YouTube handle checker and rules

Setting up · Social media · Big sixGrowing YouTube →

Checked 25 Oct 2026, 05:42 UTC

Our check reads YouTube from the outside, so treat "looks available" as a handle to confirm when you create it. How our checks work

CostFree

Age13 or older

Handle length3 to 30 characters

Holds the nameChoosing the handle

Handle changesTwice in 14 days

Sources ^{[1, 2, 5]}

What can a YouTube handle contain?

Letters and numbers, 3 to 30 characters, plus four separators. Capitals don't count.

Character	Allowed?	Where
Letters and numbers	Yes, in 75 languages	Anywhere
Underscore, hyphen, period, middle dot (·)	Yes	Not first or last
Anything like a web address or phone number	No

Some scripts have other lengths: Chinese and Korean handles are 1 to 10 characters; Japanese kana and Ethiopic, 2 to 20.^[1]

Check the name above, with Instagram and the .com.
Sign in to YouTube on a computer and open your channel list.
Choose Create a new channel, then add a picture, name and handle.
Click Create channel. YouTube makes a Brand Account for it, so you can add managers later.^[4]

Fact	What it means
Changing your handle	Twice in 14 days. Your old handle is held for 14 days, then anyone can take it
Changing your channel name	Also twice in 14 days, and it removes a verification badge
Handles aren't for sale	Selling or transferring handles isn't allowed
YouTube can step in	It can change, reclaim or remove a handle

Sources ^{[1, 2, 3]}

Problem	Fix
The handle is taken	Add a period, underscore or number, or use a close version from the checker (what to do when your handle is taken)
You can't change your handle again	You've used your two changes; wait out the 14 days
Your new name isn't showing	Name changes can take a few days to appear everywhere
Your channel uses your personal name	Create a new channel with a Brand Account for the business

Sources ^{[2, 3, 4]}

Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok and the .com.

Checks YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok and the .com in one search.