Where to find and change your YouTube channel URL

Your YouTube channel URL is the web address people use to find your channel directly. It appears in your browser's address bar when you visit your channel and looks like youtube.com/@yourchannelname or youtube.com/c/yourchannelname. You can change this URL once every 90 days through YouTube Studio, the creator dashboard where you manage your channel.

The URL is separate from your channel name — you can change your channel name as many times as you want, but the URL has the 90-day limit. This limit exists to prevent spam and keep the system stable. If you changed your URL recently, you'll need to wait until the 90-day window closes before you can change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your YouTube channel URL once every 90 days through YouTube Studio under channel settings.
  • Your URL must be between 3 and 30 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens.
  • Once you change your URL, your old URL stops working and redirects to your new one for a limited time before disappearing.
  • You need a verified YouTube channel (with a profile picture and channel art) before you can claim a custom URL.

Steps to change your URL in YouTube Studio

Open YouTube Studio by going to youtube.com and clicking your profile icon in the top right corner, then selecting "Create a studio" or "YouTube Studio." Once you're in the dashboard, click "Settings" in the left sidebar, then select "Channel" from the menu that appears.

Look for the section labeled "Basic info" or "Channel URL" — the exact label varies depending on your account type and region. Click the pencil icon or "Edit" button next to your current URL. A text box will appear showing your current channel URL. Delete the existing text and type your new URL. Remember that it must be between 3 and 30 characters, and you can only use letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens. Click "Save" when you're done.

YouTube will confirm the change when ready. Your new URL becomes active right away, and old links to your previous URL will redirect to your new one for a period of time. However, those old redirects don't last forever, so update your links on your website, social media, and other places where you've shared your channel URL.

Requirements before you can claim a custom URL

YouTube requires your channel to meet certain conditions before you can change your URL. Your account must be at least 30 days old, and your channel must have a profile picture and channel art (the banner image at the top of your channel page). These are basic verification steps that show YouTube you've set up a real channel.

Some accounts also need to have at least 100 subscribers before claiming a custom URL, though this requirement varies by region and account type. If you see a message saying you don't meet the requirements, check that your profile picture is uploaded, your channel art is in place, and your account is old enough. If you still can't change your URL after meeting these conditions, wait a few hours — YouTube sometimes needs time to update your account status.

What characters and format your new URL can use

Your URL can contain uppercase and lowercase letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), underscores (_), and hyphens (-). You cannot use spaces, periods, or special characters like @, #, or $. YouTube automatically converts uppercase letters to lowercase, so "MyChannel" becomes "mychannel" in your actual URL.

The URL must be between 3 and 30 characters long. Shorter URLs are easier to remember and share, but longer ones can be more descriptive. Avoid using numbers that look like letters (like "0" instead of "O") or vice versa, because people sharing your URL by voice or in conversation might get confused.

The 90-day waiting period explained

After you change your URL, you cannot change it again for 90 days. This timer starts the moment you save your new URL, not when you first tried to change it. If you made a mistake and want to change it when ready, you'll have to wait the full 90 days — there's no way to reset or skip this period.

The 90-day limit applies to each individual change. If you change your URL on January 1st, you can change it again on April 1st. If you change it again on April 1st, your next change window opens on July 1st. Plan your URL carefully before you save it, because you're locked in for three months.

What happens to your old URL after you change it

When you change your URL, your old one doesn't disappear when ready. YouTube redirects the old URL to your new one for a limited time — usually several months, though YouTube doesn't publish an exact timeframe. This means links you shared before the change will still work and take people to your channel.

However, you should not rely on these redirects permanently. Update your channel URL on your website, social media profiles, email signature, and anywhere else you've published it. Over time, the old redirects will stop working, and people who click old links will get a "page not found" error. Updating your links now prevents confusion later.

Troubleshooting: URL already taken or unavailable

If you try to claim a URL and YouTube says it's already taken, that URL belongs to another channel. You cannot use it, even if that channel hasn't posted in years or appears inactive. YouTube doesn't recycle URLs from deleted channels either — once a URL is claimed, it stays claimed.

If you see an error message but the URL doesn't appear to be in use, try a different URL. Sometimes YouTube's system takes a few minutes to update, or there may be a technical issue preventing the change. Wait 15 minutes and try again. If the same URL keeps failing, choose a different one. If you're still having trouble after multiple attempts, you may need to contact YouTube Support through the help center in YouTube Studio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube URL more than once every 90 days?

No. YouTube enforces a strict 90-day waiting period between URL changes. The timer starts when you save your new URL, and there is no way to shorten or reset it. Plan your URL carefully before you change it.

What's the difference between my channel name and my channel URL?

Your channel name is the display name people see on your channel and in comments — you can change it as often as you want. Your URL is the web address (like youtube.com/@yourname) — you can change it only once every 90 days. They are separate settings.

Will my subscribers lose access to my channel if I change the URL?

No. Your subscribers are linked to your channel, not to your URL. They will continue to see your channel in their subscriptions list and receive notifications about your videos regardless of what URL you use.

Can I use a URL that someone else had before?

No. Once a URL is claimed by a channel, YouTube does not recycle it even if the original channel is deleted. You must choose a URL that has never been used before.

Do I need to update my old URL links everywhere?

You should update them when you can. Old links redirect to your new URL for a while, but these redirects don't last forever. Updating links on your website, social media, and other places ensures people can always find your channel.