Twitch Username Not Available – Top 4 Reasons and Easy Fixes

In this section, we will address a common issue faced by many Twitch users: the message stating “Twitch username not available.”

Specifically, Twitch users looking to change their old Twitch profile names, as well as new users wanting to create profiles and join Twitch, occasionally encounter messages indicating that their desired username is unavailable or receive errors such as “Twitch Username Doesn’t Exist.”

Everything would be understandable if the names were truly taken, but the reality is that the preferred usernames are often not even in use on Twitch. Still, users do not get the opportunity to use their desired username.

We have identified the reasons for that.

Changing Usernames or Creating a New Twitch Account – Problems

Many users wish to select a new username while “re-branding” their channel. They navigate to profile settings to change the username, but their attempts often end in failure.

At the same time, streaming enthusiasts eager to join the largest streaming platform in the world often feel confused and discouraged by their inability to select their preferred nickname for a Twitch name.

Why is that?

There may be several reasons:

What to Do If the Preferred Twitch Username Is Already Taken by Another Account?

Of course, if one account is already using a specific Twitch username, the new account will need to have a different name.

We understand that it can be a significant issue when someone eager to become a new user has their heart set on a specific username, and discovering that it is unavailable can be a major disappointment.

Therefore, the only way to obtain a specific username is to continually check for its availability.

To identify which usernames are inactive, we recommend the following:

Unfortunately, the option to see when the username was changed (on a channel page) is no longer available.

With that option, you can calculate how much time remains until the name becomes available again.

Why Can’t I Use the Former Names of Twitch Partners?

Twitch Partners’ accounts are the true assets of the Twitch website, app, or platform.

No matter how you choose to use Twitch, it’s important to recognize that the platform highly values its streaming stars. After all, these streamers attract the most views and contribute significantly to increasing Twitch’s ad revenue.

In this regard, Twitch does not grant requests to recycle the old account names of partners.

Twitch administration and support believe that by permitting the reuse of partners’ old usernames, they are allowing individuals to assume their identities and profit from someone else’s hard work.

What are Recently Abandoned Usernames?

First of all, we need to emphasize that an active Twitch user is allowed to change their old username by following a specific procedure in the account settings.

The most important thing to note is that you can change your username only once every sixty days. Therefore, be very careful when choosing to change your username, as you will need to wait a while before you can change it again.

However, when you abandon the old username, it does not become available to others immediately.

The Twitch platform does not make abandoned usernames available immediately after they are abandoned. Instead, there is a specific process that must occur before these usernames can be used by other users.

Typically, old usernames are not included in the list of available usernames for 6 months. Additionally, some usernames may be added to the pool even later, depending on the decision of Twitch support.

Honestly, we do not know the exact reasons why it takes so long for Twitch administration to make those old usernames available again, but we hope that this will change soon.

Sometimes, even Twitch may delete or change your username (though this is rare), or even remove your entire profile. To clarify, when we refer to changing your username, we mean that they can suggest a potential new name if you are unable to decide while typing.

Twitch can remove your channel name if:

In these situations, not only will your Twitch username be deleted, but the content will be removed as well.

However, there is a possibility of re-registration under the “problematic” name at some point, but your content will be lost forever.

However, if you decide not to use the “problematic” names again, they may become part of the pool of abandoned and available usernames.

Recycling Policies

The Recycling Policy is another popular term from the Twitch site.

People frequently ask us what the Recycling Policy is and how it relates to name changes.

The Recycling Policy specifically addresses abandoned Twitch names.

This policy stipulates that an old Twitch username cannot be reused by existing users until six months have elapsed since it was abandoned.

However, Twitch partners’ usernames are not reused, except in certain special circumstances.

If you want to reclaim your old Twitch name, you must wait at least 6 months, as stated in the Recycling Policy, and then attempt to acquire it from the pool of available names.

Therefore, when you change your username, be very careful. Changing your username may also alter the character of your account, and later it might be difficult to revert to your old name.

Our Recommendation

When it comes to the Twitch settings, we recommend starting slowly from the very beginning.

We recommend that you choose a strong password and enable two-factor authentication. Verify all necessary information, install an app on your phone, and carefully consider your username.

It is always advantageous to be the first person to come up with a brilliant name. However, if that is not the case, you need to have a plan B, as you do not have a time machine to determine when your name was taken!

We dislike the idea of waiting for your preferred name to become available again just so you can change your username once more.

Instead, choose a username that you will commit to; who knows, your alternative name might be more appealing for searches in the Twitch browser.