You can change your Twitch username once every 60 days through your account settings

To change your Twitch username, log into your account on Twitch.com, go to Settings, select Channel, and click the Edit Channel button. You will see a field labeled "Channel name" — this is your username. Type your new name and save the change. The new username takes effect when ready, but you cannot change it again for 60 days.

Your username is different from your display name. The username is what appears in your channel URL (twitch.tv/yourname) and is permanent in chat logs. The display name is what shows next to your messages in chat and can be changed anytime. Most people use the same text for both, but you do not have to.

If you have been streaming for a while, changing your username means your old channel URL stops working. Followers and subscribers stay with your account, but anyone who bookmarked your old URL will get a "page not found" error. You may want to post about the change on social media or Discord before you make it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username is set in Settings under Channel and can be changed once every 60 days.
  • The username appears in your channel URL and chat history, so old links will break when you change it.
  • Your display name (what shows next to your messages) is separate and can be changed anytime without waiting.
  • Followers and subscribers stay with your account when you change your username, but you should tell people about the change.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim. Twitch does not hold it for you or let you switch back without waiting. If you change from "StreamerJoe" to "JoeStreams" and then want "StreamerJoe" back three months later, you would have to wait until the 60-day window opens again — and someone else might have already taken it.

Your channel URL changes when ready. If your old URL was twitch.tv/StreamerJoe, it no longer works. Twitch does not redirect old URLs to new ones. Anyone who tries to visit your old link will see an error. This is why telling your audience about the change ahead of time matters — give them a few days' notice so they can update their bookmarks or follow your new URL.

The difference between username and display name

Your username is your account identifier. It appears in your channel URL, in chat logs, and in your profile. It is what Twitch uses to track your account. You can change it once every 60 days.

Your display name is what viewers see next to your messages in chat. You can set it to anything — including uppercase letters, spaces, or special characters — and change it as often as you want. Many streamers use a display name that looks fancier than their username. For example, your username might be "jsmith" but your display name could be "J★Smith".

If you only want to change how your name looks in chat, change your display name instead. You do not have to wait 60 days, and your channel URL stays the same.

Reasons to change your username and when to do it

You might change your username if it no longer fits your brand, if you are rebranding your channel, or if you want something shorter or easier to remember. Some streamers change usernames when they move to a new game or content type. Others do it because their old name was a joke that stopped being funny.

The best time to change your username is when your channel is small or when you are taking a planned break. If you have thousands of followers, the disruption is bigger — people will miss the old URL, and you will spend time answering questions about where you went. If you are just starting out, almost nobody has bookmarked your URL yet, so the impact is minimal.

If you stream regularly and have an audience, post about the change in your Discord, on social media, and in your stream title a few days before you make it. Give people time to adjust.

What you cannot change about your account name

You cannot change your username more often than once every 60 days. If you changed it yesterday, you have to wait 60 days before you can change it again. Twitch enforces this limit strictly — there is no way around it, even if you contact support.

You cannot claim a username that is already in use. If someone else has the name you want, you have to pick something different. Twitch does not let you reserve usernames or put names on a waitlist.

You cannot change your username to something that violates Twitch's terms of service. Usernames cannot contain hate speech, slurs, or content that harasses other users. If you try to set a username that breaks the rules, Twitch will reject it and tell you why.

If your desired username is already taken

If the username you want belongs to someone else, you have a few options. You can pick a variation — add a number, an underscore, or a short word. "JoeStreams" might be taken, but "JoeStreams42" or "JoeStreams_" might not be.

You can also wait to see if the account becomes inactive. Twitch does not recycle inactive usernames, so this is not a reliable option. Accounts stay registered even if the person has not streamed in years.

The most practical approach is to choose a different name that still represents you. Your username does not have to be your first choice — it just has to be something you can live with for at least 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my followers stay with me if I change my username?

Yes. Your followers and subscribers are tied to your account, not your username. When you change your username, they stay subscribed and keep receiving notifications about your streams. They will not be unfollowed or unsubscribed.

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

Not when ready. You have to wait 60 days from your last change. After 60 days, you can change it again — but only if nobody else has claimed your old username in the meantime. If someone else took it, you cannot get it back unless they change theirs.

What if I change my username and then want to undo it?

You cannot undo a username change. Once you save the new name, it is permanent until the 60-day window opens again. Make sure you want the new username before you click save. If you change your mind when ready, you have to wait 60 days to change it again.

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

No. Your Partner status, subscribers, bits, and all monetization stay with your account. Changing your username does not affect your earnings or your standing with Twitch.

Can I have different usernames on different platforms?

Yes. Your Twitch username is separate from your YouTube, Discord, or other platform usernames. You can use completely different names on each platform if you want.