Your username is the name you chose when you created your Twitch account

Your Twitch username is the unique name you picked during sign-up — the one that appears in your channel URL and in chat. It is not your display name, which you can change anytime. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed through Twitch settings, which is why many people need to look it up before they decide whether to request a change.

If you have forgotten your username, you can find it in seconds by logging into your account. The fastest way is to look at your channel URL or check your account settings. Both show your username clearly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Twitch username is the permanent name in your channel URL and is different from your display name, which you can change anytime.
  • You can see your username by logging in and visiting your channel, or by checking your account settings under "Username".
  • Your username appears in your channel URL in the format twitch.tv/yourusername.
  • If you want to change your username, Twitch requires you to contact support because usernames cannot be self-service changed.

Check your channel URL

The simplest way to find your username is to look at your channel page. Log into Twitch, then click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Channel". The URL in your browser address bar will show twitch.tv/yourusername — everything after the final slash is your username.

You can also visit twitch.tv/yourname in your browser and see whether it takes you to your own channel. If it does, that is your username. If it takes you to someone else's channel or shows a "page not found" error, that is not your username.

Look in your account settings

Log into Twitch and click your profile icon in the top right. Select "Settings", then click "Account" in the left menu. Near the top of the page, you will see a field labeled "Username" with your permanent username displayed. This is the authoritative place Twitch shows it.

Your display name appears on the same page but in a different field. Display names can be changed anytime and may include spaces or special characters. Your username cannot, which is why it looks different if you have customized your display name.

Understand the difference between username and display name

Many people confuse these two because Twitch shows your display name more prominently in chat and on your channel page. Your display name is what viewers see next to your messages in chat. Your username is what goes in the URL and is what you use to log in.

You can change your display name as often as you want by going to Settings > Account and editing the "Display Name" field. Your username cannot be changed this way. If you want to change your username, you must contact Twitch support and request a username change, which may or may not be granted depending on Twitch's policies at the time.

What to do if you cannot access your account

If you have forgotten your password or cannot log in, you cannot see your username through the methods above. Go to twitch.tv/login and click "Forgot your password?" to reset it. Twitch will send a reset link to the email address associated with your account.

If you do not have access to that email address, click "I can't access my email" on the password reset page. Twitch will ask you to verify your identity through other means, such as a phone number or security questions you set up during account creation. Once you regain access, you can log in and find your username in your account settings.

Why you might need to know your username

You need your username if you are planning to request a change, since Twitch support will ask you to confirm which account you want to modify. You also need it if you want to share your channel link with others, set up alerts or bots that reference your channel, or troubleshoot account issues with Twitch support.

Knowing your username also helps you understand what name other people will see in your channel URL. If your username is very different from your display name, viewers may get confused about which channel they are on, so some streamers choose to keep them similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username myself through Twitch settings?

No. Twitch does not offer a self-service username change in your account settings. You must contact Twitch support to request a change, and the request may be denied. Username changes are not may provide and depend on Twitch's current policies.

Is my username the same as my login name?

Yes. Your username is what you use to log into Twitch, and it is also what appears in your channel URL. Your display name is separate and is only what viewers see in chat.

What if someone else has taken the username I want?

If another account is using the username you want, you cannot have it unless that account is deleted or the username is released by Twitch. Twitch does not transfer usernames between accounts. You would need to contact support to discuss your options, but they cannot force another user to give up their username.

Does my username have to match my display name?

No. Many streamers have different usernames and display names. Your username is permanent and was chosen at sign-up, while your display name can be anything and can be changed anytime. They do not have to match.