Sign in with your Google account

YouTube uses your Google account to log you in. If you already have a Gmail address, a Google account, or any other Google service account, you can use that same username and password to enter YouTube. Go to youtube.com, click the profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Sign in." Type your email address or phone number, then your password on the next screen.

If you do not have a Google account yet, you can create one for free at accounts.google.com. You will need a valid email address (it does not have to be Gmail) and a password you choose. Once your account is set up, you can use those credentials to log into YouTube when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube login uses your Google account, whether that account is Gmail, a work email linked to Google, or any other email you registered with Google.
  • On a computer, click the profile icon in the top right corner of the YouTube homepage and select "Sign in" to begin.
  • On a phone or tablet, tap the profile icon at the bottom right (Android) or top right (iPhone/iPad) and choose "Sign in."
  • If you forget your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen and follow Google's recovery steps, which usually involve confirming your identity through email or a recovery phone number.
  • You can stay signed in on devices you trust, so you will not have to log in every time you open YouTube.

Logging in on a computer or laptop

Open your web browser and go to youtube.com. In the top right corner, you will see a circular profile icon (or a silhouette if you are not signed in). Click it and select "Sign in" from the menu that appears. You will be taken to the Google sign-in page.

Type 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 set up two-step verification on your account, Google will ask you to confirm your identity using a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app. Once you complete that step, you will be logged in and can start watching videos.

YouTube will remember you on that computer unless you sign out manually. If you are using a shared or public computer, always click your profile icon and select "Sign out" when you are finished.

Logging in on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app (available free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, or Google Play for Android devices). If you do not have the app, you can also use your phone's web browser to go to youtube.com.

On Android, tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. On iPhone or iPad, tap the profile icon at the top right. Select "Sign in" and enter your Google account email and password. If you have two-step verification turned on, you will need to complete that verification step as well.

The app will ask if you want to stay signed in on this device. Tapping "Yes" means you will not have to log in again the next time you open YouTube on that phone or tablet. This is safe on personal devices but not recommended on shared phones.

What to do if you forget your password

On the sign-in screen, click or tap "Forgot password?" below the password field. Google will ask you to enter the email address or phone number for your account. On the next screen, you will be asked to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, select "Try another way."

Google will then offer you options to confirm your identity. The most common method is to send a code to the email address or phone number on file with your account. Check that email or text message, enter the code on the screen, and you will be able to create a new password. Choose a password that is at least 8 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Staying signed in across devices

Once you log into YouTube on one device, you can sign in on other devices using the same Google account. Your watch history, subscriptions, and playlists will follow you across all of them. If you watch a video on your phone, you can continue watching it on your computer from where you left off.

You can see which devices are currently signed into your Google account by visiting myaccount.google.com, clicking "Security" on the left side, scrolling to "Your devices," and selecting "Manage all devices." From there, you can sign out of any device remotely if you lose a phone or want to remove access from a device you no longer use.

Troubleshooting common sign-in problems

If you see an error message saying your password is incorrect, make sure Caps Lock is not turned on and that you are typing your password correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase letters matter. If you still cannot sign in, use the "Forgot password?" option to reset it.

If Google asks you to verify your identity with a code but you do not receive it, check your spam or junk email folder. Make sure the phone number or email address on file with your Google account is current. If you have changed your phone number recently, you may need to update it in your Google account settings before you can receive verification codes.

If you see a message saying "This browser or app may not be find," it usually means you are using an older version of your web browser or app. Update your browser or the YouTube app to the latest version from your device's app store or software settings. If the message persists, try signing in on a different browser or device to rule out a problem with that specific process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different email address to log into YouTube?

No, YouTube only accepts Google accounts. However, you can link any email address to a Google account, even if it is not a Gmail address. If you have an email from another provider, you can create a Google account using that email at accounts.google.com, and then use it to log into YouTube.

What happens if I forget which email I used to create my YouTube account?

Go to accounts.google.com and click "Find your account." Google will ask you to enter a recovery email or phone number, or your first and last name. Once you confirm your identity, you will see the email address associated with your account. You can then use that email to sign into YouTube.

Is it safe to stay signed in on my phone?

Yes, it is safe on a personal device that only you use. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can sign out remotely from myaccount.google.com under "Manage all devices." On shared phones or computers, always sign out when you are finished to protect your privacy.

Do I need a different password for YouTube than for Gmail?

No. YouTube and Gmail use the same Google account, so they share the same password. If you change your Google password, the change applies to all Google services, including YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and others.

Why does YouTube keep signing me out?

This usually happens if you clear your browser cookies and cache, if your browser does not accept cookies, or if you are using a private or incognito browsing window. Check your browser settings to allow cookies for youtube.com. If you are using incognito mode, you will need to sign in each time you open a new window.