YouTube requires your birth date to show your real age, and you can change it in your account settings

YouTube stores your birth date in your Google Account, not in YouTube itself. To change the age that appears on your account, you go into Google Account settings, find the personal information section, and update your birth date there. The change takes effect when ready across YouTube and all other Google services tied to that account.

Your age matters on YouTube because it controls what content the platform shows you. Videos marked for mature audiences, videos with ads that target adults, and certain restricted features only appear to accounts with birth dates that make them 18 or older. If you entered the wrong birth date when you created your account, or if your actual age has changed since you set it up, you can fix it yourself in a few steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Your birth date lives in your Google Account settings, not in the YouTube app or website itself.
  • You can change your birth date on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — by signing into your Google Account.
  • The change takes effect right away and applies to YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and every other Google service you use.
  • If you are under 18, YouTube restricts certain content and features based on your birth date, so an incorrect date may block videos you should see or show you videos you should not.

How to change your age on a computer

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

Click on the birth date field. A calendar will pop up. Select your birth month, day, and year, then click Save. Google will ask you to confirm your password before the change goes through. Type your password and click Next. The new birth date is now active on your account.

How to change your age on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app or any web browser. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left, then tap Personal information. Scroll down to Basic info and tap the birth date field.

A date picker will appear. Tap the month, day, and year fields to change them one at a time. Once you have entered the correct date, tap Save. You will be asked to re-enter your password. Type it in and tap Next. The change is complete and takes effect when ready.

What happens after you change your birth date

YouTube updates your content restrictions right away. If you changed your birth date to 18 or older, videos marked for mature audiences will now appear in your search results and recommendations. If you changed it to under 18, YouTube will hide those videos and restrict features like the ability to upload videos longer than 15 minutes or go live.

The change also affects other Google services. Your birth date in Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and Google Play will all update at the same time. If you use your Google Account to sign into apps or websites outside of Google, some of those services may also see the new birth date depending on what permissions you gave them.

Why YouTube asks for your birth date

YouTube uses your birth date to enforce age restrictions set by law and by YouTube's own policies. In many countries, content with violence, adult themes, or strong language must be restricted to viewers above a certain age. YouTube's system checks your birth date against these rules and blocks restricted content from accounts registered to minors.

Your birth date also controls monetization and channel features. If you are under 18, you cannot earn money from ads on videos you upload, and you cannot go live on YouTube. These restrictions exist because YouTube and advertisers have legal obligations around minors and money.

If you cannot remember your birth date

If you do not remember the birth date you entered when you created your account, you can still change it. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal information, and look at the birth date field. It will show what you entered before. You can change it to your real birth date at any time without needing to prove what you entered originally.

If you cannot sign into your Google Account at all, you will need to recover access first. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow the steps to regain access. Once you are signed in, you can update your birth date.

What to do if your birth date is locked

Google locks your birth date after you change it, usually for about a year. This means you cannot change it again for 12 months. The lock exists to prevent people from repeatedly changing their age to bypass content restrictions. If you made a mistake and need to change it again before the year is up, you will have to contact Google Support and explain the situation.

To contact Google Support about a locked birth date, go to support.google.com, search for "change birth date", and click the option to contact support. Explain that your birth date was entered incorrectly and that you need to change it again. Google will review your request, but there is no may provide they will unlock it before the year passes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. YouTube does not have a separate age setting. Your YouTube age is always whatever birth date is in your Google Account. If you want to change one, you have to change the other.

Will changing my birth date affect my YouTube channel or videos?

It will not delete your channel or videos. Changing your birth date only affects what content you can see and what features you can use going forward. Videos you uploaded before the change will stay on your channel.

How long does it take for the age change to show up on YouTube?

The change takes effect when ready. You should see the new content restrictions and features available within seconds of saving the new birth date.

What if I entered a fake birth date when I created my account?

You can change it to your real birth date right now using the steps above. There is no penalty for having entered an incorrect date in the past. Just go to your Google Account settings and update it.

Can someone else change the birth date on my YouTube account?

Only if they have access to your Google Account password. Your birth date is protected by your account security, so keep your password private. If you think someone changed your birth date without permission, change your password when ready.