What you need to create a YouTube account
You need a Google account to use YouTube. If you already have Gmail, Google Drive, or use Google Search with a saved account, you already have a Google account and can sign into YouTube right now. If you do not have one, you will create it during the YouTube sign-up process — it takes about five minutes and requires only an email address, a password you choose, and your name.
YouTube does not charge money to create an account or watch videos. You do not need a credit card unless you plan to buy things later, like a YouTube Premium subscription or a movie rental.
You can create an account on any device: a computer, phone, or tablet. The steps are nearly identical across all three.
Key Takeaways
- A YouTube account is a Google account, so if you use Gmail or Google Drive, you already have one and can sign in when ready.
- To create a new account, go to youtube.com or google.com/account, enter an email address and password, and verify your identity by checking your email.
- YouTube will ask for your birth date and gender during setup; you can choose not to share your gender, and your birth date is used only to enforce age restrictions on certain videos.
- Once you sign in, you can customize your channel name, upload videos, create playlists, and control what data YouTube collects about your viewing.
- You can delete your YouTube account separately from your Google account, or delete your entire Google account if you want to remove all your data from Google services.
Creating a new Google account on a computer
Go to youtube.com in your web browser. In the top right corner, you will see a Sign in button. Click it. On the next page, click Create account at the bottom of the sign-in box.
Google will ask for your first name, last name, email address, and a password. You can use an existing email address (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or any other email provider) or create a new Gmail address during this step. If you choose to create a Gmail address, type the name you want (like "sarah.chen.2024") and Google will tell you if it is already taken. If you use an existing email address, Google will send you a verification code to that address — check your inbox and enter the code on YouTube to confirm you own that email.
Next, you will enter your birth date and choose whether to share your gender. YouTube uses your birth date to block videos marked as age-restricted if you are under 18. You can skip the gender question entirely — it is optional.
Review Google's terms of service and privacy policy (linked on the page), then click Create account. You are now signed into YouTube.
Creating a new Google account on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube app or go to youtube.com in your phone's web browser. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner (it looks like a circle with a person inside). Tap Create account.
Follow the same steps as on a computer: enter your name, email, and password. If you use an existing email address, YouTube will text or email you a verification code — enter it to confirm. Provide your birth date, skip or answer the gender question, and tap Create account.
The process is identical whether you use the YouTube app or the web version in your phone's browser. If you have trouble with the app, try the browser version instead.
Signing in if you already have a Google account
Go to youtube.com or open the YouTube app. Click or tap Sign in in the top right corner. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Google account, then enter your password. If you have two-step verification turned on (an extra security step), Google will ask for a code from your phone or authenticator app.
If you forget your password, click Forgot password? on the sign-in page. Google will ask you to verify your identity by entering a recovery email address or phone number, then send you a link to reset your password.
Once you are signed in, YouTube remembers you on that device. If you sign out or clear your browser's cookies, you will need to sign in again the next time you visit.
Setting up your channel name and profile
When you first sign in, YouTube creates a channel for you automatically. Your channel is where your videos appear if you upload them, and where your subscriptions and playlists are stored. By default, YouTube uses your Google account name as your channel name.
To change your channel name, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Create a channel or Settings. You can choose a custom channel name (up to 30 characters) that is different from your Google account name. This name is what other people see when you comment on videos or upload content. You can change it once every 90 days.
You can also add a profile picture, a channel description, and a banner image. None of these are required — you can leave your channel minimal if you prefer. YouTube will not show your real name publicly unless you choose to.
Understanding what YouTube collects when you sign in
When you create a YouTube account and sign in, YouTube tracks which videos you watch, how long you watch them, which videos you like or dislike, and which channels you subscribe to. This data is stored in your Google account and used to recommend videos you might want to watch.
You can see and delete this history. Click your profile icon, select Settings, then go to Privacy and settings. From there you can view your watch history, search history, and YouTube history. You can delete individual items or clear all history at once. You can also pause history collection so YouTube stops recording what you watch, though recommendations will become less personalized.
If you do not want YouTube to collect this data at all, you can watch videos without signing in — YouTube will not track your viewing. However, you will not be able to subscribe to channels, create playlists, or upload videos without an account.
Signing out and managing multiple accounts
To sign out of YouTube, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Sign out. You will be returned to the YouTube homepage without an account.
If you have multiple Google accounts, you can switch between them without signing out. Click your profile icon and you will see all your accounts listed. Click the account you want to use and YouTube will switch to that account when ready. This is useful if you have a personal account and a work or business account.
You can also sign into YouTube on multiple devices at the same time. Your watch history, subscriptions, and playlists will sync across all devices — if you watch a video on your phone, it will appear in your history on your computer.
Deleting your account
If you want to stop using YouTube, you have two options: delete only your YouTube channel, or delete your entire Google account (which removes you from Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and all other Google services).
To delete only your YouTube channel, go to youtube.com/account/advanced, scroll to Delete your channel, and follow the steps. YouTube will ask you to confirm and will give you 30 days to change your mind. After 30 days, your channel, videos, comments, and history are permanently deleted.
To delete your entire Google account, go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & privacy on the left, scroll to Your data & privacy options, and select Delete your Google Account. This removes all your data from Google services and cannot be undone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to give YouTube my real name?
No. You must provide a name when you create a Google account, but you can use any name — it does not have to match your ID or legal name. Your channel name (the name other people see) can be different from your account name, and you can change it every 90 days.
Can I create a YouTube account without an email address?
No. You need either an existing email address or a new Gmail address to create a Google account. If you do not have an email address, you can create a free Gmail account as part of the YouTube sign-up process.
What happens if I forget my password?
Click Forgot password? on the YouTube sign-in page. Google will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you provided when you created your account. If you do not have access to those, you may not be able to recover your account.
Can I use the same email address for multiple YouTube accounts?
No. Each Google account must have a unique email address. If you want multiple YouTube channels, create them as separate channels within a single Google account instead — click your profile icon and select Create a channel.
Is my YouTube account the same as my Google account?
Yes. YouTube is owned by Google, and signing into YouTube means signing into your Google account. If you change your Google account password, your YouTube password changes too. Your YouTube data is stored in your Google account.