You can change your YouTube channel name directly from your account settings

YouTube lets you change your channel name whenever you want, and the process takes about two minutes. You do this through your Google Account settings, not through the YouTube app itself. The name change appears across all your videos, playlists, and subscriber lists when ready — there is no waiting period or review process.

The steps are the same whether you use a computer or phone, though the phone interface looks slightly different. You will need to be signed into the Google Account that owns the channel.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," and change the name in the "Name" field — this is what appears as your channel name.
  • Your new name shows up on YouTube within a few minutes, but may take longer to update across other Google services like Gmail.
  • You can change your channel name as many times as you want, with no limit on how often you do it.
  • If you use a custom URL (the youtube.com/@yourname address), changing your channel name does not automatically change the custom URL.
  • Changing your channel name does not affect your subscriber count, videos, playlists, or watch history.

Step-by-step: changing your channel name on a computer

Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in if you are not already signed in. On the left side of the screen, click "Personal info".

In the main section, you will see a field labeled "Name" with your current name displayed. Click on that field to edit it. Type your new channel name into the box. Click "Save" when you are done. That is the entire process — your new name will appear on your YouTube channel within a few minutes.

Changing your channel name on a phone or tablet

Open the Google Account app or go to myaccount.google.com in your phone's browser. Tap "Personal info" at the top. Tap the "Name" field to edit it. Type your new channel name and tap "Save".

The change syncs to YouTube within a few minutes. If you are using the YouTube app itself, you may need to sign out and sign back in to see the new name reflected when ready, though it will update on its own within a short time.

What happens to your custom URL when you change your channel name

If you have a custom URL — the address that looks like youtube.com/@yourname — changing your channel name does not automatically change the custom URL. Your custom URL stays the same even if your channel name changes. This is useful if you want to rebrand your channel name but keep the same link for people to find you.

If you want to change your custom URL to match your new channel name, you have to do that separately through YouTube Studio. Go to YouTube Studio, click "Customization" on the left, then "Basic info," and you will see the option to change your custom URL. You can only change it once every 90 days.

What does not change when you rename your channel

Your subscriber count stays exactly the same. All your videos, playlists, and uploads remain on the channel. Your watch history, likes, and comments are not affected. People who have subscribed to you will still see your new name in their subscription feed, and notifications will come from your new name.

The channel URL (the numbers-and-letters address in your channel link) does not change either. Only the display name — what people see when they look at your channel — changes.

If your name change does not appear right away

YouTube usually shows your new channel name within a few minutes of saving it. If it has been more than an hour and you still see your old name, try signing out of YouTube completely and signing back in. Clear your browser cache or close and reopen the YouTube app.

Sometimes the change takes longer to appear on other Google services like Gmail or Google Drive, but YouTube itself updates quickly. If you still see the old name after waiting and refreshing, check that you actually clicked "Save" in the Google Account settings — the change does not take effect without that final step.

Changing your channel name multiple times

There is no limit to how many times you can change your YouTube channel name. You can do it as often as you want with no penalty or waiting period between changes. Some creators change their channel name to match a new focus, rebrand seasonally, or test different names to see what resonates with their audience.

Each time you change it, the new name appears across YouTube within minutes. Subscribers are not notified of the name change, but they will see the new name the next time they visit your channel or see a notification from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your videos, playlists, upload dates, and all metadata stay exactly the same. Only the name displayed above your channel changes. People can still find all your old videos through search and your channel page.

Can I change my channel name if I have a business account or brand account?

Yes. The process is the same — go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," and edit the name field. The name you enter there is what appears as your channel name on YouTube, regardless of account type.

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

You can change it back anytime. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," and type your old name back in. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can change your name.

Will my subscribers be notified when I change my channel name?

No. Subscribers will see your new name the next time they visit your channel or receive a notification from you, but YouTube does not send out a specific notification about the name change itself.

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

YouTube allows most letters, numbers, and common punctuation marks. Emojis may not work in the channel name field itself, though some special characters do. If a character does not appear to save, try removing it and using a standard letter or number instead.