To change your YouTube handle, sign in to YouTube Studio, go to Customization, then Profile, and edit the Handle field, then click Publish. You can only change it twice in 14 days, and YouTube holds your old handle for 14 days, after which anyone can claim it.
Your YouTube handle is the @name people use to find and mention you, and it doubles as your channel's web address. Changing it takes a minute in YouTube Studio. The part to think about first is what happens to the old one: after 14 days it's released, and someone else can take it. Here's how to change it, the naming rules, and how to avoid losing links you've shared.
Steps to change your YouTube handle
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select Customization, then Profile.
- Under Handle, type your new handle.
- Click Publish to confirm.
YouTube also lets you view and edit your handle at youtube.com/handle, which is handy on a phone. If your first choice is taken, YouTube suggests adding periods, numbers or underscores.
The 14-day rule
This is the insight that saves people from an painful mistake. YouTube says you can change your handle twice within a 14-day period. When you do, it holds your previous handle for 14 days in case you want to switch back, and during that time both your old and new handle URLs work. After that, the old handle becomes available for anyone to select.
| Time since the change | Old handle URL | Can someone else take it? |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 to 14 | Still works | No, YouTube holds it for you |
| After 14 days | Stops pointing to you | Yes, it's released |
So if you've printed your old @name on business cards, linked it from your website or used it in other social bios, update them inside those 14 days. Otherwise visitors may land on a stranger's channel later.
Handle naming rules
- Between 3 and 30 characters for most languages, with different limits for some scripts.
- Letters or numbers from one of 75 supported languages.
- Not case-sensitive, so @MyBrand and @mybrand are the same handle.
- Underscores, hyphens, periods and Latin middle dots are allowed, but not at the start or end.
- It can't look like a web address or a phone number.
- It can't already be in use, and it must follow YouTube's Community Guidelines.
YouTube also says it doesn't allow handles to be sold or transferred, and it can change, reclaim or remove a handle at any time. If a handle breaks the Community Guidelines, YouTube revokes it and generates a new one for the channel.
Handle versus channel name
They're separate. Your channel name is the display name at the top of your channel, and it can include spaces and more natural wording. Your handle is the unique @name used in comments, mentions, live chat and Shorts, and it becomes your URL, such as youtube.com/@yourhandle. You can change either without changing the other.
Where your handle shows up
YouTube says you'll see handles in comments, mentions, live chat and Shorts, and that viewers can search for a channel by typing @ followed by the handle. Each channel can only have one. If you had an older custom URL before handles existed, YouTube says those legacy personalised URLs keep working, so changing your handle won't break them.
Choosing a handle you won't need to change again
- Match your brand or name as closely as the rules allow, and use the same one across other platforms if you can.
- Avoid dates, numbers that look random, or anything tied to one campaign.
- If you use non-Latin characters, YouTube warns that some people may struggle to type it and some outside apps may not display the link correctly.
- Say it out loud. If you'd have to spell it for someone on the phone, it's too complicated.
If YouTube gave you a random handle when you created the channel, which it may do based on your channel name, it's worth fixing early before people start sharing it.
A checklist for the day you change it
- Change the handle in YouTube Studio and publish it.
- Update your website, email signature and link-in-bio page.
- Update your other social profiles that mention your YouTube @name.
- Edit video descriptions or pinned comments that tell people to tag your old handle.
- Tell regular collaborators, so their mentions and tags reach you.
- Set a reminder for the last few days of the 14-day hold to check nothing important still uses the old handle.
Most people only remember the first step. The rest is what keeps your audience from hitting a dead end once the old name is released.
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Can you hide your handle?
Not on its own. YouTube's only route is to hide or delete the channel itself. Every channel has a handle, so there's no setting to switch it off while keeping the channel public.
While you're tidying your channel, my guide to seeing who subscribed to your YouTube channel helps you check who'll notice the change, and if a new upload is stuck while you're at it, see YouTube upload stuck.
My verdict
Change your handle in YouTube Studio under Customization, then Profile, and publish it. Then spend the next 14 days updating every link and bio that uses the old one, because after that it's up for grabs. Pick something short and close to your brand, and you won't need to touch it again.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my YouTube handle?
In YouTube Studio, go to Customization, then Profile, edit the Handle field and click Publish.
How many times can I change my YouTube handle?
Twice within a 14-day period.
What happens to my old YouTube handle?
YouTube holds it for 14 days and both URLs work. After that, anyone can take it.
Is a YouTube handle the same as a channel name?
No. The handle is your unique @name and URL; the channel name is your display name.
Can I hide my YouTube handle?
Only by hiding or deleting your channel. Every channel has a handle.
