To have your own YouTube account you need a Google Account, and the minimum age for that is 13 in most countries but 14, 15 or 16 in many others, including 16 in Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland. Younger children can use YouTube through a parent-managed or supervised account, and you need to be 16 to live stream.
YouTube doesn't set its own sign-up age. It borrows Google's: YouTube's help centre says a teen needs a Google Account that meets the minimum age in their country. And Google publishes that list country by country, which is why the answer isn't simply 13.
The minimum age by country
Google says 13 is the minimum age to manage your own Google Account in every country not on its list. These are the exceptions it lists:
| Minimum age | Countries and territories |
|---|---|
| 14 | Austria, Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Peru, South Korea, Spain, Venezuela |
| 15 | Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Monaco, Serbia, Vietnam |
| 16 | Albania, Andorra, Aruba, Bulgaria, Caribbean Netherlands, Croatia, Curacao, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| 13 | Every other country, including the US and UK |
So a 14 year old in France can't run their own account yet, while a 13 year old in the US can. If you're in Europe especially, check the list before setting anything up.
Under the minimum age
Google says that for younger children, parents can help create and manage a Google Account with Family Link. When the child reaches their country's minimum age, they can take over managing it themselves. YouTube also offers supervised experiences for parents who want more control over what a younger child watches.
What changes for teens
Even once a teen has their own account, YouTube treats under-18s differently. Its help centre says an age estimation model uses machine learning to work out whether a user is under 18, and if so, standard teen protections apply, such as take a break reminders switched on by default. Parents can also turn on Restricted Mode on a teen's device to screen out potentially mature content.
The creator ages
| Age | What it means for creators |
|---|---|
| 13 to 15 | Can have an account (where 13 is the local minimum) but can't live stream; streams featuring them without a visible adult may have live chat switched off |
| 16 | Minimum age to live stream on YouTube |
| 13 to 17 | Mobile live streams default to unlisted rather than public |
| 18 | Mobile live streams default to public |
YouTube is firm on the live streaming line: you must be at least 16, and streams that break the rule are taken down. The account may also temporarily lose its ability to stream.
Why the list matters more in Europe
Look at the table again and you'll see most of the exceptions are European countries, with 16 common across a large part of the EU and 14 or 15 in others. That reflects each country setting its own age for this kind of account. For families who move, or who have relatives setting up devices from another country, it's worth knowing that the rule follows the country, not the language of the app or where the phone was bought.
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Setting up YouTube for a child, step by step
- Find your country in the table above to see the minimum age.
- Below it, create the account through Family Link so you manage it.
- Above it, help them create their own Google Account with their real birthday, so teen protections apply.
- Turn on Restricted Mode on their device if you want an extra filter.
- If they want to stream, remember the 16 rule before they plan anything.
My verdict
The 13 everyone quotes is only right for some countries. Check the list, use Family Link below the line, and use the real birthday above it, because that's what switches on the teen protections. If you need the settings side, here's how Restricted Mode works and how to block and unblock people on YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
What age can you get a YouTube account in the UK?
13. The UK isn't on Google's list of exceptions, so the standard minimum of 13 applies.
What age can you have YouTube in Germany?
16. Google lists Germany among the countries where the minimum age to manage your own Google Account is 16.
Can kids under 13 use YouTube?
Through an account a parent creates and manages with Family Link, or YouTube's supervised experiences, not an account of their own.
How old do you have to be to go live on YouTube?
At least 16, according to YouTube's help centre.
