The quickest way to change your channel name
You can change your YouTube channel name directly from your account settings without needing to create a new channel or lose your subscribers. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use a computer or phone.
Go to YouTube.com and sign in to the account that owns the channel. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Create a channel or Manage your channel depending on what appears. From there, click Settings on the left side, then Basic info. You'll see a field labeled Channel name — that's where you type your new name. Click Publish to save the change.
Your new name appears across YouTube within minutes: on your channel page, next to your comments, on your uploads, and in search results. Subscribers stay subscribed, your video history doesn't change, and your channel URL stays the same (unless you have a custom URL, which is a separate setting).
Key Takeaways
- You change your channel name in Settings under Basic info, not by creating a new channel.
- The change takes effect within minutes across all of YouTube.
- Your subscribers, videos, and watch history all stay attached to your channel.
- You can change your name as many times as you want, though YouTube may limit how often you do it in a short period.
- Your custom URL (if you have one) does not change when you change your channel name.
Where to find the channel name setting on desktop
On a computer, start by signing into the YouTube account that owns the channel you want to rename. Click the circular profile picture in the top right corner of any YouTube page — it's next to the upload button and the bell icon.
A dropdown menu appears. Look for the option that says Create a channel if you're setting up a channel for the first time, or Manage your channel if the channel already exists. Click whichever one appears. This takes you to your channel's main page.
On the left side of the screen, you'll see a menu with options like Home, Videos, Playlists, and Settings. Click Settings. Then click the Basic info tab at the top. The Channel name field is the first text box you see. Type your new name there, then click the blue Publish button below it.
How to change your name on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Create a channel or Manage your channel from the menu that appears.
Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top left, then scroll down and tap Settings. Tap Channel, then Basic info. The Channel name field is at the top. Type your new name and tap Save.
If you're using a mobile browser instead of the app, the steps are the same as the desktop version — the mobile browser shows the same settings page as a computer does.
What happens to your old channel name
Your old name disappears from public view when ready. No one can search for your channel by the old name, and it won't appear next to your videos or comments anymore. However, if someone had bookmarked your channel page or saved a link to it, that link still works — YouTube redirects them to your channel under the new name.
Your channel URL (the web address) does not change when you change your channel name, unless you have a custom URL. If you set up a custom URL like youtube.com/c/yourname, that stays the same even if you change your channel name. The custom URL is a separate setting in the same Basic info section.
Limits on how often you can change your name
YouTube does not publish a specific rule about how many times you can change your channel name, but the platform does monitor for abuse. If you change your name very frequently — several times in a single day or week — YouTube may temporarily prevent you from making more changes.
In practice, most people can change their name once or twice a month without running into restrictions. If you find yourself locked out of the name-change feature, wait a few days and try again. If the restriction persists, you can contact YouTube Support through the Help Center, though response times vary.
Reasons your channel name change might not work
If you click Publish and nothing happens, or you see an error message, check that you're signed into the correct account. Some people manage multiple YouTube channels and accidentally try to change the wrong one. Make sure the profile picture in the top right matches the account you intend to edit.
If the name field won't let you type, or if Publish is grayed out, your browser may need to refresh. Close the Settings tab and go back to Settings again. If you're on a phone, try closing the YouTube app completely and opening it again.
YouTube also blocks certain names that violate its policies — for example, names that impersonate someone else, contain hate speech, or are designed to mislead viewers. If you see a message saying your chosen name isn't allowed, pick a different one.
The difference between channel name and custom URL
Your channel name is the display name people see next to your videos and comments. Your custom URL is the web address people use to find your channel — for example, youtube.com/c/yourname or youtube.com/@yourname.
You can change your channel name as many times as you want (within reason). A custom URL is harder to change: you can only set one if your channel has at least 100 subscribers and is at least 30 days old, and YouTube limits how often you can change it. Most people don't need to worry about the custom URL unless they're trying to build a specific web address for their channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my subscribers see my old channel name?
No. Your subscribers see your new name everywhere — on your channel page, next to your videos, and in their subscription list. The old name is completely replaced. They don't receive a notification that you changed it, but if they visit your channel, they'll see the new name when ready.
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 name you used in the past. There's no restriction on reusing old names. Just go back to Settings, Basic info, and type the name you want.
Does changing my channel name affect my videos or watch history?
No. Your videos stay on your channel with all their views, likes, and comments intact. Your watch history, playlists, and subscriptions don't change. The only thing that changes is what name appears next to those things.
What if I have a custom URL — does it change too?
No. Your custom URL stays the same when you change your channel name. If your custom URL is youtube.com/c/oldname and you change your channel name to newname, the URL remains youtube.com/c/oldname. You would need to change the custom URL separately if you want it to match your new channel name, but YouTube may not allow that depending on availability and your account history.
Can I change my channel name if I have a brand account?
Yes. The process is the same. A brand account is just a YouTube account managed by multiple people, but the Settings and Basic info section work the same way. Whoever has access to the brand account can change the channel name from there.