The fastest way to log in to YouTube
Go to youtube.com and click Sign in in the top right corner. Enter the email address or phone number linked to your 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.
If you do not remember your password, click Forgot password? on the sign-in screen. YouTube will ask you to verify your identity — usually by entering a recovery email or phone number — then send you a link to reset it. Check your spam folder if you do not see the reset email within a few minutes.
Once you sign in, your subscriptions, watch history, and playlists appear on your home page. You stay signed in until you manually sign out or clear your browser cookies.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube sign-in happens at youtube.com with your email or phone number and password.
- Two-step verification adds a security step that requires a code from your phone or authenticator app.
- If you forget your password, use the recovery email or phone number linked to your account to reset it.
- You can stay signed in across devices, but signing out on one device does not sign you out on others.
- YouTube remembers your preferences and watch history only when you are signed in to your account.
What to do if you forgot your password
Click Forgot password? on the YouTube sign-in page. YouTube will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or skip that step if you cannot recall it. Then you will be asked to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up when you created your account.
If you set up a recovery email, YouTube sends a password reset link to that address. Click the link and create a new password. If you set up a recovery phone number instead, YouTube texts or calls you with a verification code — enter that code on the reset page to proceed.
After you reset your password, you can sign back in when ready with your new one. Write down your new password somewhere safe, or use a password manager to store it.
Signing in on different devices
You can sign into YouTube on your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV using the same email and password. On mobile devices, open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture in the top right, and tap Sign in. Enter your email and password as you would on a computer.
On a smart TV or streaming device, YouTube usually shows a code on the screen. Go to youtube.com/set up on a phone or computer, enter that code, and confirm the sign-in. This method is faster than typing your password on a TV remote.
Signing in on one device does not sign you out on others. If you want to sign out everywhere at once, go to your Google Account settings, find Security in the left menu, scroll to Your devices, and click Manage all devices. Select any device and choose Sign out.
Two-step verification and account security
Two-step verification adds a second security layer by requiring a code in addition to your password. When you turn it on, YouTube sends a code to your phone or generates one in an authenticator app each time you sign in from a new device. This prevents someone from accessing your account even if they know your password.
To turn on two-step verification, sign into your Google Account at myaccount.google.com. Click Security in the left menu, scroll to How you sign in to Google, and click 2-Step Verification. Follow the prompts to add your phone number or set up an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy.
Once two-step verification is on, you will see a prompt asking for a code each time you sign in from a device YouTube does not recognize. You can tell YouTube to trust a device for 30 days so you do not have to enter a code every single time.
Staying signed in versus signing out
When you sign in to YouTube, the site remembers your choice and keeps you signed in until you manually sign out. This means your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history load automatically the next time you visit. If you share a device with others, you should sign out when you are done so they cannot see your activity.
To sign out, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Sign out. On a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture, then tap Sign out. On a smart TV, go to your account settings and choose Sign out from the menu.
If you use a public or shared computer, you can also clear your browser cookies after you sign out. This removes any stored information about your account. In most browsers, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the clear browsing data menu.
Troubleshooting common sign-in problems
If YouTube says your email or password is wrong, double-check that you are typing them correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, so "Password" is different from "password". If you still cannot sign in, use the password reset process described above.
If you see a message saying your account has unusual activity, Google may have temporarily locked it for security reasons. Check your recovery email for a message from Google explaining what happened. You can usually unlock your account by confirming your identity through that email or phone number.
If you are trying to sign in on a work or school network, the network administrator may have blocked YouTube. Try signing in on a different network or using a mobile hotspot to test whether the problem is with the network or your account. If the problem persists on other networks, contact Google Support through your Google Account settings.
Using a Google Account to sign into YouTube
YouTube uses Google Accounts for sign-in, so your YouTube account is the same as your Google Account. If you have a Gmail address, you already have a Google Account. If you do not, you can create one at accounts.google.com by clicking Create account.
When you create a Google Account, you set up an email address and password that work for YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services. You sign into all of them with the same credentials. If you change your Google Account password, the change applies to YouTube as well.
If you have multiple Google Accounts, you can sign into YouTube with any of them. Click your profile picture, then click Add another account to sign in with a different email. YouTube will remember all your accounts and let you switch between them without signing out and back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sign into YouTube without a Google Account?
No. YouTube requires a Google Account to sign in and use features like subscriptions, playlists, and watch history. You can create a free Google Account at accounts.google.com using any email address, or you can use an existing Gmail address if you have one.
What should I do if I cannot remember the email address for my YouTube account?
If you created your account years ago, check old emails or documents where you might have written it down. You can also try signing in with any email addresses you have used. If none of them work, you may need to create a new account and subscribe to your favorite channels again.
Is it safe to stay signed into YouTube on a shared computer?
No. If you share a computer with others, sign out when you are done so they cannot see your watch history, subscriptions, or personal information. On a public computer like one in a library, always sign out and clear your browser cookies before you leave.
Can I sign into YouTube on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes. You can be signed into YouTube on your phone, computer, and smart TV simultaneously. Each device stays signed in independently until you sign out on that specific device or sign out everywhere through your Google Account settings.
What happens if I forget my recovery email or phone number?
If you cannot access your recovery email or phone number, you may not be able to reset your password. Contact Google Support through your Google Account settings and explain the situation. Google can help you recover your account, but the process may take several days and require you to answer security questions.