The fastest way to sign in to YouTube
Go to youtube.com in your web browser and click Sign in in the top right corner. Enter the email address or phone number linked to your Google account, then your password. If you have two-step verification turned on, you will be asked to confirm your identity with a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app.
On a phone or tablet, open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture in the bottom right, and tap Sign in. You will see the same Google account login screen. Once you sign in, your subscriptions, watch history, and playlists follow you across all your devices.
YouTube uses your Google account for login. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one at accounts.google.com for free — you do not need a Gmail address, though one is offered during signup.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube login uses your Google account email and password, not a separate YouTube username.
- On the web, click Sign in at the top right of youtube.com; on mobile, tap your profile picture in the YouTube app and select Sign in.
- If two-step verification is enabled on your Google account, you will need to confirm your identity with a code each time you sign in on a new device.
- Your watch history, subscriptions, and saved playlists sync across all devices once you are signed in to the same Google account.
Signing in on a computer or laptop
Open any web browser and navigate to youtube.com. In the top right corner, you will see a Sign in button next to a profile icon. Click it. A new page will open showing the Google login screen.
Type the email address or phone number associated with your Google account. Click Next. On the next screen, enter your password and click Next again. If your account has two-step verification enabled, Google will ask you to confirm your identity — you may receive a code by text message, email, or through an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.
After you sign in, you will return to YouTube. Your name and profile picture will appear in the top right corner. You can now watch videos, create playlists, and access your subscriptions.
Signing in on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube app. If you do not have it, read it from the Apple App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play Store (Android). Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. If you are not signed in, you will see a Sign in button.
Tap Sign in. The Google login screen will appear. Enter your email address or phone number, tap Next, then enter your password and tap Next again. Complete any two-step verification if prompted. Once signed in, your profile picture will appear in the bottom right corner.
On some devices, you may be asked to sign in through your phone's system settings instead of the app itself. If the YouTube app asks you to sign in through Settings, follow the prompts there and return to the YouTube app.
What to do if you forgot your password
On the Google login screen, click or tap 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 offer recovery options: a code sent to your recovery email address, a code sent to your recovery phone number, or answering security questions you set up earlier. Choose the option that works for you. Once you verify your identity, you can set a new password.
If you no longer have access to your recovery email or phone number, visit the Google Account Recovery page at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Google will walk you through additional verification steps to confirm you own the account.
Staying signed in across devices
When you sign in on one device, your YouTube account does not automatically sign in on other devices. You must sign in separately on each phone, tablet, or computer you use. This is a security feature — if someone gains access to one device, they cannot automatically access your account on others.
Your subscriptions, watch history, and playlists will sync across all devices once you are signed in to the same Google account on each one. If you watch a video on your phone, it will appear in your watch history on your computer. If you subscribe to a channel on your laptop, that subscription will show on your phone.
You can see which devices are signed in to your Google account by visiting myaccount.google.com, clicking Security on the left, and scrolling to Your devices. From there, you can sign out of any device remotely if needed.
Signing in with a family account or supervised account
If a parent or guardian set up a supervised Google account for you, you sign in the same way — with your email address and password. The difference is that some features may be restricted depending on the supervision settings they chose.
If your household uses Google Family Link, the parent account holder can manage which apps and content are available on your device. YouTube itself will work the same way, but parental controls may limit which videos you can watch or whether you can upload content.
If you are the parent account holder and want to set up Family Link for a child's device, visit families.google.com. You will create a supervised Google account for the child and manage their YouTube access from your own account.
Troubleshooting common sign-in problems
You see "Couldn't sign you in" or an error message. Clear your browser's cookies and cache, then try again. On the YouTube app, try signing out completely (tap your profile picture, then Sign out), close the app, and reopen it. If the problem persists, restart your device.
You are stuck on the two-step verification screen. Make sure you are entering the code correctly — codes are usually six digits and expire after a few minutes. If you do not receive a code, try the other recovery method (text instead of email, or vice versa). If you have lost access to your recovery phone or email, use the recovery process described in the "Forgot your password" section above.
You signed in but your subscriptions and history are not showing. You may be signed in to a different Google account than the one you usually use. Sign out (tap your profile picture and select Sign out) and sign back in with the correct email address. If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you are using the right one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Gmail address to sign in to YouTube?
No. You need a Google account, but you can create one with any email address — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or your own domain. During Google account signup, you have the option to create a new Gmail address or use an existing email you already own.
Can I sign in to YouTube without a Google account?
You can watch public videos without signing in. However, you cannot save playlists, subscribe to channels, or access your watch history unless you are signed in with a Google account. Creating a free Google account takes about two minutes.
What happens if I sign in on a shared computer?
Your account will remain signed in until you manually sign out or the browser's cookies are cleared. On a shared device, always click your profile picture and select Sign out when you are finished. Do not rely on closing the browser — that does not sign you out.
Can I have multiple YouTube channels under one Google account?
Yes. Once you are signed in, click your profile picture and select Create a channel or Create another channel. You can switch between your channels by clicking your profile picture and selecting the channel name. All channels use the same Google account login.
Why does YouTube ask me to sign in again on a new device?
This is a security measure. Google requires you to sign in separately on each new device to prevent unauthorized access. If someone steals your password, they cannot automatically access your account on all your devices — only the ones where they sign in.