Change Your YouTube Channel Name in Three Steps

You can change the name that appears on your YouTube channel by editing your Google Account name, which YouTube pulls directly from your account settings. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use a computer or phone. Your new name shows up on your channel, comments, and uploads within minutes.

YouTube does not let you change your channel name through YouTube itself — you have to go through Google Account settings. This is because YouTube is owned by Google and uses your Google Account as the source of truth for your identity across all Google services.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube channel names come from your Google Account name, so you change them in Google Account settings, not in YouTube.
  • You can change your name as many times as you want, and the change takes effect within minutes across all your YouTube activity.
  • Your YouTube username (the handle in your channel URL) is separate from your display name and cannot be changed after creation.
  • If you use Google Workspace for business, your administrator may have locked your name from being changed.

How to Change Your Name on a Computer

Open Google Account settings by going to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and signing in with the account that owns your YouTube channel. Click the Personal info tab on the left side of the page.

Find the section labeled Name near the top. Click the pencil icon next to your current name to edit it. Type your new first name and last name in the fields that appear, then click Save. Google will ask you to confirm your password — type it in and click Next. Your YouTube channel name updates within a few minutes.

How to Change Your Name on a Phone or Tablet

Open the Google Account app or go to myaccount.google.com in your phone's web browser and sign in. Tap Personal info at the top of the screen. Scroll down to the Name section and tap the pencil icon.

Edit your first and last name in the fields shown, then tap Save. You will be asked to confirm your password — enter it and tap Next. The change syncs to your YouTube channel within minutes, and you will see your new name on your profile, uploads, and comments.

What Changes and What Stays the Same

Your display name — the name people see on your channel and next to your comments — changes when ready. Your channel URL (the web address of your channel) does not change unless you manually edit your YouTube username, which is a separate action. Your username is the handle that appears in your channel URL, like youtube.com/@yourname, and you can only change it once per account.

Your email address stays the same. Your YouTube history, subscribers, and all your videos stay attached to your account. People who subscribed to you before the name change will still be subscribed after.

If Your Name Change Does Not Appear

Wait at least five minutes after saving. YouTube sometimes takes a few minutes to sync the change across all its systems. Refresh your YouTube channel page by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac), or close and reopen the YouTube app on your phone.

If the old name still appears after 10 minutes, sign out of YouTube completely and sign back in. This forces your browser or app to reload your account information. If you still see the old name, clear your browser cache or app cache — on a phone, go to Settings, find the YouTube app, and tap Storage > Clear Cache.

If you use Google Workspace (a business Google Account), your workspace administrator may have restricted name changes. Contact your administrator to ask if they have locked this setting.

Changing Your Username (Your Channel Handle)

Your username is different from your display name. The username is the handle in your channel URL — for example, @MarcusChen. You can change your username once per account, and only if you created a custom username. If you have never created one, you can create it now.

To change or create your username, go to youtube.com, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Create a channel or Customize channel. Look for the section about your channel URL or username and follow the prompts. You will see whether you have already used your one change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube name as many times as I want?

Yes. Your display name (the one that comes from your Google Account) can be changed as many times as you want. Your username (the @handle in your channel URL) can only be changed once per account, so choose carefully.

Will my subscribers know I changed my name?

Your subscribers will not receive a notification about the name change. They will see your new name the next time they visit your channel or watch one of your videos. Their subscriptions stay active regardless of the name change.

Does changing my YouTube name affect my Gmail address?

No. Your Gmail address stays the same. Changing your display name in Google Account settings only changes the name that appears on your YouTube channel and other Google services — it does not change your email address or username.

What if I want to change my name back to what it was before?

Go back to Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, and edit your name again. There is no limit to how many times you can change it, so you can switch back and forth whenever you want.

Can I use special characters or numbers in my YouTube name?

Google Account names accept letters, numbers, spaces, and some punctuation. You cannot use symbols like @ or #. If you try to save a name with characters Google does not allow, it will show an error and ask you to remove them.