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How to create a YouTube Channel

You can watch and like videos and subscribe to channels with a Google Account. But without a YouTube channel, you have no public presence on YouTube. Even if you have a Google Account, you need to create a YouTube channel to upload videos, comment, or make playlists.

    Create an account on YouTube

    To sign in to YouTube, you'll need to create a Google Account . A Google Account lets you use many YouTube features including Like, Subscribe, Watch Later, and Watch History.

    On a Computer

    1. Go to YouTube.
    2. In the top right, click Sign in.
    3. Click Create Account.
    4. Choose For myself or To manage my business.

    On Android, iPhone & iPad

    1. Open the YouTube app.
    2. In the top right, tap the profile picture .
    3. Tap Sign in.
    4. Tap Add account Zoom in .

    - If you're already signed in with a Google Account, but want to make a new one:

    1. Open the YouTube app.
    2. In the top right, tap your profile picture .
    3. Tap Add account Zoom in .
    Once you've signed in to YouTube with your Google Account, you can create a YouTube channel on your account. YouTube channels let you upload videos, leave comments, and create playlists.

    Use your Google Account for YouTube

    You need a Google Account to sign in to YouTube. A Google Account works across all Google products (like Gmail, Blogger, Maps, YouTube, and more).

    If you've signed in to any of these products before, you already have a Google Account. To sign in, enter the email address you used for those products. For example, if you use Gmail, it's your Gmail username. If you don't have a Google Account, you can create one on YouTube.

    Here are a few important details to remember about Google Accounts and YouTube:

    • You sign in to YouTube with your Google Account. To sign in to YouTube, enter your Google Account email and password. After signing up for YouTube, signing in to your Google account on another Google service will automatically sign you in to YouTube.
    • Deleting your Google Account will delete your YouTube data, including all videos, comments, and subscriptions. Before deleting your Google Account, you'll have to confirm that you understand you're permanently deleting your data on all Google services, including YouTube.
    Some older, unused YouTube channels (created before May 2009) might not be part of a Google Account. These channels may need to be added to a Google Account before they can be used.

    When you sign in to YouTube with your Google Account, you can take advantage of many YouTube features:

    • Like videos
    • Save Favorites
    • Subscribe to channels
    • Watch Later
    • Watch History
    • Report videos

    YouTube can also personalize video recommendations based on the videos you’ve liked and watched and your subscriptions.

    Unless you create a channel, you won't have a public presence on YouTube. Your activity is fully private. If you want to upload your own videos, comment on videos, or create playlists, you can create a YouTube Channel at any time.

    Create a YouTube channel

    You can watch and like videos and subscribe to channels with a Google Account. But without a YouTube channel, you have no public presence on YouTube. Even if you have a Google Account, you need to create a YouTube channel to upload videos, comment, or make playlists.

    You can create your channel on either the YouTube website or the YouTube mobile site.

    Note: This feature may not be available with supervised experiences on YouTube. Learn more here.

    Create a personal channel

    Follow these instructions to create a channel that only you can manage using your Google Account.

    1. Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
    2. Click your profile picture and then and then Create a channel.
    3. You’ll be asked to create a channel.
    4. Check the details (with your Google Account name and photo) and confirm to create your channel.

    Create a channel with a business or other name

    Follow these instructions to create a channel that can have more than one manager or owner.

    You can connect your channel to a Brand Account if you want to use a different name on YouTube than your Google Account. Learn more about Brand Accounts.

    1. Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
    2. Go to your channel list.
    3. Choose to create a new channel or use an existing Brand Account:
      • Create a channel by clicking Create a new channel.
      • Create a YouTube channel for a Brand Account that you already manage by choosing the Brand Account from the list. If this Brand Account already has a channel, you can't create a new one. When you select the Brand Account from the list, you’ll be switched over to that channel.
    4. Fill out the details to name your new channel. Then, click Create. This will create a new Brand Account.
    5. To add a channel manager, follow the instructions to change channel owners and managers.

