Yes, you can change your Twitch username, but only once every 60 days

Twitch allows you to change the username associated with your account once per 60-day period. When you change it, your channel URL changes too — so anyone with a bookmark or link to your old channel will land on a 404 page. Your stream history, followers, and channel settings stay with your account, but the old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short window.

The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to wait for approval or restart your stream. If you are live when you change your username, viewers will see the new name right away in chat and on the channel page.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 60 days through your account settings, and the change is when ready.
  • Your channel URL, display name in chat, and all public-facing references update to the new username when ready.
  • Your followers, stream history, and channel settings stay attached to your account — they do not disappear.
  • The old username becomes available for others to claim after a few hours, so do not expect to reclaim it later.
  • Changing your username does not affect your Twitch Partner status, monetization, or any active subscriptions from your followers.

Where to change your username in Twitch settings

Log into your Twitch account and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Select Account from the left menu. Under the Username section, you will see your current username and a button labeled Change Username.

Click that button and type your new username. Twitch will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or if it violates their username policy. Usernames can be 4 to 25 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores — no spaces or special characters. Once you confirm, the change is final.

If you have changed your username in the past 60 days, the button will show a countdown timer telling you when you can change again. You cannot bypass this timer — it is a hard limit on the account.

What happens to your channel and followers after the change

Your followers stay followers. They do not unfollow you, and you do not lose any subscriber revenue. Twitch ties followers to your account ID, not your username, so the change is invisible to them on the backend. However, if they have bookmarked your old channel URL or shared it with others, that link will not work anymore.

Your stream history, clips, and VODs all stay on your channel under the new username. Anyone who searches for your old username will not find your channel — the old name becomes available for someone else to register. If you want to keep people from finding your old username, you might consider reserving it on other platforms or telling your community about the change before you make it.

If you are a Twitch Partner or have active sponsorships, those agreements stay in place. The change does not affect your Partner status, revenue share, or any contracts tied to your account.

Why you might want to change your username

Common reasons include outgrowing a username you chose years ago, correcting a misspelling, or moving away from a name that no longer fits your brand. Some streamers change usernames when they shift their content focus — for example, moving from casual gaming to speedrunning or educational streams.

The 60-day cooldown exists to prevent abuse and to keep usernames from cycling too quickly. It also gives you time to update your links, social media bios, and community before changing again.

How to tell your community about the change

If you have an active audience, announce the change before you make it. Post in your Discord server, on your social media, or in your channel panels so people know what is happening. Include your new username and explain why you changed it — this prevents confusion and keeps people from thinking your account was hacked.

Update your links everywhere: your Twitter bio, YouTube channel description, Discord server, website, or any other place where you have posted your Twitch URL. Search engines will eventually update their index, but it can take weeks. Direct links from your own platforms speed up the transition.

What you cannot change about your account

Your display name is separate from your username. The display name is what appears in chat and on your channel page, and you can change it as often as you want without any cooldown. If you want a different look in chat but do not want to change your actual username and channel URL, changing your display name is the faster option.

You cannot change your email address, account creation date, or account ID. If you need to change your email, go to Settings > Account > Email Address and follow the verification steps. Your account ID never changes and is what Twitch uses internally to track your channel, followers, and revenue.

If you regret the change or want to switch back

You cannot undo a username change, but you can change it again after 60 days have passed. If you changed your username and want to go back to the old one, you will have to wait for the cooldown to expire, then check whether someone else has claimed the old username in the meantime. If they have, the old name is no longer available.

For this reason, if you are uncertain about a new username, test it out on other platforms first or ask your community for feedback before you commit. Once the change is live, the old username is at risk of being taken by someone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my username affect my Twitch Partner status or payouts?

No. Your Partner status, monetization settings, and all revenue agreements stay attached to your account. Twitch tracks these by account ID, not username. Your next payout goes to the same bank account or payment method you have on file.

Can I change my username more than once every 60 days?

No. Twitch enforces a strict 60-day cooldown between username changes. You cannot pay to bypass it or request an exception. The timer resets each time you change your username, so if you change it today, you cannot change it again for 60 days.

What happens to my old username after I change it?

The old username becomes available for someone else to register after a few hours. If you want to prevent someone from claiming it, you would need to register it on other platforms or ask a trusted friend to hold it, but Twitch itself does not reserve old usernames for you.

Will my followers see my old username in their follow list?

No. Your followers' lists update automatically to show your new username. They will not see the old name anywhere in their Twitch account or follow history.

Can I change my display name without changing my username?

Yes. Your display name and username are separate. You can change your display name as often as you want in Settings > Account > Display Name without affecting your channel URL or hitting any cooldown.