YouTube lets you change your birth date in your Google Account settings, and the process takes about two minutes

Your YouTube age comes from your Google Account — the same account that powers Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services. To change it, you go into your Google Account settings, find the personal information section, and update your birth date there. YouTube will reflect the change within a few hours, though sometimes it takes up to a day.

The age you set matters because YouTube uses it to decide what content you can watch and what features you can use. If you set your age under 18, YouTube restricts certain videos and disables some functions like live streaming and monetization. If you set it over 18, you get full access to the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube age is stored in your Google Account, not in YouTube itself, so you change it through Google's settings.
  • You need to be signed into your Google Account and have access to a recovery email or phone number if Google asks you to verify your identity.
  • The change takes effect within a few hours but may take up to a day to show across all YouTube features.
  • If you created your account as a child and added a parent's supervision, you will need parental permission to change your age.

How to change your birth date in Google Account settings

Start by going to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in with the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel. On the left side of the page, click Personal info. You will see a section labeled Basic info with your name, email, and birth date.

Click on the birth date field. A calendar picker will appear. Select your birth month, day, and year, then click Save. Google may ask you to confirm your identity by sending a code to your recovery email or phone number — if it does, check that email or text message, enter the code, and complete the verification. Once you confirm, the change is saved to your Google Account.

YouTube will sync with this change within a few hours. If you are already signed into YouTube, you may need to sign out and sign back in to see the updated age restrictions take effect when ready.

What happens if your account has parental supervision

If you created your YouTube account as a child and a parent or guardian set up supervision through Google Family Link, you cannot change your birth date without their permission. The birth date field will be locked in your account settings, and you will see a message saying the account is managed by a parent.

To change your age in this case, ask your parent or guardian to open the Family Link app or go to families.google.com, find your account, and update the birth date from their side. Alternatively, once you turn 18, you can ask them to remove the supervision, which will unlock your account settings — but they have to initiate this from their end.

Why YouTube might not accept your birth date change

Google has rules about how often you can change your birth date. If you changed it recently, you may have to wait 90 days before changing it again. This is a security measure to prevent account takeovers — if someone gains access to your account, they cannot when ready change your age to hide their activity.

If you see a message saying you cannot change your birth date right now, check when you last changed it. If it has been less than 90 days, you will have to wait until that period passes. If you believe your birth date was entered incorrectly when you first created your account and you cannot wait, you can contact Google Support, though they may ask for proof of your identity.

How age affects what you can do on YouTube

YouTube restricts certain features based on the age in your account. If your account shows you are under 18, you cannot upload videos for monetization, go live, or access some creator tools. You also cannot watch videos marked as age-restricted, even if the content itself is not harmful — YouTube straightforward does not show them to accounts under 18.

If your account shows you are 18 or older, you have access to all standard YouTube features, including the ability to upload videos, go live, and watch age-restricted content. Some features like YouTube Premium and channel memberships have their own separate age requirements, but those are handled separately from your birth date.

Changing your age on the YouTube mobile app

You cannot change your birth date directly in the YouTube app on your phone. Instead, open a web browser on your phone, go to myaccount.google.com, and follow the same steps as on a computer. Sign in, click Personal info, update your birth date, and save the change.

After you change it on the web, the YouTube app will sync within a few hours. If the app still shows your old age after a day, try signing out of the app completely, closing it, and signing back in.

What to do if you forgot your recovery email or phone number

If Google asks you to verify your identity when you try to change your birth date and you no longer have access to your recovery email or phone number, you will need to go through Google's account recovery process. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery, enter your email address, and follow the prompts. Google will ask you security questions or other ways to prove the account is yours.

This process can take several days, and Google may ask for additional information like a phone number you used with the account in the past or a recovery code you saved. Keep your recovery information up to date going forward — add a current phone number and email address to your Google Account so you do not run into this problem again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube age multiple times?

You can change it, but Google limits you to one change every 90 days. If you changed your birth date recently, you will have to wait until that 90-day window passes before changing it again. This protects your account from unauthorized changes.

Does changing my age on YouTube affect my age on other Google services?

Yes. Your birth date is stored in your Google Account, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and all other Google services. Changing it on YouTube changes it everywhere. If you need a different birth date for a specific service, you cannot do that — it is one birth date for your entire Google Account.

What if I set my age wrong when I created my account?

You can change it using the steps above. If you set it incorrectly years ago and have changed it multiple times since, you may hit the 90-day waiting period. Contact Google Support if you believe your account was set up with fraudulent information and you need an exception.

Will changing my age delete my videos or subscriptions?

No. Changing your birth date does not delete anything on your channel. Your videos, subscriptions, playlists, and watch history all stay the same. The only thing that changes is which features you can access and which content YouTube will show you.

Can I change my age if I am under 13?

If you are under 13 and your account is managed by a parent through Family Link, you cannot change your age yourself. Your parent or guardian has to do it from their Family Link account. If you are 13 or older and your account is not managed, you can change it yourself.