How to Switch Accounts on YouTube (Computer, App and Studio)

If you've ever opened YouTube and found yourself looking at the wrong recommendations, the wrong subscribed channels or the wrong channel, you've hit the account switching problem. It's especially common for anyone who has a personal Google account for watching and a business channel for posting. The tricky bit is that 'switch accounts' can mean two different things, and YouTube treats them differently. Below I'll separate them, then take you through the computer, the app and the Studio app.

Switching accounts on YouTube: Google account or channel?

Start by asking which one you want to change:

• A different Google account, which has its own watch history, subscribed channels and settings.
• A different channel under the same Google account, which is how people who manage a Brand Account move between their personal profile and the business one.

YouTube's help centre says a Brand Account lets several people manage a channel that has its own name and photo, and that one Google account can manage several channels without signing out. That second sentence is the useful one. If it's a channel you're after, you almost never need to sign out. You just switch.

Switch accounts on YouTube from a computer

1. Sign in to YouTube and click your profile picture at the top right.
2. Choose the option to switch account. The menu lists the accounts you manage and your main Google identity.
3. Pick the account or channel you want to use.
4. If you choose a Brand Account that doesn't have a channel yet, YouTube lets you create one for it.

YouTube's help page for channel switching describes this flow in the same terms, and the menu wording can vary slightly by version.

Switch accounts on the YouTube app for Android and iPhone

On both Android and iPhone or iPad, YouTube's help gives the same four steps for moving between channels on a Google account:

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap your profile picture.
3. Tap Accounts at the top.
4. Tap the channel you want to use.

The You tab article adds that the Accounts menu is also where you can manage your Google account. If you want a totally different Google account instead of another channel, look in the same menu for the option to add or choose another account. The exact wording can differ between app versions, and I couldn't confirm the label word for word.

Switch accounts in the YouTube Studio app

Studio is where creators check results and edit details, and it has its own switch. YouTube's help says to open YouTube Studio, tap your profile in the top right, tap Accounts at the top, then choose the channel you want to act as. If you ever post something to the wrong channel, this is usually the reason. The Studio app and the main app don't always show the same channel at the same moment, so glance at the profile picture before you hit publish.

Why a channel is missing from your YouTube account switcher

Sometimes the channel you expect just isn't in the list. YouTube's help gives one specific fix: if a channel you have permission to access doesn't appear, switch channels in YouTube Studio on a computer. Other things to check:

• Are you signed in to the right Google account? Brand Account channels only appear for accounts that manage them.
• Was your access removed? The owner can change channel permissions at any time.
• Does the Brand Account have a channel yet? If not, YouTube offers to create one when you pick it.

YouTube's help centre says one Google account can manage up to 100 channels, so a long list is normal for agencies, but not a sign of a problem.

Switching YouTube accounts for freelancers and agencies

If you manage channels for clients, never ask for their Google password. YouTube has an article on adding or removing access with channel permissions, and the better route is to be invited, then appear in your own switcher. It also keeps their account safer. If you're still working out how many channels you can sensibly hold, see my guide on how many channels one account can run.

YouTube's help centre also lists an article on setting a default channel for an account. It exists, but I haven't been able to read its steps, so I won't describe them.

Personal account or Brand Account: what the switcher shows

	Personal channel	Brand Account channel
Who can manage it	Only the person who owns the Google account	Several people can manage and own it
Name and photo	Taken from the Google account	Can be its own name and photo
Shows in your switcher	Under your main identity	As a separate entry, once you manage it
Good for	Everyday viewing and a personal channel	Business or team channels

Switch accounts or sign out of YouTube?

They're not the same. Switching moves you to another identity while the first one stays available. Signing out ends the session. If you're on a shared device, do the second. I've covered it in my guide to signing out of YouTube. And if you want a channel for a new project, creating a second channel is the next step.

Frequently asked questions

How do I switch accounts on YouTube?

On a computer, click your profile picture and choose the switch account option, then pick the account. In the app, tap your profile picture, tap Accounts and tap the channel you want. Menus vary by version.

Can I switch between channels without signing out?

Yes. YouTube's help says one Google account can manage several channels without signing out, using the switcher.

Why doesn't my Brand Account channel show up?

Check you're signed in to the account that manages it. YouTube's help says if a channel you have access to doesn't appear, switch channels in YouTube Studio on a computer.

Does switching accounts change what I follow?

A different Google account has its own subscribed channels and history. Channels under one account are managed together, but check which identity you're using before you subscribe or comment.

How many channels can one Google account manage?

YouTube's help says up to 100 channels can be managed from one Google account.