Where to Find Your Age Settings on YouTube

Your age on YouTube is stored in your Google Account, not in YouTube itself. To change it, you go to Google Account settings, not to YouTube's app or website. Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com, then sign in with the account linked to your YouTube channel.

Once you're logged in, look for the "Personal info" tab on the left side of the page. Click it, then find the "Date of birth" field in the main section. This is where YouTube reads your age from — changing it here changes what YouTube sees.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube pulls your age from your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com, not from YouTube itself.
  • You can only change your birth date once per year, so choose carefully before you save.
  • If you created your account as a minor and want to change it now that you're an adult, you may need to verify your identity with a phone number or payment method.
  • Changing your age may affect which videos YouTube recommends to you and which features are available on your account.
  • If you cannot edit the field, your account may be managed by a parent or guardian, and they must make the change.

Step-by-Step: Changing Your Birth Date

Start at myaccount.google.com and sign in. On the left menu, click "Personal info." You'll see several fields including your name, email, and phone number. Scroll down until you see "Date of birth" with three boxes: one for the month, one for the day, and one for the year.

Click on the date field. The boxes will become editable. Type in your new birth month (as a number, 1–12), day (1–31), and year (four digits). After you enter all three, a "Save" button will appear. Click it to confirm the change.

Google will ask you to verify your identity before the change goes through. You may be asked to enter a code sent to your phone number or to confirm a recent payment method on file. This is a security step — it prevents someone else from changing your age without permission. Complete the verification, and your new birth date will be saved.

The One-Change-Per-Year Rule

Google limits you to changing your birth date once every 12 months. This means if you made a mistake or need to correct it, you'll have to wait a full year before you can change it again. Because of this limit, double-check your birth month, day, and year before you click Save.

If you realize you made an error right after saving, contact Google Support through your account settings. In rare cases, they may reset the timer if you can show the change was a genuine mistake, but this is not may provide. It's much safer to verify the date is correct before you submit it.

What Happens When You Change Your Age

Changing your age affects how YouTube treats your account going forward. If you change from a minor age to an adult age, YouTube may unlock features that were previously restricted, such as the ability to upload longer videos, create custom thumbnails, or monetize your channel. You may also see different content recommendations and ads.

If you change from an adult age to a minor age, YouTube will restrict certain features and may limit the videos recommended to you. Your watch history and subscriptions stay the same, but the platform adjusts what it shows you based on the new age bracket.

Some third-party apps and services connected to your Google Account may also see the new age. If you use your YouTube account to sign into other websites or apps, those services will now see your updated birth date.

If Your Account Is Managed by a Parent or Guardian

If you created your YouTube account as a minor and your parent or guardian set up parental controls, you may not be able to edit your birth date yourself. The field will appear grayed out or locked, with a message saying the account is managed.

In this case, your parent or guardian must log into their own Google Account, go to families.google.com, and find your account in their family group. They can then change your birth date from there. Once you turn 18 (or reach the age of majority in your region), you can ask them to remove the parental controls so you can manage your own account.

Troubleshooting: When You Cannot Change Your Age

If the birth date field is locked or won't let you save your change, check these common issues. First, make sure you're on the official Google Account page (myaccount.google.com) and not a phishing site. Phishing pages look like the real thing but steal your information — check that the URL starts with "https://myaccount.google.com" and has a lock icon in the address bar.

Second, verify that you've waited the full 12 months since your last change. If you changed your birth date within the past year, you'll have to wait until the anniversary of that change before you can modify it again. Google shows you the date you can next change it if you hover over the field.

Third, try using a different browser or clearing your browser's cache and cookies. Sometimes outdated cached data prevents the page from loading correctly. If you're on a phone, try switching to a desktop browser instead.

If none of these steps work, your account may have a security flag or other issue. Go to support.google.com, search for "change birth date," and click the option to contact Google Support. They can investigate why the field is locked and help you unlock it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my age on YouTube without changing it on Google Account?

No. YouTube does not have its own age field — it reads your birth date directly from your Google Account. Any change you make to your age must be done through Google Account settings, and it will affect your entire Google profile, not just YouTube.

What if I entered the wrong birth date when I created my account?

You can change it through Google Account settings as described above. However, you can only make one change per year. If you need to change it again before 12 months have passed, you'll have to contact Google Support and explain the situation — they may make an exception, but it's not may provide.

Will changing my age delete my videos or subscriptions?

No. Your videos, subscriptions, watch history, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Only the age setting changes, which affects what YouTube recommends to you and which features are available.

How old do I have to be to have a YouTube account?

You must be at least 13 years old (or the age of digital consent in your country) to have your own YouTube account. If you're younger than that, a parent or guardian must create a supervised account for you through Google Family Link.

Can I change someone else's age on their YouTube account?

Only if you have access to their Google Account password, or if they are a minor and you are their parent or guardian with Family Link set up. Otherwise, only the account owner can change their own birth date. If someone changed your age without permission, change your Google Account password when ready and enable two-factor authentication.