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

Twitch allows you to change the username associated with 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 until 60 days have passed from that change date. The change takes effect when ready once you submit it, and your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period.

The process itself takes less than a minute. You do not need to contact Twitch support or wait for approval — the system processes the change right away. However, there are a few things that happen when you change your username that are worth understanding before you do it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Twitch username once every 60 days through your account settings, with no approval process required.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to claim after a few minutes, so you cannot reserve it by changing back and forth.
  • Followers, subscriptions, and channel history stay with your account — changing your username does not erase your channel or lose your audience.
  • If your username is taken by someone else after you change it, you cannot reclaim it unless Twitch removes the account that claimed it.
  • Channel URLs and links that use your old username will stop working, so you may need to update your social media and website links.

Where to find the username change option

Log into your Twitch account and go to Settings in the top right corner of the page. Click Account in the left sidebar. You will see a field labeled Username with your current name displayed. Click the pencil icon or the Change button next to it to edit.

Type your new username into the field. Twitch will show you when ready whether the name is available — if it is taken, you will see a red message saying so. Available usernames appear with a green checkmark. Once you have chosen an available name, click Confirm or Save to complete the change. That is all there is to it.

What happens to your channel and followers when you change

Your channel, followers, subscriber list, and broadcast history all stay exactly as they are. People who follow you will still see your channel in their list, and your follower count does not reset. Subscribers keep their subscription status, and you continue to receive their subscription payments. Nothing about your channel's history or audience changes.

However, any links that point to your old username will no longer work. If you have your Twitch channel linked on your website, Twitter, YouTube, or Discord, those links will break. You will need to update them to point to your new username. Your new channel URL will be twitch.tv/[yournewusername].

The 60-day waiting period and what it means

After you change your username, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. This timer starts from the moment you make the change, not from when you request it. If you change your username on January 15, you cannot change it again until March 16 at the earliest.

This rule exists to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames to confuse viewers or evade moderation. It also protects your old username from being when ready reclaimed by you — once you change away from a name, it enters a pool that other users can claim. If someone else takes your old username within those first few minutes, you cannot get it back by changing your username again.

What happens to your old username

Your old username becomes available for other Twitch users to claim almost when ready after you change it. There is a brief window — usually a few minutes — before it appears in the pool of available usernames. If you change your mind within that window, you cannot change back to your old name because the system has already released it.

If someone else claims your old username before you realize you made a mistake, you cannot reclaim it. Twitch does not hold old usernames for previous owners. Your only option would be to contact Twitch support and explain the situation, though they rarely reverse username claims unless the new user is using it for impersonation or harassment.

Usernames that cannot be changed

If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot change your username. Twitch locks suspended accounts from making changes until the suspension is lifted. If your account is permanently banned, you will not be able to change anything on it, including your username.

Additionally, if your username violates Twitch's username policy — for example, if it contains hateful language or impersonates a public figure — Twitch may force a username change on you. In those cases, you will be notified and given a important date to choose a new username yourself. If you do not change it by that important date, Twitch will assign you a random username.

Planning your new username before you change

Since you can only change once every 60 days, it makes sense to think through your new username before you submit the change. Consider whether the name is straightforward to spell and remember, whether it matches your brand across other platforms, and whether you are likely to want to change it again soon.

You can check whether a username is available without changing to it — just type it into the username field in your settings and see if Twitch shows the green checkmark. This lets you test several options before you commit to one. Once you confirm the change, you are locked into that username for at least 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if my account is new?

Yes, there is no minimum account age required to change your username. You can change it as soon as you create your account, as long as you have not changed it before. The 60-day waiting period only applies between changes, not before your first change.

Will my old username ever come back to me if I change it?

No. Once you change your username, the old one is released to other users. Twitch does not reserve old usernames for previous owners. If someone else claims it, you cannot get it back unless Twitch removes their account for violating the terms of service.

What if I change my username by mistake?

You cannot when ready change back because your old username is already in the pool for others to claim. You will have to wait 60 days before you can change your username again. If your old username is still available, you can claim it then, but there is no may provide it will be.

Do I lose my channel if I change my username?

No. Your channel, followers, subscribers, and all broadcast history stay with your account. Only the username changes. People who follow you will still see your channel, and all your content remains in place.

What if the username I want is taken?

You cannot claim a username that another active account is using. You will need to choose a different name. If the account using that username is later banned or deleted, the username may become available, but you have no way to know when or if that will happen.