YouTube has introduced a new privacy feature that allows users to lock their individual accounts on televisions with a four digit code. The feature is mainly helpful for households where several people use the same smart TV.
YouTube recently made its TV experience easier by allowing viewers to use their smartphones for tasks such as searching and interacting with content. Now, the company is also allowing phones to help users access a locked YouTube profile without repeatedly entering a code through the TV remote.
The new feature is called Account Lock. Other people using the same television cannot open the protected YouTube profile, once activated. This helps keep a user’s viewing history, searches, subscriptions and recommendations private.
How to lock your YouTube account on TV?
Setting up the feature is simple.
First, open the YouTube app on your television. Go to the navigation menu on the left and select your account. Then select Settings directly below the account and follow the instructions to activate Account Lock.
Create a four-digit code. This code applies only to the particular television or device where it was created. If YouTube is used on another television or supported device, the lock must be configured separately.
Users do not necessarily need to enter the four-digit code with the remote every time. After selecting the locked profile on the television, they can open YouTube on their smartphone. Enabling YouTube notifications can make the process faster because an unlock notification can appear directly on the phone.
What Happens If You Forget the Code?
Forgetting the code will not permanently lock the account. Users can select ‘Forgot code?’ on the TV lock screen and verify their identity by signing in with their Google Account. Once verification is completed, Account Lock is disabled on that particular device.
YouTube says Account Lock is being rolled out globally across most smart TVs, streaming devices and gaming consoles. Availability can therefore vary depending on the device. The company also makes clear that the four-digit code is a TV privacy feature and does not replace a user’s Google Account password.