How to Recover a YouTube Account or Channel

To recover a YouTube account, start with the Google Account it is linked to. A YouTube channel is managed through a Google Account, so a forgotten password, a hacked channel and a locked-out login all begin with Google's account recovery. A channel that YouTube has terminated is a separate case and is handled through an appeal in YouTube Studio.

Find your situation below.

1. You forgot your password or are locked out

Use Google's account recovery page. Per Google's recovery help:

• You are asked some questions to confirm it is your account. Answer as best you can.
• Google says: "Wrong guesses won't kick you out of the account recovery process."
• Google also says: "There's no limit to the number of times you can attempt to recover your account."
• If you changed your recovery information recently, it may take up to 7 days for the changes to take effect.
• Choose a strong password you have not already used with this account when prompted.

If you recently deleted the Google Account itself, the same page says you may be able to follow steps to recover it. Google does not state a fixed deadline on the page we checked, only that recovery is possible "within a certain amount of time."

2. Your channel was hacked

YouTube's guide to recovering a hacked channel says the Google Account comes first:

1. Confirm the hack. Look for changes you did not make, such as altered profile details or videos you did not upload.
2. Recover and secure the Google Account linked to the channel. If you can still sign in, change your password and run a security checkup. If you cannot, use Google's recovery flow.
3. Revert unwanted changes on the channel right away. Delete videos you did not upload, since they may violate Community Guidelines.
4. Reduce future risk. Secure the linked Google Account, ask other channel managers to secure theirs, and use channel permissions so only authorized accounts can manage the channel.

YouTube notes that support for hacking incidents is limited to those from the past 9 months. If the channel was terminated after the hack, you can find an email with details on how to appeal once your Google Account is recovered. Your appeal "may not be accepted if the account recovery is incomplete."

3. YouTube terminated your channel

Per YouTube's help page on channel and account terminations:

• You have up to 1 year from the date of termination to submit an appeal.
• You can submit two appeals within that 1 year period.
• In YouTube Studio, select Begin Review under the termination information, review the reason, then Start Appeal, enter a contact email and explain why you think it was a mistake.
• YouTube does not give a fixed review time. After you submit, Studio shows an expected review time and you are notified by email of the outcome.
• If the termination came from copyright claims you believe are incorrect, you can file a counter notification instead, which YouTube warns begins a legal process.
• After a termination you are prohibited from using, possessing or creating any other YouTube channels, so do not open a new channel to get around it.

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4. Your Partner Program access was suspended

This is separate from a termination. YouTube's Partner Program appeal page says you can appeal within 7 days before a scheduled suspension date, or within 21 days of a suspension that has already started. It also says YouTube's teams respond within 14 days with a decision.

Protect the channel afterward

• Turn on 2-Step Verification for the Google Account.
• Limit who can manage the channel and review it regularly.
• Keep a copy of your video files and thumbnails outside YouTube. If you schedule uploads, posterly keeps your publishing in one place through the YouTube scheduler, and our YouTube guide covers the platform in depth.

FAQ

How do I recover my YouTube account?

Recover the Google Account linked to it using Google's account recovery page. If a channel was hacked, then follow YouTube's steps to revert changes and secure it. If the channel was terminated, appeal in YouTube Studio within 1 year.

How long do I have to appeal a YouTube channel termination?

Up to 1 year from the date of termination, according to YouTube's help page. You can submit two appeals within that period.

Can I recover a deleted YouTube channel?

The pages we checked cover hacked and terminated channels, not channels you deleted yourself. Google says a recently deleted Google Account may be recoverable, so start there if the whole account is gone.

What if I cannot access my recovery email or phone?

Google's recovery flow asks questions to confirm your identity, and Google says to answer as best you can. If you updated your recovery information recently, wait up to 7 days for the change to apply before trying again.

Sources

• Google Account Help: Recover your Google Account or Gmail
• YouTube Help: Recover a hacked YouTube channel
• YouTube Help: Channel or account terminations
• YouTube Help: Appeal a Partner Program suspension or application rejection