Change your YouTube channel name from your account settings

To change your YouTube channel name, sign in to YouTube, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Create a channel or Manage your channel depending on whether you already have one. Then go to Settings, click the Basic info tab, and you will see a field with your current channel name. Click the pencil icon next to it, type your new name, and click Save. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few hours to appear everywhere YouTube displays your name.

You can change your channel name as often as you want, with no limit on how many times you do it. YouTube does not charge a fee for this change. The process is the same whether you use a personal Google Account or a Google Workspace account tied to a business.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to your YouTube channel settings, find the Basic info tab, and click the pencil icon next to your channel name to edit it.
  • Your new channel name appears when ready in your account, though it may take a few hours to show up across all YouTube pages and search results.
  • You can change your channel name as many times as you want without any cost or penalty.
  • Changing your channel name does not affect your subscriber count, videos, playlists, or any other channel data.
  • If you use a custom URL (the vanity link in your channel description), that URL stays the same even after you change your channel name.

Where to find the channel name setting

Open YouTube and sign in with the account that owns the channel you want to rename. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. If you have never created a channel before, you will see Create a channel. If you already have a channel, you will see Manage your channel or the name of your current channel listed at the top.

Click Manage your channel or your channel name. This takes you to your channel's main page. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu with options like Home, Videos, Playlists, and Settings. Click Settings. The Basic info tab opens by default. Your channel name appears near the top of this page in a field you can edit.

Edit and save your new channel name

In the Basic info tab, look for the field labeled with your current channel name. To the right of this field is a small pencil icon. Click the pencil icon to unlock the field for editing. The text will become highlighted and ready for you to change it. Delete your old name and type your new one.

YouTube allows channel names up to 30 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Once you have typed your new name, click the Save button at the bottom of the page. A confirmation message will appear saying your changes have been saved. Your new channel name is now active on your account.

How long it takes for the change to appear everywhere

Your channel name change takes effect on your YouTube account right away. However, YouTube's systems take time to update everywhere the name appears. You may see your old name on some pages for a few hours after you make the change. This delay happens because YouTube has many servers in different locations, and they do not all update at the same moment.

Search results, recommendations, and other users' subscriptions lists may show your old name for up to 24 hours in rare cases, though most of the time the change spreads within a few hours. If you see your old name still showing somewhere after a day, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If the old name persists after 24 hours, contact YouTube Support through your account settings.

What does not change when you rename your channel

Changing your channel name does not affect any of your channel's data or history. Your subscriber count stays exactly the same. All your uploaded videos remain on your channel with the same view counts and comments. Your playlists, watch history, and liked videos are unaffected. Any custom URL you created for your channel (the vanity link that looks like youtube.com/@yourname) stays the same even if you change your channel name.

People who subscribed to your channel before the name change will still be subscribed after. They will see your new name the next time they visit your channel or their subscription feed. If you have linked your YouTube channel to other platforms or websites, those links continue to work because they point to your channel ID, not your channel name.

Changing your channel name on mobile devices

The process on a phone or tablet is nearly identical to the desktop version. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Manage your channel or your channel name. Tap the Settings icon (usually a gear symbol). Tap Basic info. Find your channel name field and tap the pencil icon to edit it. Type your new name and tap Save.

Some older versions of the YouTube app may have slightly different menu layouts, but the basic steps remain the same. If you cannot find the settings option in your app, update YouTube to the latest version from your device's app store. The web version (youtube.com) on a mobile browser works exactly like the desktop version and may be easier to use if the app is giving you trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. There is no limit on how many times you can change your channel name. You can change it back to your old name, or to any other name you want, whenever you choose. straightforward follow the same steps: go to Settings, click Basic info, click the pencil icon, type the name you want, and save.

Will changing my channel name affect my custom URL?

No. Your custom URL (the vanity link like youtube.com/@yourname) stays the same even after you change your channel name. The URL is tied to your channel ID, not your channel name. If you want to change your custom URL itself, that is a separate process in your channel settings.

What happens to my subscribers when I change my channel name?

Your subscribers stay subscribed and their subscription does not change. They will see your new channel name the next time they visit your channel or check their subscription feed. The change does not unsubscribe anyone or require them to resubscribe.

How long does it take for my new channel name to show up in search results?

Most of the time, your new name appears in search results within a few hours. In rare cases, it may take up to 24 hours for all of YouTube's systems to update. If your old name is still showing in search results after a full day, try refreshing your browser or clearing your cache.

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

You can use most punctuation marks and numbers in your channel name, but YouTube does not allow emojis. Your channel name can be up to 30 characters long. If you try to use a character YouTube does not allow, the save button will not work and you will see an error message telling you which characters are not permitted.