How to Change Your YouTube Nickname to Avoid Looking Like a Bot in Comments

Make a name for yourself that is readable, instead of gibberish.

With one of the latest updates, YouTube has opened the alias feature to all users, which was previously only available to channel owners with a hundred subscribers or more. Now, instead of a name, a nickname starting with the @ symbol is displayed in comments - similar to X, TikTok, and other social networks. The idea is to make it easier for users to reference others, while also providing more freedom for self-expression.

If you have not set an alias, your comments under videos will display something like @user-fs0jl00sfhjd7q. This was done to ensure each nickname is unique, but it ultimately led to confusion: sometimes it's hard to identify not just other users, but even yourself.

To solve this problem, you need to set an alias yourself. You can change it no more than twice within two weeks. During this period, your old nickname is reserved for you, and you can easily revert it if desired. The feature is available both from a computer and a smartphone.

How to change your nickname on YouTube from a computer

Open any YouTube page in your browser, click on your profile picture, and select "YouTube Studio."

Next, in the side menu, click on "Channel Settings."

Go to the "Basic Info" tab and look for the "Alias" field - this is your nickname.

Delete the old one and enter a new one. If the alias is taken, the service will notify you. Once you find a suitable nickname, click "Publish."

Changes will take effect within a few minutes, after which the alias will appear under both your new comments and old ones.

How to change your nickname on YouTube from a smartphone

On your phone, you can do the same through the mobile version of YouTube in the browser, but it's more convenient through the app. Launch it, tap on the "You" tab, and then touch the "Go to Channel Page" text.

Click on the edit icon, then tap the same icon in the "Alias" field.

Enter a new nickname, ensuring it's available, and tap "Save" for the changes to take effect. The alias will change immediately in your profile and new comments, while it may take a few minutes for old comments.