What you need to do to change your YouTube username

You change your YouTube username through your Google Account settings, not through YouTube itself. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you use YouTube on a computer or phone. You will need to know your current Google password, and the change takes effect immediately across all Google services tied to that account.

YouTube usernames and Google Account names are linked. When you change one, the other changes too. This means your email address stays the same, but the display name people see on your channel and in comments updates right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your YouTube username by going to your Google Account settings, not the YouTube app or website settings.
  • The change happens in the "Personal info" section under "Name" and takes effect immediately on your channel and across Google services.
  • You can change your username as often as you want, but Google may flag repeated changes within a short time as suspicious activity.
  • Your email address and channel URL do not change when you update your username — only the display name people see changes.

Steps to change your username on a computer

Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel. On the left side of the page, click Personal info.

In the main section, find the Name field. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new name in the first box (this is what appears on your YouTube channel). You can also fill in a middle name or last name if you want, but only the first field is required. Click Save when you are done.

The change takes effect immediately. Refresh your YouTube channel page in a new tab to see the new name appear in your channel header and on any comments you have posted.

Steps to change your username on a phone or tablet

Open the Google Account app or go to myaccount.google.com in your phone's web browser. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top left, then tap Manage your Google Account. Swipe to the Personal info tab.

Tap the Name field. Tap the pencil icon to edit. Type your new name in the first box and tap Save. On some phones, you may need to scroll down to find the Save button. The change appears on your channel within seconds.

What happens to your channel URL and email when you change your username

Your channel URL (the web address people use to find your channel) does not change. If your old URL was youtube.com/c/OldName, it stays that way even after you change your display name. People who bookmarked your channel or have the old link will still reach you.

Your email address also stays the same. The username change only affects the display name — the text that appears next to your profile picture and on your comments. Your login email for YouTube and Google services remains unchanged.

If you want to change your channel URL instead

YouTube lets you customize your channel URL once, but only if your channel meets certain conditions. You need at least 100 subscribers and your account must be at least 30 days old. If you meet these requirements, go to youtube.com/account, scroll to the "Channel" section, and look for the option to customize your URL.

Changing your channel URL is different from changing your username. The URL is the web address people type or click to reach your channel. The username is the display name. You can change your display name as many times as you want, but the custom URL change is a one-time choice.

Troubleshooting if your username change does not appear

If you changed your name but it still shows the old one on YouTube, try signing out and signing back in. Close your browser completely and open a new one, then go to your channel. Sometimes the change takes a few minutes to show up across all Google services.

If you changed your name very recently and YouTube is showing a message that you cannot change it again yet, Google may have flagged your account for multiple rapid changes. Wait at least a few days before trying again. If you see a message that says your name violates YouTube's policies, the name you chose may contain symbols, numbers, or words that YouTube does not allow in display names. Try a different name without special characters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube username back to what it was before?

Yes. There is no limit to how many times you can change your display name. Go back to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, and edit the Name field again. However, if you change your name multiple times in a short period, Google may temporarily block further changes to prevent account abuse.

Does changing my username affect my subscribers or watch history?

No. Your subscribers stay subscribed to your channel, and your watch history, playlists, and uploads remain exactly the same. Only the name displayed next to your profile picture changes. People who subscribed to you before the name change will still see your videos in their subscription feed.

What if someone else is using the username I want?

Display names on YouTube do not have to be unique — multiple people can have the same display name. You can use any name you want as long as it does not violate YouTube's community policies. Your channel URL and email address are what make your account unique.

Will my old comments show my new username?

Yes. All comments you posted under your old username will now display your new username. The same is true for likes, channel posts, and any other activity tied to your account. There is no way to keep old comments under your previous name.