YouTube's age restriction system and where to find it

YouTube lets you change your birth date and age settings in your account, which affects what content the platform shows you and what features you can use. The age you set during account creation determines whether you see age-restricted videos, whether you can upload certain content, and which YouTube features are available to you. You can update this information in your account settings at any time.

The setting lives in your Google Account, not in YouTube itself, because YouTube uses the same account system as Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services. This means changing your age in one place changes it across all Google products. You'll need to sign in to your account and navigate to the personal information section to make the change.

Key Takeaways

  • Your age on YouTube is stored in your Google Account's personal information section, not in YouTube's settings menu.
  • You can change your birth date by going to myaccount.google.com, selecting "Personal info," and editing the date of birth field.
  • Age-restricted videos on YouTube are hidden from accounts set to under 18, and changing your age will when ready show or hide these videos.
  • If you created your account as a child and now want access to age-restricted content, you'll need to update your birth date to reflect your current age.
  • Changes to your age take effect when ready and affect all Google services linked to your account.

Step-by-step: updating your birth date in Google Account

Start by going to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in with the email and password for the YouTube account you want to change. Once you're signed in, look for the menu on the left side of the page. Click on "Personal info" — this is where Google stores your birth date, gender, and other identifying information.

On the Personal Info page, find the line that says "Date of birth". Click on it to open the edit field. You'll see three boxes: one for the month, one for the day, and one for the year. Enter your correct birth date — the month as a number (01 for January, 02 for February, and so on), the day as a two-digit number, and the four-digit year. After you've entered all three parts, click the checkmark or "Save" button to confirm the change.

The system will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm the change. This is a security step to make sure someone else hasn't gained access to your account. Type your password and click "Next." Your new birth date is now saved, and YouTube will when ready update which content is visible to you based on your new age.

What happens when you change your age on YouTube

If you change your age from under 18 to 18 or older, YouTube will when ready show you age-restricted videos that were previously hidden. These are videos marked by creators or YouTube as containing mature content — things like graphic violence, strong language, or sexual content. You'll also gain access to features like creating and uploading certain types of content, and you may see different ads.

If you change your age from 18 or older to under 18, the opposite happens: age-restricted videos disappear from your recommendations, search results, and your watch history. Videos you've already watched don't get deleted, but you won't be able to watch them again until you change your age back. Playlists and subscriptions remain, but restricted content in those playlists becomes unwatchable.

The change affects your entire Google Account, not just YouTube. Your age is used across Gmail, Google Play, Google Photos, and other Google services. Some services may restrict features or content based on your age, so be aware that changing it could affect more than just YouTube.

Common mistakes when updating your age

The most common mistake is entering the wrong year. If you were born in 1995, make sure you type 1995, not 1985 or 2005. Double-check the year before you save — it's straightforward to mistype when you're looking at three separate boxes. If you do make a mistake, you can go back to Personal Info and edit it again when ready.

Another mistake is thinking you need to change your age in YouTube's settings. YouTube doesn't have an age setting in its own menu — it pulls the information from your Google Account. If you look for it in YouTube settings and can't find it, that's why. Always go to myaccount.google.com instead.

Some people also assume they need to create a new account if they set the wrong age when they first signed up. You don't. The birth date field is editable at any time, and changing it doesn't affect your watch history, subscriptions, or any other data on your account. One edit fixes it.

If you can't remember your birth date or it's incorrect in your account

If you don't remember the exact birth date you entered when you created your account, or if someone else created the account and entered a fake date, you can still change it. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info," and look at the current date of birth. If it's wrong, click on it and enter the correct date. Google doesn't verify your birth date against government records, so you can update it to the correct information.

If you've forgotten your own birth date, you'll need to figure out what it actually is before you can update the account. Check your ID, birth certificate, or ask a family member. Once you know the correct date, follow the steps above to enter it into your account.

Age restrictions and parental controls on YouTube

YouTube's age restriction system is separate from parental controls. Age restrictions are based on the birth date in your Google Account — they're a self-reported system that relies on you entering your real age. Parental controls, by contrast, are tools that a parent or guardian can set up to limit what a child can watch, and they require a separate password to change.

If a parent set up parental controls on your account, changing your birth date won't bypass those controls. You would need the parent's password to turn off parental controls. If you're a parent trying to set up controls on a child's account, that's a different process that involves creating a supervised account through Google Family Link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my age delete my watch history or subscriptions?

No. Changing your birth date only affects which content is visible to you going forward. Your watch history, subscriptions, playlists, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Videos you've already watched remain in your history, but age-restricted videos may become unwatchable if you lower your age.

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

The change is when ready. As soon as you save your new birth date in Google Account, YouTube updates what content you can see. You may need to refresh the YouTube page or close and reopen the app for the change to show up visually, but the system recognizes your new age right away.

Can I change my age multiple times?

Yes, you can edit your birth date as many times as you want. There's no limit on how often you can change it. However, if you change it very frequently, Google may flag your account for suspicious activity, so it's best to set it correctly and leave it alone.

What if I'm under 18 and want to watch age-restricted videos?

If you're actually older than your account says, you can update your birth date to your real age following the steps above. If you're actually under 18, YouTube's age restrictions are designed to prevent you from watching that content, and there's no way to bypass them without changing your birth date to 18 or older.

Does changing my age on YouTube affect other Google services?

Yes. Your birth date is shared across all Google services. Changing it on YouTube changes it everywhere — Gmail, Google Play, Google Photos, and any other Google product linked to your account. Some services may restrict features based on age, so be aware of this before you make the change.