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

Twitch allows you to change the username on your account, but the platform enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes. This means if you changed your username last month, you cannot change it again for another month or so. The change takes effect when ready once you submit it, and your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short delay.

The change is permanent in the sense that Twitch does not let you revert to a previous username yourself. If you change from "StreamerJoe" to "StreamerJoe2" and then want "StreamerJoe" back, you would have to wait for that name to cycle through the system and hope no one else claims it first. For this reason, most people think carefully before changing.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Twitch username once every 60 days through your account settings, and the change takes effect right away.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to claim after a brief period, so you cannot straightforward swap back and forth between names.
  • Changing your username does not affect your channel, followers, or stream history — those stay attached to your account.
  • If you are banned from Twitch, you cannot change your username, and some usernames are blocked from use even if they appear unclaimed.

Where to find the username change option

Log into your Twitch account and go to your account settings. On the left side, click "Account" and then look for the section labeled "Username." You will see your current username displayed, and next to it a button that says "Change." Click that button.

Twitch will show you a text box where you type your new username. The platform checks in real time whether the name is available — if it is taken or reserved, you will see a red message saying so. Once you type a name that is available, the "Change" button at the bottom of the box becomes clickable. Click it, and your username changes when ready.

What stays the same after you change your username

Your channel, all your followers, your subscriber list, your stream history, and your account creation date all remain exactly as they were. Viewers who follow you do not get unfollowed. Your emotes, channel points, and any badges you have earned stay on your account. From the perspective of your channel, nothing breaks.

However, any links or bookmarks that included your old username will no longer work. If someone bookmarked your channel as twitch.tv/StreamerJoe and you change to StreamerJoe2, that old link will lead to a "page not found" error. You may want to let your community know about the change through your social media or Discord so people can find you at your new URL.

Restrictions on what you can change your username to

Twitch has rules about which usernames are allowed. You cannot use spaces, and the name must be between 4 and 25 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, and underscores. Usernames are not case-sensitive on Twitch — "StreamerJoe" and "streamerjoe" are treated as the same account.

Some words are blocked even if they appear to be unclaimed. Twitch reserves certain usernames for internal use or to prevent impersonation of major brands and public figures. If you try to change to a name and get an error saying it is unavailable, it may be reserved rather than taken by another user. In that case, you will need to choose a different name.

The 60-day waiting period and how it works

After you change your username, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. Twitch counts this from the date you made the change, not from the calendar month. If you change your username on March 15, you cannot change it again until May 14.

This rule exists to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames to confuse viewers or evade moderation. If you try to change your username before the 60 days are up, Twitch will show you a message telling you when you will be able to change it next. There is no way to bypass this waiting period.

What happens to your old username

When you change your username, your old one does not disappear when ready. Twitch holds it for a period of time — typically a few weeks — before releasing it back into the pool of available names. During this holding period, no one else can claim it, and you cannot reclaim it yourself.

Once the holding period ends, your old username becomes available for anyone to register. If you change from "StreamerJoe" to "StreamerJoe2" and later want "StreamerJoe" back, you would have to wait for the holding period to end and then hope that no one else has claimed it. There is no priority system that gives you first dibs on your old name.

If you are banned or suspended

If your Twitch account is suspended or permanently banned, you cannot change your username while the suspension or ban is active. You also cannot change your username if your account is flagged for violating Twitch's terms of service. Twitch locks the username change feature until the account issue is resolved.

If you believe your account was suspended in error, you can contact Twitch support through their help center. Explain your situation and ask them to review the suspension. If they lift it, you will then be able to change your username if you wish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my followers see my old username anywhere after I change it?

No. Your followers will see your new username everywhere — in their follow list, in chat, on your channel page. Twitch updates the name across the entire platform when ready. However, any clips, VODs, or screenshots from before the change will still show your old username in the video or image itself, since those are recorded content.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Not directly. You would have to wait for the holding period on your old username to end (usually a few weeks), then hope no one else has claimed it. If someone else takes it first, it is gone. For this reason, think carefully before changing — you may not be able to get your old name back.

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

No. Your Partner status, affiliate status, subscriptions, and all monetization features stay active and attached to your account. The change is purely cosmetic from Twitch's backend perspective.

What if the username I want is taken but the account looks inactive?

Twitch does not have a "reclaim inactive usernames" policy. If someone else owns the name, even if they have not streamed in years, you cannot take it. Your only option is to choose a different name or wait to see if that person eventually deletes their account (which would release the username).

Can I change my username on mobile?

Yes. Open the Twitch app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, go to Settings, then Account, then Username. The process is the same as on desktop. You can also change it through the Twitch website on a mobile browser.