Where YouTube stores your age and why it matters

YouTube gets your age from your Google Account, not from YouTube itself. When you created your Google Account, you entered a birth date. YouTube uses that same birth date to decide what content you can watch, what ads you see, and whether you can use certain features like uploading videos or creating a channel.

If the birth date in your Google Account is wrong, YouTube will show you the wrong restrictions. A birth date that lists you as under 18 will block you from watching age-restricted videos, even if you are an adult. A birth date that lists you as over 18 will let you see content marked for adults, even if you are a minor.

You cannot change your age directly in YouTube. You have to change it in your Google Account settings, and the change takes effect across all Google services — Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and anything else connected to that account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your age on YouTube comes from your Google Account birth date, not from YouTube settings.
  • You change your birth date by going to myaccount.google.com, clicking Personal info, and editing the date under Name and birthday.
  • Google may ask you to verify your identity with a phone number or recovery email before allowing the change.
  • The change takes effect when ready across YouTube and all other Google services.
  • If you cannot remember your birth date or cannot verify your identity, you may need to contact Google support.

Steps to change your birth date in Google Account

Go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in with the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel. On the left side of the page, click Personal info. You will see a section labeled Name and birthday with your current birth date displayed.

Click the pencil icon next to your birth date to edit it. Enter the correct month, day, and year. Google will ask you to confirm the change. Click Update or Save depending on what your screen shows. The change takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart YouTube or sign out and back in.

If Google asks you to verify your identity before making the change, you will see a prompt asking for a phone number or recovery email. Google will send a code to that phone or email. Enter the code on the screen to complete the verification. This step protects your account from someone else changing your information without permission.

What happens if Google blocks the change

Google sometimes blocks birth date changes if the account is very new, if you have changed the date recently, or if the system detects unusual activity. If you see a message saying you cannot change your birth date right now, wait a few days and try again. Most temporary blocks lift within 48 hours.

If you changed your birth date within the last year and want to change it again, Google may require you to wait longer. The system is designed to prevent someone from repeatedly changing their age to bypass content restrictions. If you made a mistake and need to correct it quickly, contact Google support through the help page at support.google.com.

Age restrictions and what changes when you update

YouTube restricts certain content based on age. Videos marked as age-restricted will not play if your account shows you as under 18. You cannot upload videos, create a channel, or use YouTube's monetization features if you are listed as under 13. Some features like live streaming require you to be at least 18.

When you change your birth date to show you as older, these restrictions lift when ready. If you change it to show you as younger, YouTube will restrict your account right away. You will lose the ability to upload videos or access age-restricted content until your birth date shows you as old enough again.

Changing your age if you use a child account

If your YouTube account is a supervised account (a child account managed by a parent or guardian through Google Family Link), you cannot change your own birth date. The parent or guardian who set up the account controls the birth date.

The parent or guardian can change the birth date by opening the Family Link app on their phone, selecting your account, going to Settings, and editing the birth date there. Once you turn 18, you can ask the parent or guardian to remove the supervision, which will give you full control of the account and the ability to change your own information.

If you cannot verify your identity

Google may ask you to verify your identity using a phone number or recovery email before allowing a birth date change. If you no longer have access to the phone number or email address associated with your account, you have a few options. You can add a new recovery phone number or email address in your Google Account settings first, then try changing your birth date again.

Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security on the left, scroll to How you sign in to Google, and click Recovery phone or Recovery email to add a new one. Once you have added a recovery method, wait a few hours and then try changing your birth date again. If you still cannot verify your identity, contact Google support — they can help you regain access to your account.

Why YouTube might still show the wrong age after you change it

If you changed your birth date but YouTube still shows age restrictions, the change may not have synced yet. Sign out of YouTube completely, close your browser, and sign back in. This forces YouTube to pull the updated information from your Google Account.

If you are using YouTube on a phone or tablet, the app may be caching old information. Close the YouTube app completely (not just minimize it), wait 10 seconds, and open it again. If the problem continues after signing out and back in, clear your browser cache or reinstall the app. If you still see the wrong age after a full day, contact YouTube support through the help center at support.google.com/youtube.

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 and does not have a separate age setting. You must change your birth date in your Google Account settings for the change to take effect on YouTube.

How long does it take for a birth date change to show up on YouTube?

The change takes effect when ready in most cases. If you still see the old age after signing out and back in, wait a few hours for the change to sync across Google's servers. Clearing your browser cache can speed this up.

What if I entered the wrong birth date when I created my Google Account?

Follow the steps above to change it in your Google Account settings. Google may ask you to verify your identity. If you cannot remember the original birth date you entered, you can still change it to the correct one — you do not need to know what you entered before.

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

No. Changing your birth date will not delete your watch history, subscriptions, playlists, or any other content on your channel. It only changes what content YouTube lets you access and what features you can use.

Can I change my age on YouTube if I am under 13?

If your account is supervised through Google Family Link, only the parent or guardian can change your birth date. If you have a regular account and are under 13, you should not have one — YouTube's terms of service require users to be at least 13. If you are under 13, ask a parent or guardian to help you set up a supervised account instead.