To verify your channel, you’ll be asked to enter a phone number. We’ll send a verification code by text or voice call to that phone number.
Once you've verified your account, you can:
You may also be asked to verify your account when you sign up. Note: Not all carriers support text messages and/or voice calls from Google.
Why does YouTube ask for my phone number?
We take spam and abuse seriously. Using phone numbers to verify identity is one way to protect our community and combat abuse.
We use the phone number to send you a verification code. We also make sure the phone number is linked to no more than 2 channels per year.
I haven't received the verification code
You should get the code immediately. If you haven't, you can request a new code. If you don't receive a code, you may be running into one of these common problems:
- Some carriers don't support text messages or voice calls from Google: Most mobile carriers support text messages from Google. You can try either the text message or voice call option, or use a phone number from a different carrier. If you don't receive a new code, it’s possible that your carrier doesn’t support Google text or voice messages.
- There are too many accounts with the same phone number: If you get the error message, "This phone number has already created the maximum number of accounts," you'll have to use a different number. To help prevent abuse, a phone number can only be associated with 2 channels per year.
- Text message delivery can be delayed: Delays can happen in densely populated areas, or if your carrier's infrastructure isn't well maintained. If you've waited more than a few minutes and still haven't received our text message, try the voice call option.