You can watch and like videos and subscribe to channels with a Google Account. But without a YouTube channel, you have no public presence on YouTube. Even if you have a Google Account, you need to create a YouTube channel to upload videos, comment, or make playlists.
You can create your channel on either the YouTube website or the YouTube mobile site.
Getting started | How and why to sign in to YouTube and create a YouTube channel
Create a personal channel
Follow these instructions to create a channel that only you can manage using your Google Account.
- Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
- Click your profile picture
Create a channel.
- You’ll be asked to create a channel.
- Check the details (with your Google Account name and photo) and confirm to create your channel.
Create a channel. Create a channel with a business or other name
Follow these instructions to create a channel that can have more than one manager or owner.
You can connect your channel to a Brand Account if you want to use a different name on YouTube than your Google Account. Learn more about Brand Accounts.
- Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
- Go to your channel list.
- Choose to create a new channel or use an existing Brand Account:
- Create a channel by clicking Create a new channel.
- Create a YouTube channel for a Brand Account that you already manage by choosing the Brand Account from the list. If this Brand Account already has a channel, you can't create a new one. When you select the Brand Account from the list, you’ll be switched over to that channel.
- Fill out the details to name your new channel. Then, click Create. This will create a new Brand Account.
- To add a channel manager, follow the instructions to change channel owners and managers.
Learn more about using a channel with a business or other name on YouTube.