Change your YouTube password from your account settings

Your YouTube password is the same as your Google account password, so changing one changes the other. You can update it directly from YouTube's settings page in about two minutes. The process is the same whether you use YouTube on a computer, phone, or tablet — you just need to sign in first.

YouTube will ask you to enter your current password before letting you set a new one. This is a security check to make sure someone who gained access to your device cannot quietly change your password and lock you out. After you set a new password, you will be signed out of YouTube on all your devices, and you will need to sign back in with the new password.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube password is managed through your Google account, so the change affects all Google services you use.
  • You must enter your current password before setting a new one, even if you remember it perfectly.
  • After you change your password, YouTube will sign you out everywhere, and you will need to sign back in on each device.
  • If you cannot remember your current password, you will need to recover your Google account first before changing it.
  • A strong new password should be at least 12 characters long and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Steps to change your password on a computer

Open YouTube in your web browser and sign in if you are not already. In the top right corner, click your profile picture or initial. A menu will drop down — click Settings.

On the left side of the page, click Account. Then click Security (you may need to scroll down to find it). Look for the section labeled Password and click Change password.

YouTube will ask you to enter your current password. Type it in and click Next. Then type your new password twice — once in the first box and once again in the second box to confirm you typed it correctly. Click Change password when you are done.

You will see a message saying your password has been changed. YouTube will sign you out automatically. The next time you open YouTube, you will need to sign in again using your new password.

Steps to change your password on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings. Then tap Account.

Tap Security. Scroll down until you see Password and tap Change password. Enter your current password and tap Next.

Type your new password in the first field and type it again in the second field to confirm. Tap Change password. The app will sign you out, and you will need to sign back in the next time you use YouTube.

What to do if you forgot your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot change it directly from YouTube. Instead, you will need to recover your Google account first. Go to the Google Account recovery page at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow the steps to prove you own the account.

Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or it may send a recovery code to a backup email address or phone number you have on file. Once you have recovered your account, you can set a new password. After that, you can sign back into YouTube with the new password.

If you do not have access to a backup email or phone number, the recovery process takes longer. Google may ask you security questions or request other proof that you own the account. Be patient and answer as accurately as you can — this step exists to keep your account safe from someone else trying to take it over.

How to create a strong new password

A strong password is harder for someone to guess or crack. Make your new password at least 12 characters long. Mix in uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. For example, BlueMoon$2024! is stronger than password123.

Avoid using information someone could find out about you, like your birth year, pet's name, or favorite sports team. Do not use the same password for YouTube that you use for other accounts — if one account is compromised, the others stay safe. If you have trouble remembering a complex password, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, which stores passwords securely and fills them in automatically.

What happens after you change your password

YouTube will immediately sign you out of your account on all devices — your phone, tablet, computer, and any other place where you were signed in. This is a safety feature. The next time you open YouTube on any device, you will see a sign-in screen. Enter your email address and your new password.

If you use YouTube on multiple devices, you will need to sign in on each one separately. This can take a few minutes if you have many devices, but it is worth doing right away to make sure no one else can access your account. If you see a device you do not recognize in your account's active sessions, you can sign it out remotely from your Security settings.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you enter your new password and YouTube says it is invalid, make sure you typed it correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, which means Password and password are different. Also check that Caps Lock is not turned on by accident. If you are still stuck, try signing out completely and signing back in from scratch.

If the change password button does not appear in your Security settings, you may be signed into a child account or a managed account. Child accounts and school or work accounts sometimes have restrictions that prevent password changes. Contact the parent or administrator who manages the account to change the password.

If you changed your password but YouTube keeps asking you to sign in again, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try signing in once more. On a phone, try uninstalling and reinstalling the YouTube app. If the problem continues, sign out of all sessions from your Security settings and sign back in fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my YouTube password affect my Gmail or Google Drive?

Yes. YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and all other Google services share the same password. When you change your YouTube password, you change the password for your entire Google account. You will need to use the new password to sign into any Google service.

Can I change my password if I am signed out of YouTube?

No. You must be signed in to access your Security settings and change your password. If you are signed out, go to YouTube.com and click Sign in, then enter your email and current password. After you are signed in, follow the steps above to change it.

How often should I change my YouTube password?

There is no rule that says you must change it on a schedule. Change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. If your account feels secure, changing it once a year is reasonable.

What if I change my password but still cannot sign in?

Wait a few minutes — sometimes it takes a moment for the change to take effect across all Google's servers. Make sure you are typing the new password exactly as you set it, including uppercase and lowercase letters. If you still cannot sign in after 10 minutes, try recovering your account again or contact Google Support.

Can I see a list of devices signed into my YouTube account?

Yes. Go to your Security settings and scroll down to find Your devices or Manage all devices. You will see a list of phones, tablets, and computers currently signed in. You can click any device to sign it out remotely if you do not recognize it or no longer use it.