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This article was reviewed by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals.
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While a Google account is required to sign into YouTube, you don't actually need a Gmail account to watch YouTube videos. However, if you want to watch an age-restricted video, chat on a live video, leave a comment, or subscribe to a channel, you will need to sign in to YouTube.[1] But what if you don't want a Gmail address? This wikiHow guide will teach you how to watch YouTube without signing in with a Google account, including how to create a YouTube account without Gmail.
How to Watch YouTube Without Signing In
You don't need a Google account to watch most YouTube videos. You will be prompted to sign in for age-restricted videos, which requires an account. If you want to avoid creating an account, you can still view and browse YouTube content using the search bar and recommended video lists. A Google account is not necessary to view/browse videos with the mobile app either.
Steps
Creating a Google Account Without Gmail
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Navigate to https://accounts.google.com/SignUpWithoutGmail. You will be taken to a form to create a new account. Note that the email field lacks the “@gmail.com” watermark seen on the normal sign-up page.- You'll only need to use this method if you want to subscribe to channels, like and comment on videos, watch age-restricted videos, and create playlists. If you just want to watch YouTube videos without an account, jump down to Watching YouTube Without an Account.
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Complete the New Account form to receive the code. Here's how:- Enter your name and click Next.
- Enter your birthdate and gender, then click Next.
- Enter your non-Gmail email address and click Next.
- Google will now send a verification code to the email address you entered.
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Enter the verification code. When you receive the confirmation email from Google, it will contain a code. Enter the code into the Google account signup form and click Next to confirm. -
Create a password for your Google/YouTube account. Enter the password you want to use to log in, then type it a second time to make sure you've typed it correctly. Click Next to continue.- Be sure to use a password that's secure and memorable.
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Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click I agree. The “I Agree” button will be disabled until you have scrolled through the terms. After clicking, your new Google account will be ready to use.- If you want to set some more options for your Google account, you can click More options to do things like personalize your account settings and web activity.
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Sign in to YouTube with your new Google account. Go to https://youtube.com and click Sign in at the top-right corner to log in to your new account. You now have a YouTube account without a Gmail account.- If you are already signed in from your verification session, you can skip the sign-in process.
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Review your registered account privileges. With a YouTube account, you can now take advantage of features on the site that you couldn't before. Some things you can now do on YouTube include:- Uploading videos
- Subscribing to Channels
- Commenting on videos
- Making custom playlists
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use YouTube without a Google account?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff Answer
wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can certainly browse YouTube and watch YouTube videos without having a Google account. However, if you want to have a YouTube account, you’ll need to have a Google account first, which is explained in the steps above. Other non-public videos are also listed in the YouTube database, but these can't be watched unless you have been given permission by the uploading user to watch them. -
QuestionCan I sign into YouTube without a Google account?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff Answer
wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerNo, you’ll need to have a Google account to be able to sign into YouTube. However, you don’t need to have a Gmail account to have a Google account, unless you want one. -
QuestionIs it possible to make a YouTube account without Google?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff Answer
wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou’ll need to open a Google account before you can create a YouTube account. The instructions for this are explained in the steps above.
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Tips
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You can always make a Google account with a throw-away email if you want the benefits of the account but don't want it linked to an email you use.Thanks
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