# Change YouTube channel name: how to rename your channel

For a long time, changing your name on YouTube automatically affected your Google account. Until recently, if you changed your YouTube channel name, your associated Google account was automatically renamed as well. As of 2021, YouTube users can **easily** rename their YouTube channel without the change affecting their Google account.

Tip YouTube channels age too! Spicing up your channel with a new name can be beneficial for improving your YouTube SEO ranking.

In this **guide**, we’ll show you how the process works in **browsers** and via the **app**.

## How to rename your YouTube channel – quick guide

### Via the browser

1. Sign into the [YouTube website](https://www.youtube.com/ "YouTube website") with your **user data**.
2. Go to your profile picture and select “**Your channel**”.
3. Click “**Customize channel**”.
4. Click on the tab “**Basic info”.**
5. Change your YouTube username (or channel name) using the **pencil icon** to the right of the name.
6. Optionally, modify the “**Description**” for your channel.
7. Click “**Publish**” to apply the changes.

### Via the YouTube app

1. Open the YouTube app and tap your **profile picture**.
2. Click on **“Your channel”**.
3. Select “**Customize channel”**.
4. Rename your YouTube channel and – if desired – your channel description.

## Change the channel name on YouTube: step by step

Follow our step-by-step guide to change your YouTube account name (or the name of your channel). Whether you’re using a browser (desktop) or the YouTube app, swapping your name takes just a few steps.

Note Do you also use [YouTube alternatives](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/online-marketing/social-media/youtube-alternatives-an-overview-of-the-best-portals/ "YouTube alternatives: an overview of the best portals") like Twitch, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and TikTok? Don’t forget to **match channel names**.

### How to change your YouTube name in a browser

#### Step 1: Sign into YouTube

Sign into [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/ "YouTube website") with your **account information**.

[![Image: YouTube website: Sign in button](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/b/csm_youtube-website-sign-in-button-change-youtube-name_ea7d243d7d.webp "YouTube website: Sign in button")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-website-sign-in-button-change-youtube-name.png) YouTube website: Sign in button #### Step 2: Access the “My Channel” menu item

Go to your profile picture and click “**Your channel**” in the menu.

[![Image: “Your channel” in YouTube profile menu](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/5/csm_your-channel-in-youtube-profile-menu_20c67a78c5.webp "“Your channel” in YouTube profile menu")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/your-channel-in-youtube-profile-menu.png) “Your channel” in YouTube profile menu #### Step 3: Select “Customize Channel”

Once logged into your YouTube channel, press the “**Customize Channel**” button.

[![Image: “Customize Channel” button in YouTube channel menu](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/f/csm_customize-channel-button-in-youtube-channel-menu_0d9cb863b6.webp "“Customize Channel” button in YouTube channel menu")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/customize-channel-button-in-youtube-channel-menu.png) “Customize Channel” button in YouTube channel menu #### Step 4: Open “Basic info” tab

In the “Customize channel” menu, you have, among other things, the option to edit the design of your channel. The “**Layout**” and “**Branding**” sections are available for this purpose. To change the channel description and YouTube channel name, click on the third tab “**Basic info**”.

[![Image: YouTube Channel Customization: “Basic info” tab](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/c/7/csm_youtube-channel-customization-basic-info-tab_b8c2a1ded4.webp "YouTube Channel Customization: “Basic info” tab")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-channel-customization-basic-info-tab.png) YouTube Channel Customization: “Basic info” tab #### Step 5: Rename YouTube channel

Click the **pencil icon** next to the YouTube channel name and description in order to customize your YouTube account name.

[![Image: YouTube channel: name change](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/d/csm_youtube-channel-name-change_bf7b1a10d0.webp "YouTube channel: name change")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-channel-name-change.png) YouTube channel: name change  Note Want to change more than just your YouTube username and start over? Google lets you [delete your YouTube channel altogether](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/online-marketing/social-media/youtube-kanal-loeschen/ "How to delete a YouTube channel").

#### Step 6: Change channel description

If you want to update the channel description, simply adjust the contents in the “**Description**” field.

[![Image: YouTube channel description in the “Description” field](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/b/csm_youtube-channel-description-in-the-description-field_3cce94a7ee.webp "YouTube channel description in the “Description” field")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-channel-description-in-the-description-field.png) YouTube channel description in the “Description” field #### Step 7: Apply changes

To confirm changes to the YouTube channel name and description, click the “**Publish**” button to finish.

[![Image: “Publish” button in YouTube channel customization](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/e/csm_publish-button-in-youtube-channel-customization_bbb01c61ba.webp "“Publish” button in YouTube channel customization")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/publish-button-in-youtube-channel-customization.png) “Publish” button in YouTube channel customization  Tip Get your [personalized email address](https://www.ionos.com/office-solutions/create-an-email-address "Personalized email address from IONOS") from IONOS – inclusive of your desired domain and customer support!

### How to change your YouTube channel name in the app

#### Step 1: Tap profile picture

Launch the YouTube app and **tap on your profile picture**.

[![Image: YouTube app: profile icon in menu](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/d/csm_youtube-app-profile-icon-in-menu_d501ad30c1.webp "YouTube app: profile icon in menu")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-app-profile-icon-in-menu.png) YouTube app: profile icon in menu #### Step 2: Access “Your channel” menu

Select the “**Your channel**” entry to open the menu for customizing your YouTube channel.

[![Image: YouTube app: “Your channel” menu entry](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/4/csm_youtube-app-your-channel-menu-entry_bb0da455b8.webp "YouTube app: “Your channel” menu entry")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-app-your-channel-menu-entry.png) YouTube app: “Your channel” menu entry #### Step 3: Press “Edit Channel” button

In the “Your Channel” menu, tap “**Edit Channel**”.

[![Image: YouTube app: “Edit channel” button](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/1/9/csm_youtube-app-edit-channel-button_e73ae4cc66.webp "YouTube app: “Edit channel” button")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-app-edit-channel-button.png) YouTube app: “Edit channel” button #### Step 4: Customize YouTube name and channel description

Now change your **YouTube name** and optionally the **channel description**.

[![Image: YouTube app: change channel name and description](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/7/f/csm_youtube-app-change-channel-name-and-description_9dcc697a1a.webp "YouTube app: change channel name and description")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/youtube-app-change-channel-name-and-description.png) YouTube app: change channel name and description  Tip [Create your professional website](https://www.ionos.com/websites/launch-your-website "Create a website with IONOS") with IONOS and connect your YouTube channel directly to your personal domain.

## What verified YouTube channels need to consider

Users whose YouTube channels have gathered more than 100,000 subscribers can receive a so-called **channel confirmation in the form of a verification hook** to enhance their YouTube brand. These users should carefully consider a name change because the verification is lost when the YouTube channel name is changed and must be applied for again.

Tip Use [timestamped YouTube links](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/creating-a-youtube-timestamp-link/ "Creating a YouTube timestamp link") if you want to share select highlights from your videos.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/online-marketing/social-media/youtube-channel-name-change/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/online-marketing/social-media/youtube-channel-name-change/) for AI/LLM consumption.