    Learn more about using a channel with a business or other name on YouTube.

    Verify your YouTube account

    To verify your channel, you’ll be asked to enter a phone number. We’ll send a verification code by text or voice call to that phone number.

    Once you've verified your account, you can:

    You may also be asked to verify your account when you sign up.

    Why does YouTube ask for my phone number?

    We take spam and abuse seriously. Using phone numbers to verify identity is one way to protect our community and combat abuse.

    We use the phone number to send you a verification code. We also make sure the phone number is not being used on many different accounts.

    Note: We don’t sell your personal info to anyone.

    I haven't received the verification code

    You should get the code immediately. If you haven't, you can request a new code. Make sure you're not running into one of these common problems:

    • Some countries/regions and carriers don't support text messages from Google: Most mobile carriers support text messages from Google. If your carrier doesn't support text messages from Google, you can try the voice call option, or use a different phone number.
    • There are too many accounts with the same phone number: If you get the error message, "This phone number has already created the maximum number of accounts," you'll have to use a different number. To help prevent abuse, we limit the number of accounts that can be associated with each phone number.
    • Text message delivery can be delayed: Delays can happen in densely populated areas, or if your carrier's infrastructure isn't well maintained. If you've waited more than a few minutes and still haven't received our text message, try the voice call option.

    What is a supervised experience on YouTube?

    A supervised experience on YouTube is available for children under 13 (or relevant age in your country/region) with a Google Account managed by Family Link.

    If you set up a supervised account, we change the videos they can find and watch, features they can use, default account settings, and ads protections.

    Learn more from our most frequently asked questions.

    Content settings

    • Explore: Generally aligns with content ratings for viewers 9+. Videos include vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, and more. No live streams, except for Premieres. Some videos contain instances of mild violence, offensive language, controlled substances, and educational videos related to body image and changes, mental and sexual health.
    • Explore more: Generally aligns with content ratings for viewers 13+. This setting will include an even larger set of videos. Videos include live streams, vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, educational videos, DIY, arts and crafts, dance, and more. Some videos contain instances of real-world violence, limited profanity, controlled substances, non-explicit sexual references and topics related to physical, mental, and sexual health and wellbeing.
    • Most of YouTube: This setting includes almost everything on YouTube except for videos marked as 18+ and other videos that may not be appropriate for viewers using supervised experiences. Videos include live streams, vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, educational videos, DIY, arts and crafts, dance, and much more. Some videos will contain sensitive topics that may be appropriate for older teens, such as graphic violence, adult content, nudity, explicit profanity, and topics such as mental illness, dieting, and sexual health.
    Availability by country/region

    Supervised accounts on YouTube are available on mobile and computer in the following countries/regions:

    Argentina
    Australia
    Austria
    Azerbaijan
    Belarus
    Belgium
    Bolivia
    Bosnia
    Brazil
    Bulgaria
    Canada (excluding Quebec)
    Chile
    Colombia
    Costa Rica
    Croatia
    Czechia
    Cyprus
    Denmark
    Dominican Republic
    Ecuador
    El Salvador
    Estonia
    Finland
    France
    Georgia
    Germany
    Ghana
    Greece
    Guatemala
    Honduras
    Hungary
    Iceland
    India
    Indonesia
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Jamaica
    Japan
    Kazakhstan
    Kenya
    Latvia
    Liechtenstein
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Macedonia
    Malaysia
    Malta
    Mexico
    Montenegro
    Nepal
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Nicaragua
    Nigeria
    Norway
    Pakistan
    Panama
    Papua New Guinea
    Paraguay
    Peru
    Philippines
    Poland
    Portugal
    Puerto Rico
    Romania
    Russia
    Senegal
    Serbia
    Singapore
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    South Africa
    South Korea
    Spain
    Sri Lanka
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Tanzania
    Thailand
    Uganda
    Ukraine
    United Kingdom
    United States
    Uruguay
    Venezuela
    Vietnam
    Zimbabwe
    Hong Kong
    Taiwan
    Features turned off

    Some features normally available in YouTube will be turned off for different content setting options. We’ll continue to work with parents and industry experts to introduce more features over time.

