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Free YouTube Handle Checker

Is that YouTube handle available?

Check an @handle against YouTube’s rules as you type, see if a channel already has it, and get close alternatives that are free. We check 17 more networks at the same time.

  • 3 to 30 characters
  • Only letters, numbers, periods, hyphens and underscores
  • Starts and ends with a letter or number
Checks 18 networks:

How it works

How to use the YouTube Handle Checker

  1. 1

    Type the handle

    Without the @. YouTube’s rules light up as you type, so you know it’s allowed before you check.

  2. 2

    Check availability

    See if a channel already uses the handle, and if it’s free on TikTok, X, Twitch and more.

  3. 3

    Pick an alternative

    Taken? We suggest close variations and show the ones that are free on YouTube.

YouTube handle rules

What YouTube allows in a handle

These are the rules the checker tests as you type.

  • 1

    3 to 30 characters

    Letters and numbers, plus periods, hyphens and underscores. Letters from many languages are allowed, not only English.

  • 2

    Starts and ends with a letter or number

    A period, hyphen or underscore can only sit inside the handle. A handle also can’t look like a web address or a phone number.

  • 3

    Twice in 14 days

    You can change your handle twice within 14 days. After a change, your old handle is held for 14 days so you can switch back.

  • 4

    Your handle is your link

    Your channel lives at youtube.com/@handle, and people mention you with it in comments and Shorts.

Choosing a handle

How to pick a YouTube handle that works

  • Same as your channel name

    When the handle matches the channel name, people find you whether they search for one or the other.

  • Match your other networks

    Viewers come from TikTok, Instagram and X. One handle everywhere makes the move easy.

  • Easy to say

    You’ll say it at the end of videos. Skip separators where you can.

  • Add a word, not numbers

    If your name is taken, add a word that fits the channel: tv, studio, plays, cooks, official.

Keep going

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YouTube Handle Checker FAQ

Questions, answered.

How do I know if a YouTube handle is available?

Type it into the checker. We look up youtube.com/@handle: if there’s no channel, the handle is most likely free. YouTube can still hold some handles, so claim it in YouTube Studio to be sure.

What characters can a YouTube handle have?

3 to 30 letters or numbers, plus periods, hyphens and underscores inside the handle. It can’t start or end with one of those, or look like a URL or phone number.

How do I change my YouTube handle?

In YouTube Studio, open Customization and then Profile, and edit the handle. You can change it twice within 14 days.

Is a YouTube handle the same as a custom URL?

Not quite. Handles (youtube.com/@name) are the current way to link to a channel. Older channels may also have a custom URL (youtube.com/c/name), which is a separate name.

Is the YouTube handle checker free?

Yes. There’s no sign-up, and we don’t store the handles you check.

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