Where to Find Your Age Settings on YouTube

Your age on YouTube lives in your Google Account settings, not in the YouTube app itself. When you sign into YouTube, you are signing in through Google, so any change to your birth date has to happen in Google Account first. YouTube reads that information from there.

Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser on any device. Sign in with the Google account connected to your YouTube channel. Once you are logged in, look for the "Personal info" tab on the left side of the screen. Click it.

Under "Personal info," you will see a section labeled "Basic info." Your birth date appears there. Click on the birth date field to edit it. Google will ask you to confirm your password before letting you change it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube age comes from your Google Account birth date, which you change at myaccount.google.com, not in the YouTube app.
  • You must enter your current password to confirm any change to your birth date for security reasons.
  • After you change your birth date, YouTube may take a few hours to update age-restricted video access and other features tied to your age.
  • If your account is managed by a parent or school through Google Workspace for Education, you may not be able to change your birth date yourself.

Why YouTube Asks for Your Age

YouTube uses your birth date to enforce age restrictions on certain videos. Videos marked as age-restricted require you to be at least 18 years old to watch them. YouTube also uses your age to decide which ads you see and whether certain features like YouTube Premium are available to you.

Some features are only available to users over a certain age. For example, if you are under 13, YouTube restricts your ability to upload videos or create a channel. Your birth date also determines whether YouTube shows you content designed for younger viewers or adult viewers.

What Happens After You Change Your Age

Once you update your birth date in Google Account, YouTube usually reflects the change within a few hours. You may need to sign out and sign back in to YouTube to see the update take effect when ready. If you change your age to 18 or older, you will suddenly be able to watch age-restricted videos that were blocked before.

If you change your age to under 13, YouTube will restrict some features. You will no longer be able to upload videos or create a public channel. YouTube may also limit the types of videos shown to you in recommendations and search results.

Changing Your Age on a Managed Account

If your YouTube account is managed by a parent through Google Family Link, you cannot change your own birth date. Your parent or guardian controls that information. They can change it through the Family Link app on their device by opening your account settings and editing your birth date there.

If your account is managed through Google Workspace for Education (a school account), you also cannot change your birth date yourself. Contact your school's IT department or administrator to request a change. Schools rarely change birth dates unless there was an error when the account was created.

Fixing an Incorrect Birth Date

If you entered the wrong birth date when you created your Google Account, you can correct it the same way you would change it. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," find "Basic info," and click on your birth date to edit it. Enter the correct date and confirm with your password.

Google allows you to change your birth date as many times as you want, but each change requires your password. If you have forgotten your password, you will need to recover your account before you can make any changes to your personal information.

Age Verification and YouTube's Policies

YouTube does not ask you to prove your age with a government ID or other document when you change your birth date. The platform trusts that you are entering accurate information. However, if YouTube suspects you are misrepresenting your age to access age-restricted content, the platform can suspend or close your account.

Lying about your age to watch age-restricted videos violates YouTube's terms of service. YouTube monitors account behavior and can detect patterns that suggest age fraud, such as a very young account suddenly claiming to be 18 years old. If caught, you risk losing access to your entire Google Account, which includes Gmail, Google Drive, and other services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for YouTube to update my age?

YouTube usually updates your age within a few hours of changing your birth date in Google Account. In some cases it can take up to 24 hours. If you do not see the change reflected in your YouTube settings after a day, try signing out completely and signing back in.

Can I change my age multiple times?

Yes, you can change your birth date as many times as you want in Google Account. Each change requires your password. However, if you change it very frequently or in ways that seem suspicious, Google may flag your account for review.

What if I do not remember my birth date?

If you cannot remember the birth date you entered when creating your account, you can contact Google Account support through myaccount.google.com. Click "Help" at the bottom of the page. You may be asked security questions to verify your identity before Google will help you recover or change this information.

Does changing my age affect my YouTube watch history?

No. Changing your birth date does not delete or alter your watch history. Your past viewing activity remains the same. However, YouTube may change which videos are recommended to you going forward based on your new age.

Can I change my age if I am under 13?

If you are under 13 and your account is not managed by a parent, you technically can change your birth date in Google Account. However, YouTube's terms of service state that you must be at least 13 to have your own account. If YouTube detects that you are under 13, it may restrict your account or ask you to add a parent through Family Link.