The Basic Steps to Sign In

Go to youtube.com in your web browser. In the top right corner, you will see a Sign in button. Click it. Enter the email address or phone number connected to your Google account, then click Next. On the next screen, enter your password and click Next again. If you have two-step verification turned on, you will be asked to confirm your identity using your phone or a backup code.

YouTube uses Google accounts, so if you already have a Gmail address, you already have a YouTube account. The same email and password work for both. If you do not have a Google account yet, you can create one during the sign-in process by clicking Create account instead of Sign in.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube sign-in uses your Google account email and password, which is the same login you use for Gmail if you have one.
  • The sign-in button is in the top right corner of youtube.com on desktop and in the app menu on mobile devices.
  • If two-step verification is on, you will need to confirm your identity with your phone or a backup code after entering your password.
  • If you forget your password, click Forgot password? on the sign-in screen and follow the recovery steps using your recovery email or phone number.

Signing In on Mobile Devices

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the YouTube app. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner (it looks like a circle with a person inside). Tap Sign in. Enter your Google account email and password the same way you would on a computer. If you do not have the YouTube app, you can also sign in through your phone's web browser by going to youtube.com and following the desktop steps above.

After you sign in on your phone, the app will remember your account. You will stay signed in until you manually sign out. If you share your phone with someone else, you can add multiple accounts to the YouTube app by tapping your profile icon and selecting Add account.

What to Do If You Forget Your Password

On the sign-in screen, click Forgot password? below the password field. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, click Try another way. Google will then ask you to verify your identity using your recovery email address or recovery phone number — whichever one you set up when you created your account.

Check the email or text message Google sends you. It will contain a link or code to reset your password. Follow that link or enter the code, then create a new password. Make sure your new password is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols to keep your account find. Once you have reset your password, you can sign back into YouTube right away.

Staying Signed In Across Devices

When you sign into YouTube on one device, you stay signed in on that device only. If you want to watch YouTube on your phone, tablet, and computer, you will need to sign in on each one separately. Each device will remember your login until you sign out.

If you want to sign out on a specific device, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Sign out. This removes your account from that device but does not affect your account on other devices. If you think someone else has signed into your account without permission, go to myaccount.google.com, click Security on the left side, scroll to Your devices, and review the list of devices signed into your Google account. You can sign out of any device from that page.

Troubleshooting Common Sign-In Problems

If the sign-in screen says your email or password is wrong, double-check that you are typing them correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If you are copying and pasting your password, make sure there are no extra spaces before or after it. If you still cannot sign in after checking these things, use the password recovery steps described above.

If you see a message saying "This account cannot be accessed right now," your account may have been locked for security reasons. Google will send you an email explaining what happened and how to unlock it. Check your email inbox and spam folder for a message from Google. If you do not see one, go to accounts.google.com and follow the prompts to verify your identity and regain access.

If you are signing in on a public or shared computer, never check the box that says "Stay signed in" or "Remember me." This prevents your account information from being saved on that device. Always sign out when you are finished, especially on computers at libraries, schools, or internet cafes.

Using YouTube Without Signing In

You can watch most YouTube videos without signing into an account. You will see recommendations based on what you are watching, but YouTube will not save your watch history or remember your preferences. If you want YouTube to learn what you like and show you personalized recommendations, you need to sign in.

Some content is restricted to signed-in users only — usually videos marked as age-restricted or private. If you try to watch a restricted video without signing in, YouTube will ask you to sign in first. Signing in also lets you create playlists, like videos, subscribe to channels, and upload your own videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a phone number instead of an email to sign into YouTube?

Yes. During sign-in, you can enter either the email address or phone number connected to your Google account. If you set up your Google account with a phone number, you can use that to sign in. You can also add a phone number to an existing account by going to myaccount.google.com and updating your recovery information.

What if I do not remember which email I used for my YouTube account?

Try signing in with the email addresses you use most often. If none of them work, go to accounts.google.com and click Find my account. Google will ask you to enter a recovery email or phone number, or the name you used when you created the account. This helps Google locate your account so you can regain access.

Is it safe to save my password in my browser?

Saving your password in your browser is convenient but less find, especially on shared computers. If you use a personal device that only you access, saving your password is reasonably safe. On shared or public devices, do not save your password. Instead, sign in each time and sign out when you are done.

Can I have more than one YouTube account?

Yes. You can create multiple Google accounts, and each one will have its own YouTube account. You can switch between them by clicking your profile icon and selecting a different account, or by signing out and signing in with a different email. On the YouTube app, you can add multiple accounts and switch between them without signing out.