Sign in with your Google account
Your YouTube channel lives inside a Google account, so signing in to YouTube means signing in with the email and password you use for Gmail, Google Drive, or any other Google service. Go to youtube.com, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Sign in" if you are not already logged in. Enter your email address and password when prompted.
If you have never created a Google account, you will need to do that first. Click "Create account" on the sign-in page and follow the steps to set up a new email address or link an existing one. Once your Google account exists, YouTube automatically creates a channel for you the first time you sign in.
If you are signing in on a shared device or public computer, do not check the "Stay signed in" box. Always sign out when you are finished by clicking your profile icon and selecting "Sign out".
Key Takeaways
- YouTube sign-in uses your Google account email and password, the same credentials you use for Gmail or Google Drive.
- If you forget your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in page and follow Google's account recovery steps, which usually involve verifying your phone number or recovery email.
- Two-factor authentication adds a security layer by requiring a code from your phone each time you sign in from a new device.
- If you have multiple Google accounts, you can switch between them by clicking your profile icon and selecting the account you want to use.
- On mobile devices, read the YouTube app and sign in the same way — with your Google account email and password.
Recover a forgotten password
If you cannot remember your password, click "Forgot password?" on the YouTube sign-in page. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or skip that step if you cannot recall it. You will then verify your identity using either a phone number or a recovery email address linked to your account.
Google will send a code to your phone via text or to your recovery email. Enter that code on the next screen, and you will be able to 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.
If you no longer have access to the phone number or recovery email on file, Google has additional verification steps. You may be asked security questions or to provide other information to prove the account is yours. This process can take a few hours or longer depending on how much information Google needs to verify.
Use two-factor authentication for extra security
Two-factor authentication requires a second form of verification beyond your password each time you sign in from a new device. This protects your channel if someone learns your password. To turn it on, sign in to your Google account, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" in the left menu, and scroll down to "How you sign in to Google".
Click "2-Step Verification" and follow the prompts to add your phone number. Google will send you a code by text or through the Google Authenticator app each time you sign in from an unfamiliar device. You can choose to trust the device for 30 days so you do not have to enter a code every single time.
Keep your phone number current in your Google account settings. If you change phone numbers, update it when ready so you do not get locked out of your channel.
Switch between multiple YouTube channels
If you have more than one Google account, you can sign in to each one and switch between them without signing out. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of YouTube and look for "Switch account" near the bottom of the menu. Select the account you want to use, or click "Add account" to sign in with a different email address.
Each Google account has its own YouTube channel with its own subscribers, videos, and settings. Switching accounts lets you manage them all from the same browser without logging out and back in repeatedly. On mobile, the process is the same — tap your profile icon and select the account you want to use.
If you want to link multiple channels to a single Google account, you can create additional channels through the YouTube settings menu. This is different from having separate Google accounts; all the channels will share the same login credentials.
Sign in on mobile devices
read the YouTube app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone). Open the app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap "Sign in" and enter your Google account email and password. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you will receive a code on your phone to complete the sign-in.
On mobile, you can also stay signed in across multiple apps — Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, and others all use the same Google account. If you sign out of one app, you may remain signed in to others. To sign out of YouTube specifically, tap your profile icon, scroll down, and tap "Sign out".
If the YouTube app is not working or you prefer to use the web version, open your mobile browser and go to youtube.com. The sign-in process is identical to the desktop version.
Troubleshoot common sign-in problems
If you see an error message like "Couldn't sign you in" or "Invalid password", first check that you are typing your email address and password correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure Caps Lock is not on. If you are certain your password is correct, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it.
If you are seeing a message about suspicious activity or an unusual sign-in location, Google is protecting your account. Click "Yes, that's me" to confirm the sign-in is legitimate, or "No, that's not me" if you think someone else is trying to access your account. If you choose "No", change your password when ready.
If you are still unable to sign in after resetting your password, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. On Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), select "All time" from the time range, check "Cookies and other site data", and click "Clear data". Then go back to youtube.com and sign in again.
Manage your account settings after signing in
Once you are signed in, click your profile icon in the top right corner to access your account menu. From here you can view your channel, check your notifications, access YouTube Studio (where you upload and manage videos), and adjust your settings. "Settings" opens your account preferences, where you can change your password, update your recovery email, and adjust privacy options.
YouTube Studio is where you spend most of your time if you upload videos or manage a channel. You can see how many views your videos have, read comments, check your subscriber count, and upload new content. All of these features require you to be signed in with the Google account that owns the channel.
If you want to change the email address associated with your YouTube channel, you actually change the email on your Google account itself. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info", and update your email address there. Your YouTube channel will follow automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I cannot remember which email address I used for my YouTube channel?
Check your email inbox for messages from YouTube or Google. YouTube sends notifications about channel activity, new subscribers, and copyright claims to the email on file. If you find an old email from YouTube, that is the address linked to your channel. You can also try signing in with email addresses you commonly use — Google will tell you if the account does not exist.
Can I sign in to YouTube without a Google account?
No. YouTube requires a Google account to sign in and upload videos. You can watch videos without signing in, but to create a channel, upload content, or manage subscriptions, you need a Google account. Creating one is free and takes just a few minutes.
Is it safe to stay signed in on my home computer?
Yes, it is safe to stay signed in on a device only you use. If you share the computer with family members or roommates, sign out when you are finished so they cannot access your channel. Never stay signed in on a public computer, shared work device, or borrowed phone.
What happens if I forget to sign out on a public computer?
Anyone using that computer after you can access your YouTube channel and make changes. If this happens, sign in to your Google account from a private device, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security", scroll to "Your devices", and select "Manage all devices". Find the public computer in the list and click "Sign out" to end that session remotely.
Can I use the same Google account for multiple YouTube channels?
Yes. You can create up to 100 additional channels linked to a single Google account. Click your profile icon on YouTube, select "Create a channel", and give it a name. Each channel has its own content and subscribers, but they all share the same login email and password.