Change your password from YouTube settings

Go to myaccount.google.com in your browser. This is Google's account management page, where YouTube passwords live — YouTube itself does not have a separate password system. Sign in if you are not already signed in.

On the left side, click Security. You will see a section labeled How you sign in to Google. Find the line that says Password and click it.

Google will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you. Enter your current password. Then type your new password twice — once in the first box, once in the second to confirm you typed it correctly. Click Change Password.

You are done. The change takes effect when ready. If you are signed into YouTube on other devices — your phone, tablet, or another computer — you will be signed out automatically. You will need to sign back in with your new password on those devices.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube passwords are managed through Google's account page at myaccount.google.com, not through YouTube itself.
  • You must sign in twice during the password change process — once to access the security settings, and once more to confirm the change.
  • Changing your password signs you out on all other devices, so you will need to sign back in on phones, tablets, and other computers.
  • Your new password takes effect when ready and applies to all Google services you use, not just YouTube.
  • If you forget your current password before changing it, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in page instead of trying to change it from settings.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot change it from the settings page — Google requires you to enter the old one first. Instead, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery or click Forgot password? on any Google sign-in screen.

Google will ask you to enter the email address or phone number connected to your account. Then it will send a recovery code to that email or phone. Enter the code, and Google will let you set a new password without knowing the old one. This process usually takes a few minutes.

Make your new password strong

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use your name, your birthday, or words from the dictionary. Do not reuse a password from another account.

If you struggle to remember a long password, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone's operating system. These tools store passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you sign in.

Sign back in on your other devices

After you change your password, YouTube will sign you out on any phone, tablet, or computer where you were already signed in. Open YouTube or the YouTube app on each device and sign in again with your new password.

If you have a smart TV, gaming console, or other device connected to your YouTube account, you may need to sign out and back in there as well. The exact steps vary by device, but most will have a Sign out or Remove account option in settings.

Turn on two-step verification for extra security

Two-step verification adds a second layer of protection: even if someone learns your password, they cannot sign in without a code from your phone. Go back to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and look for 2-Step Verification.

Google will walk you through the setup. You choose whether to receive codes by text message, through an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy, or through a security key (a physical device you plug in). Most people use text message or an authenticator app.

Check which devices have access to your account

After changing your password, you can see which devices are currently signed into your account. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and scroll down to Your devices. Click Manage all devices.

You will see a list of phones, tablets, computers, and other devices signed into your account, along with their location and the last time they were used. If you see a device you do not recognize, click it and select Sign out. This removes access from that device when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password on YouTube separately from Google?

No. YouTube uses your Google account password, so changing your password on Google's account page changes it for YouTube automatically. There is no separate YouTube password to update.

Will changing my password delete my videos or subscriptions?

No. Changing your password only affects how you sign in. Your videos, playlists, subscriptions, and watch history remain exactly as they were.

How often should I change my YouTube password?

You do not need to change it on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another site that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. Two-step verification protects your account better than frequent password changes.

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

Wait a few minutes — sometimes the change takes a moment to spread across Google's servers. If you still cannot sign in, try the password recovery process at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. If that does not work, you may have a different problem with your account, and you should contact Google Support.

Can I change my password on the YouTube app instead of a browser?

The YouTube app does not have a password change option. You must use a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. This is the only way to change your password.