    Here are some of the features that won’t be available:

    Watch

    • Live stream videos (unavailable only in the Explore content setting)
    • Posts

    Engage

    • Comments
    • Live Chat

    Create

    • Channel
    • Live stream
    • Posts
    • Public and unlisted playlist
    • Stories
    • Shorts
    • Video uploads

    Buy

    • Channel memberships
    • Creator merchandise
    • Donations YouTube Giving
    • Movies & TV Shows
    • Super Chat & Super Stickers

    YouTube Apps

    • YouTube Go
    • YouTube Music
    • YouTube Studio
    • YouTube TV
    • YouTube VR

    Misc

    • Adding products on YouTube
    • Cast on TV
    • Connected gaming accounts
    • Incognito
    • Personalized ads
    • Restricted Mode

    Age requirements on Google Accounts

    Below are the minimum age requirements to manage your own Google Account.

    Note: For younger children, parents can help create and manage a Google Account with Family Link. When a child reaches their country’s minimum age, they can manage their own account.

    Find your country’s age requirement

    For all countries not listed below, 13 is the minimum age to manage your own Google Account.

    Note: These requirements may not be applicable to Google Workspace, including accounts in Google Workspace for Education domains.

    Asia
    • South Korea: 14+
    • Vietnam: 15+
    Caribbean
    • Aruba: 16+
    • Caribbean Netherlands: 16+
    • Curaçao: 16+
    • Sint Maarten: 16+
    Europe
    • Austria: 14+
    • Bulgaria: 16+
    • Croatia: 16+
    • Cyprus: 14+
    • Czech Republic: 15+
    • France: 15+
    • Germany: 16+
    • Greece: 15+
    • Hungary: 16+
    • Ireland: 16+
    • Italy: 14+
    • Lithuania: 14+
    • Luxembourg: 16+
    • Netherlands: 16+
    • Poland: 16+
    • Romania: 16+
    • San Marino: 16+
    • Serbia: 15+
    • Slovakia: 16+
    • Slovenia: 16+
    • Spain: 14+
    South America
    • Chile: 14+
    • Colombia: 14+
    • Peru: 14+
    • Venezuela: 14+

    Service-specific age requirements

    Some Google services have specific age requirements. Here are a few examples:

    Disabled account due to age requirement

    Across Google services, if we learn that you may not be old enough to have a Google Account, you'll have 14 days to update your account to meet age requirements or your account will be disabled.

    FAQs for parents about supervised accounts

    What’s the difference between a supervised experience on YouTube and regular YouTube?

    Your child’s experience will look much like the regular YouTube app and website. But, the videos they can find and watch, features, default account settings, and privacy protections will be different.

    The videos they can watch will depend on the content setting you choose for their supervised account. Some features normally available in YouTube won’t be available. Go to our list of some affected features.

    Since self-expression and community are integral parts of the YouTube experience, we’ll work with parents and experts as we consider what features to include.

    What is YouTube Kids? How is it different from a supervised experience on YouTube?

    YouTube Kids is our dedicated app built with kids in mind, while a supervised experience gives parents the choice to let their kids enjoy a supervised version of regular YouTube.

    Videos in YouTube Kids are a diverse but smaller selection of videos than what is available on regular YouTube. Videos are selected through a combination of human review, curated playlists from experts, and algorithmic filtering.

    Learn more at youtube.com/kids.

    What is Restricted Mode? How is it different from the supervised experience on YouTube?

    Restricted Mode is an optional setting on YouTube. It helps screen potentially adult content that you may prefer not to see or don’t want others using your device to see. It’s used by certain users, such as libraries, schools, and public institutions, who want a more limited viewing experience on YouTube.

