The most common reasons YouTube blocks your sign-in
YouTube sign-in fails for a handful of specific reasons, and most are fixable in minutes. The most frequent culprits are an incorrect password, a browser that hasn't updated, cookies that have corrupted, or a Google account that has been locked for security reasons. Less often, your internet connection itself is the problem, or YouTube's servers are temporarily down.
Before you try anything else, verify that you are typing your password correctly. If you have forgotten it, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in page — Google will send a recovery code to your email or phone. If you do not have access to that email or phone number anymore, you will need to use Google's account recovery process, which asks security questions and can take a few days.
If your password is correct but sign-in still fails, the next step is to clear your browser's cookies and cached data. This is the second most common fix and solves the problem in roughly half of all cases where the password itself is not the issue.
Key Takeaways
- Clear your browser's cookies and cached data before trying anything else — this solves most sign-in problems that are not caused by a forgotten password.
- If you see a message saying your account has unusual activity, Google has locked it temporarily for security; use the account recovery page to regain access.
- Make sure your browser is fully updated and that you are not using an extremely old version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
- If sign-in works on a different device or browser but not on your current one, the problem is with that device or browser, not your account.
How to clear cookies and cached data in your browser
Corrupted cookies are the reason YouTube sign-in fails even when your password is correct. Clearing them takes two minutes and works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
In Chrome: Click the three-line menu in the top right, select "Settings," then "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data." Make sure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are both checked. Set the time range to "All time" and click "Clear data." Close Chrome completely and reopen it, then try signing in to YouTube again.
In Firefox: Click the three-line menu in the top right, select "Settings," then "Privacy & Security." Under "Cookies and Site Data," click "Clear Data." Check both boxes and click "Clear." Close Firefox and reopen it, then try YouTube.
In Safari: Click "Safari" in the menu bar, select "Settings," then the "Privacy" tab. Click "Manage Website Data," find YouTube in the list, select it, and click "Remove." Then go back to "Privacy" and click "Remove All Website Data." Close Safari and reopen it.
When Google has locked your account for security
If you see a message saying "This account has unusual activity" or "We detected unusual activity on your account," Google has temporarily locked it. This is not a permanent ban — it is a security measure that usually lasts a few hours to a few days.
To regain access, go to the Google Account Recovery page at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Enter your email address and follow the prompts. Google will ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your recovery email or phone number. If you do not have access to either, you can answer security questions you set up when you created the account.
Once you have verified your identity, Google will let you change your password. You should do this even if you remember your old password — it signals to Google that you are the real account owner and helps prevent future lockouts. After you change your password, wait at least 30 minutes before trying to sign in to YouTube again.
Update your browser to the latest version
YouTube requires a reasonably current browser. If you are using a version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge that is more than a few months old, YouTube may refuse to sign you in.
In Chrome: Click the three-line menu, select "Help," then "About Google Chrome." Chrome will check for updates automatically and install them. You may need to restart the browser.
In Firefox: Click the three-line menu, select "Help," then "About Firefox." Firefox will check for updates and install them automatically.
In Safari: Click "Safari" in the menu bar, select "Settings," then the "General" tab. Look for a button that says "Check for updates" or go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs) and look for "Software Update."
In Edge: Click the three-dot menu, select "Help and feedback," then "About Microsoft Edge." Edge will check for updates automatically.
Test sign-in on a different device or browser
If you can sign in to YouTube on your phone but not your computer, or in Firefox but not Chrome, the problem is with that specific device or browser, not your account. This tells you that your password is correct and your account is not locked.
Try signing in on a different device — a phone, tablet, or a different computer. If it works, you know your account is fine. Then go back to the device where it failed and try these steps in order: clear cookies and cached data, update your browser, and restart your device.
If sign-in fails on every device and every browser you try, the problem is almost certainly your account. Go to the Google Account Recovery page and verify your identity as described above.
Check whether YouTube's servers are down
Rarely, YouTube's servers experience an outage that prevents anyone from signing in. This is not something you caused, and there is nothing you can do except wait.
To check whether YouTube is down, visit a status page like DownDetector or IsItDownRightNow and search for YouTube. If thousands of people are reporting problems at the same time, YouTube is likely experiencing an outage. Check back in an hour or two.
You can also try signing in to a different Google service — Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos — to see whether the problem is specific to YouTube or affects all of Google. If you cannot sign in to any Google service, Google's servers may be down, or your internet connection may be the problem.
Disable browser extensions that interfere with sign-in
Some browser extensions — particularly password managers, VPNs, and ad blockers — can interfere with YouTube's sign-in process. If you have recently installed a new extension and sign-in started failing around the same time, that extension is likely the cause.
Disable your extensions one at a time and try signing in after each one. In Chrome, click the three-line menu, select "More tools," then "Extensions." Toggle each extension off, try YouTube, and toggle it back on before moving to the next one. In Firefox, click the three-line menu, select "Add-ons and extensions," and toggle extensions off the same way.
If sign-in works after you disable a particular extension, you have found the culprit. You can either uninstall it, contact the extension's developer to report the problem, or use YouTube in a different browser where you do not have that extension installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does YouTube say my password is wrong when I know it is correct?
You may be typing it correctly but YouTube is not receiving it because of corrupted cookies or an outdated browser. Clear your cookies and cached data first, update your browser, and try again. If the password still does not work, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it — this also clears any confusion about what your current password actually is.
Can I sign in to YouTube if my Google account is locked?
No, but you can unlock it. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery, enter your email, and verify your identity with a code or security questions. Once you unlock it, you can sign in to YouTube. The whole process usually takes less than 10 minutes.
What should I do if I cannot remember the email address or phone number linked to my account?
Go to the Google Account Recovery page and enter the email address you used to create the account. If you cannot remember that either, select "I don't have access to my email or phone number" and Google will ask you security questions instead. Have your ID ready — you may need to photograph it and upload it as proof.
Does clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
Clearing cookies does not delete passwords stored in your browser's password manager. It only removes the temporary data YouTube uses to keep you signed in. Your saved passwords stay in place, and you can still use them to sign in after you clear cookies.
If I sign in on one device, will I be signed in on all my devices?
No. Each device maintains its own sign-in session. You need to sign in separately on your phone, computer, tablet, and any other device you use. If you sign in on your phone but not your computer, you will only be signed in on your phone.