Creating a YouTube account takes five minutes and requires only a Google account
You do not need a separate YouTube account. YouTube uses Google accounts for sign-in, so if you already have a Gmail address, a Google account, or any other Google service account, you can watch YouTube right now without signing up for anything else. If you do not have a Google account, you create one during the YouTube sign-up process — it takes the same five minutes and gives you access to Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services at the same time.
The process is the same whether you are signing up on a computer, phone, or tablet. You will need an email address (which can be any email, not just Gmail) and a password you choose. YouTube does not charge money to create an account or to watch videos.
Key Takeaways
- If you have a Gmail or Google account already, you can start watching YouTube when ready by signing in with that account.
- Creating a new Google account takes about five minutes and requires only an email address and a password you choose.
- YouTube accounts are free and do not require a credit card, phone number, or payment information to watch videos.
- Once you sign in, you can subscribe to channels, create playlists, and save videos to a Watch Later list.
- YouTube will ask for your birth date during sign-up; this determines which content recommendations and ads you see, but does not restrict your account.
Sign in with an existing Google account
Go to YouTube.com on your computer or open the YouTube app on your phone. In the top right corner, you will see a sign-in button or a profile icon. Click or tap it. If you see a sign-in button, click it. A window will open asking for your email address.
Type the email address for your Google account (this could be a Gmail address, a work email connected to Google, or any other email you use with Google services). Press Enter or tap Next. On the next screen, type your password and press Enter or tap Next. You are now signed in to YouTube.
Create a new Google account if you do not have one
Go to YouTube.com or open the YouTube app. Click or tap the sign-in button in the top right. Instead of entering an email, look for a link that says "Create account" or "Sign up". Click it. You will be taken to the Google account creation page.
Fill in the form with your first name, last name, and a new email address you want to create. This email will be your Gmail address and your YouTube sign-in. You can use any name you want — it does not have to be your real name. Choose a password that is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Google will check the password strength as you type.
You will be asked for your phone number and a recovery email address (a second email where Google can contact you if you forget your password). These are optional but recommended — they make it much easier to regain access if you get locked out. Enter your birth date. YouTube uses this to show age-appropriate content and ads, but it does not restrict what you can watch. Agree to Google's terms of service and privacy policy by checking the box, then click Create Account or Sign Up.
Google may ask you to verify your phone number or recovery email by sending you a code. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the code. Once verified, your account is created and you are signed in to YouTube.
What you can do once you are signed in
Your profile icon now appears in the top right corner of YouTube. Click or tap it to see your account menu. From here you can view your subscriptions (channels you follow), your Watch Later list (videos you saved to watch later), and your upload history (videos you have watched).
You can subscribe to any channel by clicking the Subscribe button on that channel's page. Subscriptions appear in your Subscriptions feed, so you see new videos from channels you follow without having to search for them. You can create playlists to organize videos by topic — for example, a playlist of cooking videos or music videos. You can also turn on notifications for specific channels so YouTube alerts you when they upload a new video.
Signing in on different devices
Your YouTube account works on any device — computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. Sign in with the same email and password on each device, and your subscriptions, playlists, and Watch Later list will appear on all of them. YouTube remembers where you left off watching a video, so you can start watching on your phone and pick up where you stopped on your computer.
If you use a shared device (like a family computer or a tablet that multiple people use), you can sign out when you are done. Click your profile icon in the top right and select Sign Out. The next person who uses the device will see a blank YouTube home page until they sign in with their own account.
Keeping your account find
Use a password that is unique to YouTube and Google — do not use the same password for YouTube that you use for banking or email. If someone gets your YouTube password, they can watch your private videos, see your subscriptions, and upload videos to your channel if you have created one.
Turn on two-factor authentication for extra security. Go to your Google Account settings (you can reach this from your YouTube profile menu), select Security on the left, and look for "2-Step Verification". This means Google will ask for a code from your phone whenever someone tries to sign in from a new device, even if they have your password. It takes an extra 30 seconds but makes your account much harder to break into.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a credit card to create a YouTube account?
No. YouTube accounts are free and do not require any payment information. You will never be asked for a credit card number unless you choose to buy something, like a YouTube Premium subscription or a Super Chat during a live stream.
Can I change my YouTube username after I create it?
Your YouTube channel name can be changed anytime from your channel settings. Your Google account email address (the one you use to sign in) cannot be changed, but you can add additional email addresses to your account so you can sign in with any of them.
What if I forget my password?
Go to the Google sign-in page and click "Forgot password?" Enter your email address. Google will send a recovery code to the phone number or recovery email you provided when you created your account. Enter the code and create a new password. If you did not add a phone number or recovery email, you may not be able to regain access to your account.
Can I have more than one YouTube account?
Yes. You can create multiple Google accounts, each with its own YouTube channel and subscriptions. Sign out of one account and sign in with another. You can also create multiple YouTube channels under a single Google account from your channel settings.
Is YouTube available in my country?
YouTube is available in most countries, but some governments restrict access or block certain content. If you cannot reach YouTube.com, your internet service provider or government may be blocking it. A VPN (virtual private network) can sometimes bypass these blocks, but using one may violate local laws — check your country's rules before trying.