Change your channel name from your account settings

To change your YouTube channel name, sign into your Google account, go to YouTube.com, and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Create a channel or Settings depending on whether you already have a channel. From there, click Edit channel info on the left side, then find the channel name field at the top of the page. Type your new name, click Publish, and the change takes effect when ready.

Your new channel name appears everywhere on YouTube within seconds — in your channel header, on your videos, in comments, and in search results. Viewers who subscribed to your old name will still see your channel because YouTube links channels to your Google account, not to the name itself. You can change your channel name as many times as you want, with no waiting period between changes.

If you cannot find the Edit channel info button, you may be using a brand account instead of a personal channel. Brand accounts have a different settings path: click your profile picture, select Settings, then go to Channel on the left and look for Basic info. The name field works the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Channel name changes happen when ready and appear everywhere on YouTube at once.
  • Your subscribers stay subscribed to your account even if you change the name, because YouTube tracks channels by account, not by name.
  • You can change your channel name as often as you want with no cooldown period between changes.
  • Brand accounts and personal channels have slightly different settings paths, so check which type you own before looking for the name field.
  • Your old channel name becomes available for other creators to use once you change it.

What happens to your old channel name

When you change your channel name, your old name is released when ready and another creator can claim it. YouTube does not hold old names in reserve or let you reclaim them later. If you think you might want to use an old name again, write it down before you change it, or create a second channel under that name to keep it.

Your videos, playlists, and upload history stay attached to your account no matter what name you use. The URL of your channel (the web address) may change depending on your account setup, but YouTube automatically redirects anyone who visits your old URL to your new one, so old links do not break.

Changing the name on a brand account

If you manage a YouTube channel through a brand account — a separate account created specifically for a business or organization — the process is slightly different. Sign into the brand account, click your profile picture, and select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Channel, then Basic info. The channel name field is at the top. Type your new name and click Save.

Brand accounts are useful if multiple people need to manage the same channel without sharing a personal Google password. Each person can be added as a manager with their own login. Changing the channel name on a brand account works the same way as on a personal channel — the change is when ready and your subscribers remain subscribed.

Changing your display name versus your channel name

YouTube has two separate name fields that can confuse new creators: your channel name (the official name of your channel) and your display name (the name that appears next to your comments and profile). Changing one does not change the other.

To change your display name, go to Settings, click Account, then Personal info. You will see a field labeled Name — this is your display name, and it controls what people see when you comment or like videos. Your channel name, by contrast, is what appears at the top of your channel page and in your channel URL. Most creators keep these the same, but you can make them different if you want.

Reasons your channel name change might not appear

If you changed your channel name but it still shows the old name in some places, wait a few minutes — YouTube sometimes takes a moment to update across all its servers. Refresh your browser or close the YouTube app and open it again. If the old name still appears after 10 minutes, sign out completely and sign back in.

If you are using a brand account and the name did not change, check that you clicked Save at the bottom of the page. Brand account settings require an explicit save step, unlike personal channel settings which publish automatically. If you still see the old name after saving and refreshing, contact YouTube Support through the Help menu in your account settings.

Changing your channel name on mobile

You can change your channel name from the YouTube mobile app, though the steps are slightly different from the desktop version. Open the app, tap your profile picture in the top right, and select Settings. Tap Channel, then Edit channel info. The channel name field appears at the top — type your new name and tap the checkmark or Done button to save.

The mobile app sometimes takes longer to show the updated name than the desktop site does. If you change your name on your phone and then check on a computer, you might see the old name for a minute or two. This is normal and the change will sync across all devices within a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my channel name if I have a custom URL?

Yes. A custom URL (like youtube.com/@yourname) is separate from your channel name. You can change your channel name without changing your custom URL, or you can change the custom URL separately. Both changes happen when ready. If you want to change your custom URL, go to Settings, click Channel, then Basic info, and look for the custom URL field.

Will my subscribers see my old channel name in their subscription list?

No. Your subscribers will see your new channel name everywhere — in their subscription list, in their feed, and on your channel page. YouTube updates the name for all subscribers at once when you make the change.

Can I reserve a channel name before I use it?

YouTube does not have a name reservation system. You can only claim a name by actually creating a channel and using it. If you want to hold multiple names, you would need to create separate channels for each one.

What if someone else took my old channel name after I changed it?

Once you change your channel name, the old name becomes available to anyone. YouTube does not prevent other creators from claiming it. If you want to keep an old name, create a second channel under that name before you change your main channel's name.

Does changing my channel name affect my videos or watch history?

No. Your videos stay on your channel with the same titles, descriptions, and upload dates. Your watch history, playlists, and subscriptions are all tied to your account, not to your channel name, so they do not change at all.