I forgot my YouTube password! How do I reset it?

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Part 1: Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions


Forgotten Your YouTube Password? Here’s How to Reset It

If you’re struggling to remember your YouTube password, don’t worry—it happens to the best of us. Resetting your password is a simple process. Follow these detailed steps to regain access to your account:

  1. Navigate to the Sign-In Page
    • Go to YouTube and click on the ‘Sign In’ button in the top right corner.
  2. Access the Recovery Options
    • Beneath the sign-in fields, click on the “Forgot Password?” link.
  3. Identify Your Account
    • Enter your YouTube username, email address, or phone number associated with the account and click “Next.”
  4. Verify Your Identity
    • Choose to receive a verification code via email or text message.
    • If you can’t access the email or phone number, select “Try another way” to get more options.
  5. Enter the Verification Code
    • Retrieve the code from your email or SMS and enter it on the recovery page.
  6. Create a New Password
    • Choose a strong, new password that you haven’t used before on YouTube.
    • Enter your new password twice to confirm it, then click “Reset Password.”
  7. Recovery Information
    • After resetting, it’s a good time to review and update your recovery information.

Note:

  • If you’ve forgotten the email associated with your YouTube account, use the “Forgot email?” link on the sign-in page and follow the prompts.
  • For legacy YouTube accounts (pre-Google integration), the process may differ slightly. Seek specific instructions for legacy accounts if this applies to you.

Part 2: Useful Information and Additional Guidelines


Additional Recovery Tips and Security Measures

  1. If You Forgot Your Email and Password
    • Use the account recovery page and follow the steps for “Forgot email?” to identify your account.
  2. Access Without Recovery Email
    • If you no longer have access to your recovery email, choose the option to answer your security question or enter the date you created your Google account, if prompted.
  3. For YouTube TV Password Issues
    • The process is the same as regular YouTube. Ensure you’re on the correct platform when attempting to reset.
  4. Legacy and Pre-Google Accounts
    • If your account is old enough that it was created before Google bought YouTube, you might need to migrate it to a Google Account to regain access.
  5. Dealing With Forgotten Usernames
    • If you remember your password but have forgotten your username, you can use your email or phone number to sign in, then find your username in your account settings.
  6. Deleting Content Without Access
    • If you want to delete content but can’t access your account, you’ll need to recover the account first, as YouTube requires you to sign in to delete videos or channels.

Security Measures

  1. Update Recovery Details
    • Regularly update your recovery email and phone number to avoid being locked out in the future.
  2. Use Two-Factor Authentication
    • Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security on your account.
  3. Monitor Account Activity
    • Keep an eye on your account activity for any unauthorized access and take action immediately if something seems amiss.

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