How to set up a YouTube channel: A step by step guide

Setting up a YouTube channel is easy, fast, and free. It gives you access to a large audience, with over two billion people using the service monthly. But there’s a lot of competition, as more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. You must truly stand out from the crowd to succeed and make money on the platform. We can’t give you the formula for success, but we can help you through the very first step. Here’s how to set up a YouTube channel.

Read more: All of the official YouTube apps

Editor’s note: We put together these instructions with a custom PC running Windows 11. More specifically, we used Chrome browser version 110.0.5481.178.

Start with a Google account

To create a YouTube channel, you first need a Google account. It’s free and gives you access to YouTube and all Google services, including Gmail, Maps, and Photos, to name a few. Creating a Google account is a breeze. If you don’t have it already, we have a dedicated guide on creating a Google account.

Now you’re ready to make a YouTube channel

Once you have a Google account, visit YouTube’s website and sign in. The next step is to click on your profile image in the upper-right corner and select Settings. You should now see a link titled Create a new channel next to Your channel — click it. If you already have a channel, you will have other options; select Add or manage your channel(s). Then click where it says Create a new channel.

You’ll be asked to upload an image and enter your channel name. When done, hit Create channel.

In some cases, you may be asked to verify your account. All you have to do is add your phone number, select whether you want to receive your verification code via an SMS or a voice call, and click Continue. The last step is to type in your verification code and click Continue again.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Create a Google account if you don’t have one already.
2. Visit YouTube’s website and sign in.
3. Click on your profile in the upper-right corner.
4. Hit Settings.
5. Click on Create a channel under Your channel.
6. Other options will appear if you already have another channel. In this case, select Add or manage your channel(s).
7. Click the Create a new channel button.
8. Enter the channel name and upload an image, then select Create channel.
9. If you must verify your account, type in your phone number, choose SMS or voice call, and click Continue.
10. Enter the verification code and click Continue to set up your YouTube channel.

Congrats, you’ve now successfully set up a YouTube channel. But this is just the first step. To appear professional, you must add a description, contact info, links, and modify other details. Just click the Customize channel button and play around with the options available.

Everything is pretty straightforward. Make sure to fill out every single option and make the channel look as good as possible. Once that’s all set up, you can begin uploading videos and start chasing your dream of becoming the next big thing on YouTube. Good luck!

Read more: All the YouTube services, including Music, Premium, and TV

Become a YouTube pro!

Pro tip: There’s so much more to know about succeeding on the platform. For example, you can learn how to produce videos to a professional standard, and figure out how to build your following to the point your channel can be monetized.

If you’re still hungry for tips, the Ultimate YouTube Masterclass Bundle can be your guide. It’s a five-part online learning kit containing all the strategies you’ll need, and it’s available on our Tech Deals site. Instead of paying the $995 retail value of the courses, you can grab the lot for just $29.

To check out what you get in the 28 hours of expert-led content, hit the button below.

Next: Common YouTube issues and how to fix them

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