create a channel," you will see your channel page. Look for three vertical dots (called a menu icon) near your channel name or in the top right corner of the screen. Tap those dots and select "Edit channel" from the menu that appears.
The text box with your current channel name will open. Tap inside it, delete the old name, and type your new one. Tap "Done" or "Save" to finish. The change takes effect immediately on your phone, though it may take a few hours to show up everywhere else on YouTube.
What happens to your old channel name
When you change your channel name, your old name becomes available for someone else to use. YouTube does not hold it in reserve for you, so if you change your mind later, you cannot get the exact same name back unless the new owner gives it up.
Your channel URL (the web address) may or may not change depending on whether you set up a custom URL. If you have a custom URL like youtube.com/c/yourname, changing your display name does not affect it. If you are using the default URL with your channel ID, the display name change does not affect that either.
All of your videos, subscribers, and watch history stay with your channel. Changing the name does not delete anything or reset your account. People who are subscribed to you will still be subscribed after the change.
Why the change might not appear right away
YouTube's system takes time to update everywhere at once. Your new channel name will appear on your channel page and in your uploads within a few minutes. However, it can take several hours or even a day to show up in YouTube search results, recommendations, and other people's subscription lists.
If you search for your old channel name right after changing it, you might still see results pointing to your channel under the old name. This is normal and will resolve itself as YouTube's servers sync up. You do not need to do anything — just wait.
If you change your channel name very frequently (more than once a week), YouTube may temporarily prevent you from making more changes or flag your account for suspicious activity. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeovers. If this happens, wait a few days before trying again.
Changing your channel name versus your Google account name
Your YouTube channel name and your Google account name are two separate things. Changing your YouTube channel name does not change the email address you use to sign in, your Gmail inbox, or your name in other Google services like Google Drive or Google Photos.
If you want to change the name that appears on your Google account across all services, you need to go to myaccount.google.com instead. That is a different process and affects everything connected to your Google account, not just YouTube. For most people, changing only the YouTube channel name is what they want to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my channel name back to what it was before?
You can change your channel name to anything you want, but you cannot reclaim an old name you used before unless the person who took it gives it up. If you want to use a previous name again, you would need to contact whoever is currently using it and ask them to change theirs first. YouTube does not reserve old names for previous owners.
Will changing my channel name affect my videos or subscribers?
No. Your videos stay on your channel with all their views and comments. Your subscribers remain subscribed and will see your new channel name the next time they visit your channel or get a notification from you. The change is purely cosmetic and does not affect any of your content or your audience.
How long does it take for the new name to show up everywhere?
Your new channel name appears on your channel page within minutes. It usually takes a few hours to show up in YouTube search results, recommendations, and other people's subscription lists. In rare cases it can take up to 24 hours for the change to fully propagate across all of YouTube's servers.
Can I use special characters or spaces in my channel name?
YouTube allows letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks in channel names. Some special characters like @ or # may not be allowed. If you try to use a character that is not permitted, YouTube will show you an error message and you can try a different character instead.
What if someone else already has the name I want?
YouTube allows multiple channels to have the same display name, so you can use a name even if someone else is already using it. However, this can make your channel harder to find in search results. If you want a truly unique identifier, consider setting up a custom URL instead, which must be unique across all of YouTube.