Change your channel name from YouTube Studio

You can change your YouTube channel name directly through YouTube Studio, the creator dashboard where you manage your channel. The process takes about two minutes and doesn't require you to change your Google Account name — your YouTube channel name can be completely separate.

Sign in to YouTube, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Create a channel or Manage your channels depending on whether you already have a channel. If you're managing an existing channel, click Settings in the left menu, then select Basic info. You'll see your current channel name at the top of the page — click the pencil icon next to it to edit.

Type your new channel name (up to 80 characters), then click Publish. YouTube will ask you to confirm the change. The new name appears immediately on your channel page, in search results, and on any videos you upload going forward.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your channel name in YouTube Studio under Settings > Basic info, not in your Google Account settings.
  • Your YouTube channel name and your Google Account name are separate — changing one does not change the other.
  • The change takes effect immediately across your channel page, search results, and all future uploads.
  • You can change your channel name as many times as you want, though YouTube may limit how often you can do it if you change it repeatedly in a short period.
  • Existing videos, playlists, and subscriber counts stay the same when you change your channel name.

What happens to your videos and subscribers when you change your name

Your videos, playlists, upload history, and subscriber count do not change when you rename your channel. Subscribers will see the new name the next time they visit your channel or see a notification from you. Search results will update to show your new channel name within a few hours.

If you have a custom URL (like youtube.com/@yourname), that URL stays the same even if you change your channel name. The custom URL is separate from your display name and doesn't update automatically. If you want your custom URL to match your new channel name, you'll need to change it separately in the same Basic info section.

Changing your channel name on mobile

You can change your channel name on a phone or tablet using the YouTube app, though the steps are slightly different. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, and select Create a channel or go to your channel. Tap the profile icon again, then tap Settings.

Tap Channel, then Edit channel info. You'll see your channel name at the top — tap it to edit. Type your new name and tap the checkmark to save. The change appears immediately across the app and on the web version of YouTube.

When YouTube limits how often you can change your name

YouTube doesn't publish exact limits, but the platform may prevent you from changing your channel name more than once every 90 days if you change it repeatedly. This is a spam prevention measure. If you try to change your name and see a message saying you've changed it too recently, wait at least 90 days before trying again.

This limit applies only to how often you can make changes, not to the number of times you can change your name overall. You can have a different channel name every 90 days if you want, but you cannot change it twice in the same week.

Changing your Google Account name versus your channel name

Your Google Account name and your YouTube channel name are two separate things. Changing your YouTube channel name does not change the name associated with your Gmail address, Google Drive, or other Google services. Similarly, changing your Google Account name will not automatically change your YouTube channel name.

If you want both to match, you'll need to change them separately. Change your YouTube channel name in YouTube Studio as described above. To change your Google Account name, go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info in the left menu, then click the pencil icon next to your name.

Renaming a brand account or channel managed by multiple people

If your channel is a brand account (a separate YouTube account not tied to a personal Google Account), you change the name the same way — through YouTube Studio Settings > Basic info. Brand accounts are useful if multiple people manage the channel or if you want to keep your channel separate from your personal Google Account.

If you manage a channel on behalf of someone else through YouTube's channel membership or manager access features, you can change the channel name only if you have owner or manager permissions. The channel owner can grant or revoke these permissions in the channel's Settings > Permissions section.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can change your channel name to any previous name you've used, as long as it's not currently taken by another channel. There's no limit to how many times you can revert to an old name, though YouTube may rate-limit very frequent changes.

Will changing my channel name affect my YouTube earnings or monetization?

No. Your channel's monetization status, ad revenue, and YouTube Partner Program membership remain unchanged when you rename your channel. Your earnings history and payment information stay the same.

What if someone else has already taken the name I want?

YouTube will not let you use a channel name that's already taken. If the name you want is unavailable, try adding a number, location, or descriptor to make it unique — for example, "YourName2024" or "YourNameTV". You can also check if a similar name is available.

Does changing my channel name change my channel URL?

Your channel URL (youtube.com/@yourname) does not change automatically when you rename your channel. The URL is a separate setting. If you want your URL to match your new channel name, you can change it in the same Basic info section, but you can only change your custom URL once every 90 days.

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

YouTube allows most letters, numbers, spaces, and some punctuation in channel names. Emojis are not supported in channel names, though you can use them in your channel description or video titles. If you try to use a character that's not allowed, YouTube will show an error message when you try to publish.