Change your YouTube channel name in three steps

Your YouTube channel name is separate from your Google account name, and you can change it without affecting your email or other Google services. Go to YouTube.com, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Create a channel or Manage your channel depending on whether you already have one. Click Settings (the gear icon), then Basic info, and you'll see a field labeled Channel name. Type your new name there and click Save.

The change takes effect when ready on your channel page, in comments you leave, and on any videos you upload going forward. Viewers who subscribed to your old channel name will still see your content—the subscription follows your channel, not the name. You can change your channel name as often as you want, though YouTube may limit how frequently you can do it if you change it repeatedly in a short time.

If you don't see a Channel name field in Basic info, your channel may be linked to a Google Business Profile or managed through YouTube Studio. In that case, the process is slightly different: open YouTube Studio, click Settings in the left menu, select Channel, then Basic info, and edit the channel name field there.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube channel name is independent of your Google account name and can be changed without affecting your email or other services.
  • You change your channel name through YouTube Settings > Basic info, and the change takes effect when ready across your entire channel.
  • Existing subscribers will continue to see your content after you change your name because subscriptions are tied to your channel, not the name.
  • YouTube may slow down or block rapid name changes if you change your channel name many times in a short period.
  • If you manage a YouTube channel through YouTube Studio or a Google Business Profile, the name-change process uses the same steps but accessed through YouTube Studio instead.

Where to find the channel name setting

The exact location depends on which version of YouTube you're using. On the standard YouTube website, click your profile picture in the top right, then look for Create a channel (if you don't have one yet) or Manage your channel (if you do). This takes you to your channel page. From there, click the Settings icon—usually a gear symbol—and select Basic info.

If you use YouTube Studio, the process is slightly faster. Open YouTube Studio (you can reach it by clicking your profile icon and selecting YouTube Studio), then click Settings in the left sidebar. Choose Channel, then Basic info. The channel name field will be visible at the top of that page.

Some channels are linked to a Google Business Profile, which means your YouTube channel name is controlled through Google Business instead. If you see a message saying your channel is managed through a business profile, you'll need to change the name through that business profile's settings rather than YouTube's settings directly.

What happens to your old channel name

When you change your channel name, your old name becomes available for other users to claim. YouTube does not reserve your previous name or hold it for you. If you think you might want to use that name again in the future, consider using a variation or keeping a record of it before you change.

Your channel URL (the web address) may or may not change depending on how your channel was set up. If your URL is something like youtube.com/@yourname, it will update to reflect your new channel name. If your URL is a custom URL you claimed earlier (like youtube.com/c/customname), it stays the same even if you change your display name. You can check your current URL in the same Basic info section where you change your name.

Changing your name on videos and comments

Your channel name appears on all videos you've uploaded and on every comment you leave. When you change your channel name, these will update automatically—you don't have to edit them individually. Viewers will see your new name on old videos and old comments right away.

If you want a different name to appear on a specific video (for example, if you're uploading on behalf of someone else), you can't do that through the channel name setting. Instead, you would need to create a separate channel for that purpose. Most creators use a single channel name across all their content for consistency.

If you can't find the name change option

Some accounts have restrictions on changing their channel name. If you've changed your name very recently, YouTube may temporarily prevent you from changing it again. Wait a few days and try again.

If your channel is brand new (less than a few days old), YouTube might not show the name change option yet. Let your channel exist for a few days before attempting to change the name.

If you're using a Google Workspace account (a business email through Google), your channel name may be controlled by your workspace administrator rather than by you personally. Contact your IT department or workspace admin to request a name change.

Changing your Google account name versus your channel name

Your Google account name (the name associated with your Gmail address) is different from your YouTube channel name. Changing your YouTube channel name does not change your Google account name, and changing your Google account name does not automatically change your YouTube channel name.

If you want to change the name that appears in Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services, you'll do that through your Google Account settings, not through YouTube. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, and edit your name there. That change affects all Google services but will not change your YouTube channel name unless you specifically update it in YouTube Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my channel name affect my subscribers?

No. Your subscribers are subscribed to your channel itself, not to a specific name. When you change your channel name, all your subscribers will continue to see your new videos and notifications. They won't be unsubscribed, and you won't lose any subscriber count.

Can I change my channel name back to what it was before?

Yes, you can change your channel name to anything you want, including a previous name. However, if someone else claimed your old name after you changed it, you won't be able to use it unless they change theirs first. You can change your name as often as you want, though very frequent changes may trigger a temporary restriction.

Does changing my YouTube channel name change my email address?

No. Your YouTube channel name and your Google account email are completely separate. Changing your channel name will not affect your Gmail address or any other Google services. Your email stays the same.

What if I have a custom URL for my channel?

If you claimed a custom URL (like youtube.com/c/yourname), that URL stays the same even when you change your display name. Your display name and your custom URL are independent. You can change your display name without affecting your custom URL.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my channel name?

YouTube allows most characters in channel names, including spaces, numbers, and some symbols. However, there are limits on length—your channel name can be up to 30 characters. If you try to use a character YouTube doesn't allow, you'll see an error message when you try to save.