You cannot see your actual YouTube password, but you can reset it in minutes

YouTube does not show you your password once you create it — that is by design, for your safety. If you have forgotten it, you do not need to remember it. Instead, you reset it through Google Account Recovery, which takes about five minutes and works whether you remember your password or not.

The reset process is the same whether you use YouTube on a computer, phone, or tablet. Google will ask you to verify your identity — usually by entering a code sent to your recovery email or phone number — then let you create a new password when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery to start a password reset without needing to remember your old one.
  • Google will ask you to enter the email or phone number connected to your account, then verify your identity with a code.
  • You can use a recovery email address or recovery phone number — whichever one you set up when you created your Google Account.
  • After you reset your password, use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it so you do not have to remember it.

Starting a password reset on a computer

Open a web browser and go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. This is the official Google Account Recovery page. Do not click a link from an email or search result — type the address directly into your browser to make sure you are on the real Google site.

Enter the email address or phone number you use to sign into YouTube. If you created your YouTube account years ago and are not sure which email is attached, try the one you remember using most often. Google will tell you if that account does not exist and you can try another.

Click Next. Google will ask you to enter your last password if you remember it. If you do, type it in. If you do not remember it, click I do not know at the bottom of the screen. Either way, you will move forward to the next step.

Verifying your identity with a recovery email or phone number

Google will send a verification code to either your recovery email address or your recovery phone number — whichever one you added to your account when you set it up. Check whichever one Google says it is sending to.

If you set up a recovery email, open that email account and look for a message from Google with the subject line "Google Account Recovery" or similar. The code is usually a six-digit number. Copy it and paste it into the box on the recovery page.

If you set up a recovery phone number, you will receive a text message with a six-digit code. Enter that code on the recovery page. If you do not receive the text within a few minutes, click Try another way to use your recovery email instead, or wait a few minutes and request the code again.

If you do not have access to either your recovery email or recovery phone number, Google has a longer verification process that asks security questions or other details about your account. This can take longer, but you can still get back in.

Creating your new password

After Google verifies your identity, you will see a screen that says Reset your password. Type a new password into the first box. Type it again into the second box to confirm it matches.

Make your new password at least 12 characters long and use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (like ! or @). Avoid using words from the dictionary, your name, your birthday, or anything someone who knows you could guess.

Click Change password. Google will confirm that your password has been reset. You can now sign into YouTube with your new password on any device.

Resetting your password on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap the profile icon in the top right corner. Tap Sign out. On the sign-in screen, tap Forgot password?

Enter the email address or phone number for your account. Tap Next. If you remember your old password, enter it. If not, tap I do not know.

Google will send a verification code to your recovery email or phone. Enter the code when prompted. Then create your new password and tap Change password. You can now sign back into the YouTube app.

What to do after you reset your password

After you create your new password, write it down or save it in a password manager. A password manager is a program that stores all your passwords in one encrypted place so you only have to remember one master password. Popular options include Bitwarden (free), 1Password, or Dashlane. This way, you will not have to remember your YouTube password again.

Check your Google Account security settings to make sure your recovery email and phone number are still correct. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security on the left side, and scroll down to How you sign in to Google. Make sure the recovery email and phone number listed are ones you still use and can access.

If you think someone else may have accessed your account, change your password again and review your recent activity. In your Google Account, go to Security and click Your devices to see where you have been signed in. If you see a device or location you do not recognize, click it and select Sign out.

If you cannot access your recovery email or phone number

If your recovery email account was deleted or hacked, or if you no longer have access to your recovery phone number, Google has a backup verification process. On the recovery page, after you say you do not know your password, look for a link that says Try another way or I cannot use my phone.

Google will ask you to answer security questions you set up when you created your account, or to provide other information like the date you created the account or the last password you remember. This process can take longer — sometimes a few hours, sometimes a few days — but you can still regain access.

If you set up two-step verification on your account, you may be able to use a backup code instead. Check your email for any backup codes Google sent you when you turned on two-step verification. If you have one, you can use it to verify your identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my old YouTube password anywhere?

No. Google does not store your password in a way that lets you see it, and it does not show it to you for security reasons. If you need to sign in again, you must reset your password. This is safer than being able to look it up, because it means a hacker who breaks into Google's systems cannot steal all the passwords at once.

What if I get stuck during the recovery process?

If Google's automated recovery does not work, you can request a manual review. On the recovery page, after you have tried the automated steps, look for a link that says Get more help or Try another way. Google will ask you to provide details about your account and may take a few days to respond, but they can often restore access.

Do I need to reset my password if I just forgot it but no one else has my account?

Yes, resetting is the only way to get back in. There is no way to retrieve your old password. The good news is that resetting takes just a few minutes if you have access to your recovery email or phone number.

Will resetting my password sign me out on all my devices?

Yes. When you reset your password, you are automatically signed out of YouTube on all devices — phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. You will need to sign back in with your new password on each device you use.

Is it safe to use the same password for YouTube and other accounts?

No. If someone gets your YouTube password, they can also access any other account that uses the same password. Use a different password for each important account — email, banking, social media, and work. A password manager makes this easier because it remembers all of them for you.