How to recover a hacked YouTube channel

YouTube lists these signs:

• Changes you didn't make, such as to your profile picture, descriptions, email settings or AdSense association, or messages you didn't send.
• Uploaded videos that aren't yours.
• Emails about penalties or strikes for videos you didn't post.

Source: YouTube Help: Recover a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026

The channel belongs to a Google Account, so that's what you recover first. Act quickly: the faster changes are reverted, the less risk of strikes.

1. If you can still sign in, change the password and run Google's Security Checkup.
2. If you can't sign in, use Google's account recovery flow and answer the questions as well as you can.
3. When asked, choose a strong password you haven't used on that account before.
4. Ask everyone who manages the channel to secure their own Google Accounts too.

Source: YouTube Help: Recover a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026

If YouTube detected unusual activity, owners and managers see a cleanup notice in YouTube Studio:

1. Open the cleanup tool in YouTube Studio and click Start review.
2. Check the listed activity and tick the changes you made yourself, or click I made all changes.
3. Review the actions under How we'll fix this.
4. Check who has access, and change roles or remove people as needed.
5. Complete any remaining steps and click Submit.

• Changes are usually made within a few hours, and you get an email with a link to track the request. You can edit the review until the date in that email, usually 30 days, but you can't undo changes you marked as unauthorised.
• No cleanup tool? Do it by hand. Delete hacker uploads that have no strikes or claims; if they have any, contact YouTube to investigate instead.
• Restore the channel name, handle, profile picture and banner quickly, or the channel could be permanently suspended for trademark infringement. If you can't change the name, delete any translations first.
• Remove unknown users from channel permissions, or from the Brand Account.
• Check video privacy settings (hackers may have hidden your videos), your channel's latest comments, playlists, custom thumbnails, subscriptions, and any AdSense or Content Manager settings.
• Check the Dashboard for new Community Guidelines strikes, and contact YouTube if there are any.

Source: YouTube Help: Clean up a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026

YouTube's channel security tips focus on the account and the people around it:

1. Turn on 2-Step Verification and choose a passkey as the second step; YouTube says this gives the strongest protection against phishing.
2. Add a recovery phone number and email address to the account.
3. Review connected apps in your account settings and delete any you don't need.
4. Use antivirus software and turn on Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome.
5. Give staff and agencies their own access through channel permissions instead of sharing passwords, and remove anyone who has left.
6. Use a different email address for YouTube than for your other accounts.

• Check sponsorship and brand deal emails before replying, by calling the company on a publicly listed number or contacting the person you normally deal with.
• YouTube says it will never ask for your password, email address or other account details by email, message or phone call.

Sources: YouTube Help: Channel security tips, checked 15 October 2026; YouTube Help: Recover a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026; YouTube Help: Clean up a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026

Support depends on where you're stuck:

• The channel was terminated: once the Google Account is recovered, use YouTube's appeal form. An appeal may not be accepted if account recovery is incomplete.
• You need a person: eligible creators, such as Partner Program members, can contact Creator Support after recovering the Google Account. If you can't reach it, @TeamYouTube on X can help.
• The hack was a while ago: YouTube's support covers incidents from the past 9 months only.
• You want to chat it through: the hacked channel assistant is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
• You're not sure the hacker is gone: YouTube can't always confirm this, so review the channel carefully.

Source: YouTube Help: Recover a hacked YouTube channel, checked 15 October 2026

Once the channel is back in your hands, the next job is getting regular uploads going again. Zolyp, which publishes this guide, publishes to YouTube as one of 9 platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Business, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads). It creates video uploads and Shorts with titles and descriptions written for search, can set a custom thumbnail on a standard video, and schedules them with the posts on your other networks. You approve the week before anything goes live.