YouTube Channel Hacked? Recovery & Security Guide
Your beloved YouTube channel could be at risk of hacking. At any time, your account might fall into the hands of someone else. But don’t worry — if you follow a few essential steps, you can recover your channel on your own, without even needing to contact YouTube support.
Step 1: Secure Your Channel
- Check Who Has Access
Review who currently has access to your YouTube channel. Are they trustworthy? Make sure they don’t fall for phishing emails, malicious links, or fake websites. - Enable All Security Features
Turn on all available YouTube security options, such as two-step verification. Keep an eye on any emails or messages from YouTube’s dashboard and follow their security advice promptly.
️ Step 2: Switch from Personal to Brand Account
If your YouTube channel is still set up as a personal account, it’s time to convert it to a brand account. This allows you to add multiple Gmail accounts as owners or managers.
Why is this important?
- Your original Gmail (used to create the channel) remains the Primary Owner.
- You can use a second Gmail for day-to-day operations.
- Safely store the original Gmail credentials and avoid using it regularly — save it for emergencies only.
️ What to Do If Your Channel Gets Hacked
- Log in Using the Primary Gmail
If your channel is hacked, log in with the original Gmail address that holds the primary ownership. - Remove Hacker’s Access
Go to the dashboard, identify the Gmail address the hacker is using, and remove their access from your channel. - Regain Full Control
Once the hacker’s access is removed, full control of your channel will return to you.
✅ In Summary:
- Update your security settings
- Convert to a brand account
- Share ownership wisely
- Keep your primary Gmail safe and offline
- Regain access using primary ownership if hacked
If you’ve already done all these steps — double congratulations!
And if you haven’t yet — triple congratulations! Because now you know, and you can take action to protect your channel immediately.