How to Create a YouTube Channel
A Google Account alone is enough to watch, like and subscribe on YouTube, but you need a YouTube channel to upload videos, comment or make playlists. Without a channel, you have no public presence on YouTube.
What you'll learn in this guide
- Creating a personal channel
- Creating a business-name channel
- Choosing a name and Handle
In this guide
1Create a personal channel
On a computer or the mobile site.
- Sign in to YouTube on a computer or the mobile site.
- Click your profile picture, then open Settings.
- Go to the Account section and select Add or manage channel(s).
- Click Create a channel.
- Choose a profile picture, type your name and Handle.
- Click Create channel.
2Create a business-name channel
A business-name channel is connected to a Brand Account.
- Sign in to YouTube and open your channel list.
- Click Create a new channel (or choose a Brand Account you already manage).
- Choose a profile picture, name and Handle.
- Click Create channel — this creates a new Brand Account.
- You can add channel owners and managers afterwards.
💡 Pro Tip
Decide your channel name and Handle in advance — the Handle is the unique name people use to find you on YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a Google Account to create a YouTube channel?
Yes — you need a Google Account to sign in to YouTube and create a channel.
What is the difference between a personal channel and a business-name channel?
A personal channel can only be managed by you; a business-name channel is connected to a Brand Account and can have more than one manager or owner.
Can you upload videos without a channel?
No — you need a channel to upload videos, comment or make playlists.
Can you create more than one channel from one Google Account?
YouTube Help says channels can be managed from Add or manage channel(s) in the Account section; the exact limit on how many channels one Google Account can create was not verified on this page.
What should you do after creating a channel?
YouTube Help links to customising your channel — after the profile picture, name and Handle, you can set the description and other details in channel customisation.