Change Your Username Through Account Settings

You change your Twitch username by going to your account settings, finding the Username field, and entering a new name. The process takes about two minutes and you can do it from any device with a web browser. Twitch lets you change your username once every 60 days, so choose carefully — your old name becomes available for someone else to claim after you switch.

The username you pick must be between 4 and 25 characters long, use only letters, numbers, and underscores, and cannot start with a number. Twitch checks in real time whether the name is taken, so you will know when ready if someone else has it.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into Twitch on a web browser, click your profile icon in the top right, and select Settings to reach the username field.
  • Your new username must be 4 to 25 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and cannot start with a number.
  • Twitch enforces a 60-day waiting period between username changes, so you cannot switch back when ready if you change your mind.
  • Your old username becomes available for other users to claim as soon as you change it, so do not expect to reclaim it later.
  • Changing your username does not affect your channel URL, followers, or stream history — those stay tied to your account.

Step-by-Step: Changing Your Username

Step 1: Log in and open Settings. Go to twitch.tv in your web browser and log into your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner — it shows your current profile picture or a generic avatar. A dropdown menu appears. Click Settings near the bottom of that menu.

Step 2: Find the Username field. You land on the Account page by default. Look for the Username field near the top of the page. It shows your current username in a text box. Do not confuse this with your Display Name, which appears below it — the Display Name is what viewers see in chat, while the Username is your account identifier and channel URL.

Step 3: Enter your new username. Click inside the Username field and clear the old name. Type your new username. As you type, Twitch checks whether the name is available and shows a green checkmark if it is free or a red X if someone has already taken it. You cannot proceed if the name is taken.

Step 4: Save the change. Once you have entered a valid, available username, a Change Username button appears below the field. Click it. Twitch asks you to confirm — click Yes, change my username in the popup that appears.

Step 5: Wait for confirmation. The change takes effect when ready. Your old username is now available for others to claim. Twitch shows you a confirmation message on the screen. You cannot change your username again for 60 days from this moment.

What Stays the Same When You Change Your Username

Your channel URL, follower count, stream history, and all your content remain attached to your account. Viewers who bookmarked your old channel URL will be redirected to your new one automatically. Your followers do not disappear, and people who subscribed to you keep their subscriptions.

Chat messages you sent before the change still show your old username in the message history, but your profile and all future messages display your new name. Moderators and bots that reference your old username by name may need to be updated manually by whoever set them up, but Twitch itself handles the transition seamlessly.

The 60-Day Waiting Period Explained

After you change your username, you must wait 60 days before changing it again. This timer starts the moment you confirm the change, not when you first enter the new name. If you change your username on January 15, you cannot change it again until March 16 at the earliest.

The 60-day rule exists to prevent account takeover fraud and to keep usernames stable so followers can find you. It also prevents rapid cycling through usernames to confuse viewers or evade moderation. If you realize you made a mistake, you have to wait the full 60 days before you can switch to something else.

Usernames You Cannot Use

Twitch blocks certain usernames for legal or safety reasons. You cannot use a username that impersonates a real person, a celebrity, or a major brand — Twitch will reject it even if the name is technically available. Usernames containing slurs, hate speech, or explicit sexual content are also blocked.

If you try to use a blocked name, Twitch shows an error message explaining that the username violates their terms of service. You will need to choose a different name. If you believe your username was wrongly blocked, you can contact Twitch Support through the Help Center, though they rarely overturn these decisions.

Changing Your Display Name Instead

If you want to change what viewers see in chat without waiting 60 days, change your Display Name instead. This is a separate field in the same Settings page, just below the Username field. Your Display Name can be different from your username and can be changed as often as you want.

The Display Name is what appears next to your messages in chat and on your profile page. Your username, however, is your account identifier and your channel URL — it is what people type to find you. Most streamers keep these the same for clarity, but Twitch allows them to differ. If you change only your Display Name, your channel URL and username stay exactly the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username on mobile?

You can view your username on the Twitch mobile app, but you cannot change it there. Open a web browser on your phone, go to twitch.tv, log in, and follow the same steps as on a computer. The Settings page works the same way on mobile browsers.

What happens to my channel URL when I change my username?

Your channel URL changes to match your new username. If your old URL was twitch.tv/oldname, it becomes twitch.tv/newname. Twitch automatically redirects the old URL to the new one, so bookmarks and shared links still work. Followers are not affected.

Can I get my old username back after 60 days?

No. Once you change your username, it becomes available for anyone else to claim when ready. Even after 60 days, you cannot reclaim it if someone else has taken it. If you want to switch back and the name is still free, you can change to it, but you will have to wait another 60 days before changing again.

Do my followers get notified when I change my username?

Twitch does not send a notification to your followers when you change your username. However, your followers will see the new name the next time they visit your channel or see you in chat. If you have a large audience, consider announcing the change in your next stream or on social media so people know it is still you.

Why does Twitch make me wait 60 days between changes?

The 60-day waiting period prevents account takeover fraud and keeps usernames stable so followers can find you reliably. It also stops rapid username cycling used to evade moderation or confuse viewers. The rule applies to all accounts equally, and Twitch does not make exceptions.