How to Change YouTube Handle: Easiest Way!

In today’s digital age, online presence has become an essential aspect of our daily lives. One platform that has gained immense popularity is YouTube, a video-sharing platform with over two billion monthly active users.

For content creators, having a recognizable YouTube handle is critical in building a strong online brand. However, sometimes, a user might want to change their YouTube handle due to various reasons, such as rebranding or personal preference.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing your YouTube handle and provide helpful tips to ensure a seamless transition.

Table of Contents

What Is a YouTube Handle and Why It Needs to be Changed?

A YouTube handle, also known as a YouTube username, is a unique identifier that is used to represent your channel on YouTube. It is the name that appears on your channel page and in the URL of your channel.

There are several reasons why you might want to change your YouTube handle. For example:

Rebranding: If you have changed the focus or name of your channel, you may want to change your handle to reflect this.

Personalization: You may want a handle that better represents your personality or the type of content you create.

Consistency: If you have multiple social media accounts or a website, you may want to use the same handle across all platforms for consistency.

Privacy: If your current handle includes personal information, you may want to change it for privacy reasons.

Accessibility: Your current handle may be difficult to spell or remember, so you may want to change it to make it easier for viewers to find and remember.

Pros and Cons for Changing a YouTube Handle

Pros	Cons
Allows for a fresh start and rebranding	May confuse or alienate current subscribers
May attract new subscribers with a more catchy or relevant handle	May lose search engine ranking and visibility for old handle
Can reflect a change in content or niche	Requires updating all social media and online profiles that use the old handle
Can improve professionalism or personal branding	May take time for new handle to gain recognition and authority
Can make the channel easier to remember and share	Can be difficult to find an available and appropriate handle
Can remove a problematic or offensive handle	Can be a hassle to update all custom URLs, email addresses, and branding materials
Can align with a new business or personal name	Can cause temporary confusion among viewers and collaborators
Can prevent impersonation or identity theft	Can cause a loss of community and familiarity with the old handle
Can create a better online persona or image	Can lead to negative feedback or criticism from current subscribers
Can allow for better SEO and discoverability	Can lead to lost revenue and opportunities if not executed properly

These are just a few examples, and the decision to change a YouTube handle should be carefully considered and weighed against the potential benefits and drawbacks.

Tips for Changing Youtube Handle

If you are looking to change your YouTube handle, here are some tips to help you through the process:

Decide on a new handle: Choose a new handle that accurately represents your brand or content. Make sure it’s easy to remember and spell.

Check availability: Before you commit to a new handle, make sure it’s available. Check to see if someone else is already using it by searching on YouTube, Google, and other social media platforms.

Update your Google account: Your YouTube handle is connected to your Google account. So, to change your YouTube handle, you need to update your Google account name.

Go to YouTube Studio: Once you have updated your Google account name, go to YouTube Studio and click on “Customization” in the left-hand menu.

Click on “Basic Info”: From the Customization menu, click on “Basic Info.” Here you will see your current channel name and can change it to your new handle.

Confirm the change: Once you have entered your new handle, YouTube will show you a preview of how it will appear. If you are happy with the new name, click “Publish” to confirm the change.

Update your social media profiles: Once you have changed your YouTube handle, make sure to update your social media profiles and website to reflect the new name.

Remember, changing your YouTube handle will also change your channel URL, so be sure to update any links or embeds you have shared. Additionally, it’s a good idea to inform your audience of the change in your videos and on your social media channels.

How to Change Youtube Handle

Here are the steps to change your YouTube handle:

Step 1: Log in to your YouTube account.

Step 2: Click on the profile picture icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Click on “Settings” in the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Click on “Edit on Google” next to your channel name.

Step 5: Click on “Edit” next to your current channel name.

Step 6: Enter your desired new channel name in the provided field.

Step 7: Click on “OK” to save your new channel name.

Voila! You have successfully been able to change your YouTube Handle.

Disclaimer: You can only change your YouTube handle three times in 90 days, so choose your new name carefully. Also, keep in mind that changing your YouTube handle will not change the URL of your channel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, changing your YouTube handle is a simple process that can significantly impact your online presence. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily change your handle and maintain your audience’s familiarity with your content.

Remember to choose a unique and recognizable name that aligns with your brand or personal identity. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out new names until you find the perfect fit for you.