    Parents of teens over 13 who have supervised accounts managed by Family Link can also use Restricted Mode. They can control the videos their child can see. Supervised experience on YouTube is available for children under 13 (or relevant age in your country/region) and gives parents other filters and controls to manage their child’s YouTube experience.

    The new supervised experience is not yet available for teens over the relevant age in their country/region who have added supervision to their existing Google Accounts.

    What are my choices for content settings?

    There are three content settings for you to choose from:

    • Explore: Generally aligns with content ratings for viewers 9+. Videos include vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, and more. No live streams, except for Premieres. Some videos contain instances of mild violence, offensive language, controlled substances, and educational videos related to body image and changes, mental and sexual health.
    • Explore more: Generally aligns with content ratings for viewers 13+. This setting will include an even larger set of videos. Videos include live streams, vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, educational videos, DIY, arts and crafts, dance, and more. Some videos contain instances of real-world violence, limited profanity, controlled substances, non-explicit sexual references and topics related to physical, mental, and sexual health and wellbeing.
    • Most of YouTube: This setting includes almost everything on YouTube except for videos marked as 18+ and other videos that may not be appropriate for viewers using supervised experiences. Videos include live streams, vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music videos, news, educational videos, DIY, arts and crafts, dance, and much more. Some videos will contain sensitive topics that may be appropriate for older teens, such as graphic violence, adult content, nudity, explicit profanity, and topics such as mental illness, dieting, and sexual health.
    How does YouTube filter out inappropriate videos?

    Our Community Guidelines set out what’s allowed and not allowed on YouTube. These guidelines apply to everyone, regardless of their age. If you set up a supervised account for your child, there are policies to figure out which videos are eligible for the different content settings.

    We care deeply about our users and work hard to exclude unsuitable videos, but no automated system of filters is perfect. You can change app permission and content settings for your child at any time. If you find something you believe is inappropriate for YouTube, you can report it.

    What about ads? Will my child see them?

    To better protect children, ads in certain categories are prohibited and personalized ads are turned off. Viewers of "made for kids" content may see an ad bumper before and after a video ad is shown. This helps alert them when an advertisement is starting and ending. If you have a YouTube Premium family plan, your child is eligible for ad-free viewing and other shared benefits of membership.

    Videos where the creator has told us there’s a paid product placement or endorsement in their video through YouTube’s paid product placement and endorsement notification tools will be shown to supervised accounts on YouTube. These videos must also comply with the ad policy on videos that are made for kids.

    How does YouTube protect my child’s privacy?

    YouTube is a part of Google and adheres to Google’s privacy policies and principles. We know it’s important for you to understand what personal info we collect in association with your child’s Google Account, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage, export, and delete that info. The Google Privacy Policy and our Privacy Notice for Google Accounts for children under 13 (or relevant age in your country/region) explain our privacy practices for your child’s account.

    Your child can manage and learn more about their YouTube privacy settings and controls under "Your Data in YouTube" in their account. This page includes a summary of their video and activity data, settings to manage this data, and info on how their data is used to improve their YouTube experience, like reminding them what they’ve watched, and giving them more relevant recommendations and search results. As the parent manager of your child’s Google Account, you can pause or clear their search and watch history from Family Link, or from your parent settings page in YouTube.

    Are supervised accounts available for schools or educational organizations?

    Our beta is available for personal accounts, not accounts for schools or educational organizations. How you're signed in to your device may affect if YouTube can be used. Learn more about supervised accounts.

    Who is eligible for a supervised experience on YouTube?

    You can set up a supervised experience on YouTube for your child who is under 13 (or relevant age in your country/region).

    You’re not eligible for a supervised experience on YouTube if:

    • Your child is over 13 (or relevant age in your country/region), unless you created your child’s supervised Google Account before they reached the relevant age in your country/region, and your child has not taken over management of their account.
    • You live in the European Union, you set up supervision for your child before April 2021, and your child was under the relevant age in your country/region at that time.