YouTube requires your birth date to show your real age, and you can change it in your account settings

YouTube stores your birth date in your Google Account — the same account that powers Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services. You can change the birth date you provided when you created the account, but the process depends on whether you set up the account as a minor or an adult, and how long ago you created it.

If you entered a birth date that makes you under 18 according to YouTube's records, the platform restricts what you can do: you cannot upload videos, create custom thumbnails, or access certain monetization features. Changing your age to 18 or older removes these restrictions. If you entered an incorrect birth date for any reason — you were born in a different year, you mistyped the date, or you used a fake date when you signed up — you can update it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your YouTube age comes from your Google Account birth date, which you can change in your account settings under "Personal info."
  • If you were under 18 when you created the account, YouTube may have limited your features; changing your age to 18 or older removes most of those limits.
  • You can change your birth date once per year, so choose carefully if you are updating it.
  • If you created the account as a minor and a parent or guardian set parental controls, you may need their permission to change the birth date.

How to change your birth date in Google Account settings

Go to myaccount.google.com in your browser and sign in with the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel. On the left side, click Personal info. You will see a section labeled Basic info with your name, email, and birth date.

Click on the birth date field. A calendar picker will appear. Select your birth month, day, and year, then click Save. Google will ask you to confirm your password before the change takes effect. Once you save, the new birth date is live on your YouTube account when ready.

If you do not see a birth date field or cannot click on it, your account may have parental controls enabled. See the section below on parental controls for next steps.

The one-change-per-year limit and what it means

Google allows you to change your birth date only once every 12 months. This limit exists to prevent people from repeatedly changing their age to bypass YouTube's age-based restrictions. If you have already changed your birth date in the past year, you will see a message saying you cannot change it again until a specific date.

If you made a mistake and changed your birth date recently, you will have to wait until the 12-month window closes before you can change it again. There is no way to request an exception or speed up this process through YouTube support. Plan your change carefully, especially if you are correcting a significant error.

What happens when you change your age from under 18 to 18 or older

If your account was created when you were under 18, YouTube applied restrictions to protect minors. These include no video uploads, no custom thumbnails, no live streaming, and no access to YouTube Partner Program features like monetization. When you change your birth date to 18 or older, these restrictions lift automatically within a few hours.

Your watch history, subscriptions, and playlists do not change. Your channel name and content remain the same. The only difference is that you now have access to features YouTube reserves for adults. If you plan to start uploading videos or monetizing your channel, changing your age is often the first step.

If a parent or guardian set up parental controls

If you created your YouTube account as a minor and a parent or guardian enrolled it in Google Family Link, you cannot change your birth date without their permission. Family Link is Google's parental control tool that lets guardians manage what accounts can do.

To change your birth date, ask the parent or guardian who set up Family Link to remove the account from Family Link, or to change the birth date themselves through their Family Link app or website. Once the account is no longer supervised, you can change the birth date on your own. If you no longer have contact with the guardian who set up Family Link, you can contact Google Support to explain the situation, though they may ask for proof of identity or age.

Changing your age if you cannot access your Google Account

If you forgot your Google Account password or no longer have access to the email address associated with your YouTube channel, you will need to recover your account before you can change your birth date. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow the steps to verify your identity. Google will ask for your recovery email, a phone number linked to the account, or answers to security questions you set up.

Once you regain access, follow the steps in the "How to change your birth date" section above. If you cannot recover your account through the standard process, Google Support may be able to help, but the process can take several days.

Why YouTube asks for your birth date in the first place

YouTube collects birth dates to comply with laws that protect children online, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States. COPPA restricts how platforms can collect data from users under 13 and requires parental consent for accounts created by children. YouTube uses your birth date to determine which rules explore to your account.

Your birth date is also used to enforce YouTube's own policies: users under 18 cannot upload videos or access certain features, and users under 13 cannot create their own channels at all (they can only use supervised accounts through Family Link). The birth date you provide is stored in your Google Account and is not shared with other Google services unless you allow it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my YouTube age without changing my Google Account birth date?

No. YouTube pulls your age directly from your Google Account birth date, so changing one changes the other. There is no separate YouTube age setting.

What if I entered a fake birth date when I created my account?

You can change it to your real birth date using the steps above. Keep in mind the one-change-per-year limit applies, so if you have already changed your birth date once this year, you will have to wait until the 12-month window closes.

Will changing my age affect my YouTube watch history or subscriptions?

No. Changing your birth date does not delete or alter your watch history, subscriptions, playlists, or any other channel data. Only your age-based feature restrictions change.

How long does it take for YouTube to recognize my new age?

The change usually takes effect within a few hours. If you were under 18 and just turned 18 according to your new birth date, features like video uploads and live streaming should become available within that time.

Can I change my birth date if I am under 13?

If your account is supervised through Family Link, a parent or guardian must make the change. If you created an account without parental consent and you are actually under 13, you should not have an independent YouTube account under COPPA rules, and Google may disable it if discovered.