YouTube uses your birthdate to decide what content you can see and upload

YouTube stores your birthdate in your Google Account and uses it to enforce age restrictions on videos, live streams, and certain features. If your birthdate is wrong — whether you entered it incorrectly when you created your account, or you've actually had a birthday since then — you can change it through your Google Account settings. The process takes about two minutes and takes effect immediately.

Your age also determines whether YouTube shows you ads, whether you can upload videos longer than 15 minutes, and whether you can go live. If you're under 18, YouTube restricts some of these features regardless of what your parents allow. If you're over 18 but your account says you're younger, you may be locked out of features you should have access to.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube age comes from your Google Account birthdate, not from YouTube itself, so you change it in Google Account settings, not in the YouTube app.
  • You can change your birthdate once per year, so if you made a mistake, you may need to wait until next year to correct it again.
  • The change takes effect immediately and affects what videos you can watch, what you can upload, and what features are available to you.
  • If you're under 18, some YouTube features stay restricted even if you update your age, because YouTube enforces age limits by law in many countries.

How to change your age on a computer

Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel. On the left side of the page, click Personal info. You'll see a section labeled Basic info with your name, email, and birthdate. Click on the birthdate field — it will show your current date of birth.

Click the pencil icon next to your birthdate to edit it. Enter the correct month, day, and year. Google will ask you to confirm your password before saving the change. Type your password and click Next. Your new birthdate is now saved. Close the page or navigate away — the change is complete and will show on YouTube within a few minutes.

How to change your age on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Manage your Google Account. At the top of the screen, tap the Personal info tab. Tap Basic info. Find your birthdate and tap the pencil icon next to it.

Enter your correct birthdate and tap Save. Google may ask you to confirm your password. If it does, type your password and tap Next. The change saves immediately. You can close the settings and go back to YouTube — your age will update within a few minutes.

What happens if you change your age multiple times

Google limits you to one birthdate change per year. If you change your birthdate today, you won't be able to change it again until one year from today. This limit exists to prevent people from repeatedly changing their age to bypass content restrictions.

If you made a mistake and already changed your birthdate this year, you'll have to wait until the anniversary of that change to correct it again. Plan carefully before you submit a change, because you're locked in for 12 months. If you're unsure about your birthdate, double-check before you hit save.

Why YouTube might not let you change your age

If you see an error message when you try to change your birthdate, the most common reason is that you've already made a change within the past year. You'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. Wait until that date arrives, then try again.

Another reason the change might not work is if your account is a supervised account managed by a parent or guardian through Google Family Link. In that case, only the parent or guardian can change the birthdate. Ask the adult managing your account to make the change for you through their Family Link settings.

What changes when you update your age

If you change your age from under 18 to 18 or older, you immediately gain access to features that were restricted before. You can upload videos longer than 15 minutes, go live on YouTube, and access age-restricted content. Ads may also change — YouTube shows different ads to different age groups.

If you change your age from 18 or older to under 18, some features will be restricted. You won't be able to upload videos longer than 15 minutes or go live, and age-restricted videos will be hidden from your recommendations and search results. These restrictions are enforced by YouTube's systems and can't be overridden by account settings.

If you can't remember your exact birthdate

If you don't know your exact birthdate and need to enter one, enter your best guess. You can change it again next year if it turns out to be wrong. If you're trying to prove your age to YouTube for a specific reason — like to unlock a feature or appeal a restriction — you may need to provide a government ID. In that case, contact YouTube Support through your account and follow their instructions for age verification.

If your account is locked because of an age issue, YouTube will usually send you an email explaining what happened and what you need to do. Check your email inbox and spam folder for messages from YouTube or Google. Follow the link in the email to complete whatever verification or correction YouTube is asking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube age more than once a year?

No. Google limits you to one birthdate change every 12 months. If you've already changed it this year, you'll have to wait until the anniversary of that change to modify it again. The system will tell you the exact date you can change it next.

Will changing my age affect my YouTube videos or channel?

Your videos and channel stay the same. Changing your age only affects what features you can use going forward and what content YouTube shows you. Videos you've already uploaded won't be deleted or hidden because of an age change.

What if my parents set up my YouTube account with the wrong age?

If your account is managed by a parent through Family Link, only they can change your birthdate. Ask them to go to their Family Link settings, select your account, and update your birthdate there. If your account isn't managed by Family Link, you can change it yourself following the steps above.

Does changing my age on YouTube change it on other Google services?

Yes. Your birthdate is stored in your Google Account, so changing it affects your age across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and any other Google service connected to that account. It's not just YouTube.

What happens if I enter a fake birthdate?

YouTube's systems will treat it as your real age and enforce restrictions based on it. If you later need to prove your age to unlock a feature or appeal a restriction, you'll need to provide a government ID that matches your real birthdate. Entering false information can cause problems if YouTube asks you to verify your identity.