YouTube channels will soon get to choose unique @handle

Google has announced that handles are coming to YouTube, allowing channel owners to choose a unique @ identifier makes it easier for people to find YouTube channels.

Over the next few weeks, YouTube will slowly open access to all channels to choose a unique @handle (for ex. @yugatech). If a channel doesn’t choose one by November 14, YouTube will begin assigning handles automatically based on the channel name, although owners will still be able to change it.

In most cases, if a channel already has a personalized URL, that will automatically become their default handle, or they can opt to change the handle for their channel as soon as the notification in YouTube Studio comes through. The timing of when a creator will get access to the handles selection process depends on a number of factors, including overall YouTube presence, subscriber count, and whether the channel is active or inactive.

When a creator chooses their handle, YouTube will also create a matching URL (ex: youtube.com/@handle) so creators can easily direct people to their content when they’re not on YouTube. If a channel already has a personalized URL, there’s no need to update links: they’ll automatically be redirected to the new, handle-based URL to create a better, more unified presence for creators on YouTube.