How to Manage Your YouTube Account Settings

Access YouTube Account Settings

On the YouTube website and app, click your profile image, then select Settings to see everything you can manage, such as notifications, playback and performance, and privacy settings.

Edit Your Profile on Google

This is the page you're directed to after clicking Settings on the YouTube website. Click Edit on Google to change your name or profile image (these are the same as your Google name and profile image). There, you can update your contact information, gender, and birthday. You can also choose to make the information public or private.

Adjust Your YouTube Channel Settings

Your YouTube channel contains your public information. You don't need one to watch videos on YouTube, but you need one to upload videos, comment on videos, and create playlists.

Select Add or manage your channels to add a new channel, or select Channel Status and Features to edit the following (mostly optional) channel settings:

• General: The type of currency you accept.
• Channel: Add your location, keywords, and choose your audience (kids or not).
• Upload defaults: Assign a default title, description, or tags to all videos. Set all videos to public, private, or unlisted.
• Permissions: Allow certain people to edit, manage, and upload videos to your channel.
• Community: Add moderators, block users and links, and set commenting rules.

Set Preferences for YouTube Notifications

In the Notifications section, set your preferences for YouTube notifications. You may want to receive messages about recommended videos, when a new video is uploaded to a channel you subscribe to, activity on your channel, when someone replies to your comments, and more.

Control Video Playback and Performance

The Playback and Performance section lets you set your preferences for watching info cards on videos, caption settings (on or off), and whether you can watch high-quality videos. These playback settings differ for each device.

YouTube Account Privacy Settings

The YouTube Privacy settings control who can see your playlists and subscriptions. This section doesn't allow you to change your Google Ad settings or Google data and personalization settings.

Connect Apps to YouTube for Rewards

Click Connected Apps to connect to a YouTube rewards partner and earn in-game rewards when you watch certain live streams on YouTube.

Add Billing and Payment Information

Whether you're paying for YouTube Premium, donating to a YouTuber, or paying for a movie, you need to set up your payment method in the YouTube Billing and Payments section. YouTube also lets you set up Quick Purchase, which means you won't have to verify your identity from any of your devices before making a purchase.

Delete or Move Your Account in Advanced Settings

You can see your User ID and Channel ID in Advanced Settings. This is also where you go to move your channel to a brand new account or delete it altogether. Deleting your YouTube account doesn't delete your Google account.