Transferring YouTube subscriptions from one account to another is a common need for people rebranding their digital identity, moving to a professional email, or simply starting fresh. While Google doesn’t provide a single "Move All" button, you can efficiently migrate your library using manual methods or third-party tools. The Manual Method: The Cleanest Approach The most reliable way to transfer subscriptions is to do it manually. This ensures that you only move the channels you actually still watch, effectively "cleaning house" during the transition. Open your old YouTube account on a desktop browser. Click on the "Subscriptions" tab in the left-hand sidebar. Select "Manage" at the top right of your subscription list. Open your new YouTube account in a separate browser window or an incognito tab. Search for each channel from your old list and click "Subscribe" on the new account. Using the Google Takeout Method If you have hundreds of subscriptions, manual entry is tedious. Google Takeout allows you to export your subscription data as a CSV file. While you cannot "upload" this file directly into YouTube, you can use it as a master checklist. Visit Google Takeout while logged into your old account. Deselect all services and scroll down to select only "YouTube and YouTube Music." Click "All YouTube data included" and ensure only "subscriptions" is selected. Choose your file type and click "Create Export." Once the file is ready, download it. You will find a CSV file containing the names and URLs of every channel you follow. Third-Party Automation Tools Several web-based tools and browser extensions claim to automate the subscription transfer process. These tools typically work by reading your exported CSV file and then using a script to click "Subscribe" on each channel via your new account. If you choose this route, be cautious. These tools require access to your Google account permissions. Always use reputable, well-reviewed extensions and revoke their access in your Google Security settings once the transfer is complete. Moving Your Own Content and Comments It is important to note that transferring subscriptions does not move your uploaded videos, playlists, or comment history. To move videos: You must download them from your old account and re-upload them to the new one. To move playlists: Set your old playlists to "Public" or "Unlisted," share the link with your new account, and click "Save Playlist" to add it to your new library. To move comments: There is currently no way to transfer comment history or "Likes" between accounts. Managing Your Brand Account If your goal is to move a YouTube channel you own to a different email address, you don't need to re-subscribe. You can change the primary ownership of a "Brand Account." Go to YouTube Settings on your old account. Select "Add or remove manager(s)." Invite your new email address as an "Owner." After seven days, you can promote the new email to "Primary Owner" and remove the old account entirely. By following these steps, you can successfully migrate your YouTube presence without losing touch with your favorite creators.
Moving YouTube subscriptions from one account to another is not a native feature within YouTube. However, you can achieve this through manual lists, browser extensions, or advanced scripting. Method 1: The "Public Link" Manual Method (Easiest) This is the most straightforward way for accounts with a moderate number of subscriptions (under 100). Old Account : Go to your privacy settings and ensure your subscriptions are set to Public . Old Account : Navigate to your own channel's URL and click on the Channels or Subscriptions tab. Copy URL : Copy the link to this specific tab from your browser's address bar. New Account : Log in to your new account in the same browser, then paste the URL. Subscribe : Click the "Subscribe" button next to each channel listed on that page. Method 2: Browser Extensions (Best for Large Lists) For hundreds of subscriptions, manual clicking is tedious. Automated tools like the YouTube Subscriptions Transfer extension (YST) can automate the process. Install Extension : Add YouTube Subscriptions Transfer or SubShift to Chrome or Edge. Collect Channels : Log into your Old Account , open the extension, and click "Collect channel" while on the YouTube Subscription Manager page. Switch Account : Sign out and log into your New Account . Transfer : Open the extension again and click "Subscribe" . The tool will automatically navigate and subscribe to each channel for you. Method 3: Google Takeout (Data Archival Method) If you want a permanent record of your subscriptions that you can reference later, use Google’s official data export tool. How to transfer all YouTube subscriptions between accounts
does not currently provide an official tool to directly transfer subscriptions between two separate personal Google accounts . However, you can migrate your subscription list using manual export/import methods or specialized browser extensions Google Help Option 1: The Automated Extension Method (Recommended) Browser extensions are the most efficient way to handle large subscription lists (e.g., hundreds of channels) by automating the clicking process. Firefox Add-ons Popular open-source options include YouTube Subscriptions Transfer (available for Chrome/Edge) and SmartSwitch (available for Firefox). How it works: Install the extension and log into your old account Click the extension icon to "Collect" or "Export" your subscription list. Switch to your new account in the same browser. Open the extension again and click "Subscribe" or "Import" to automatically follow those channels on the new profile. Chrome Web Store Option 2: The Manual "Google Takeout" Method This is the safest method if you prefer not to use third-party automation tools, though it requires more manual effort to re-subscribe. Import / Export Subscriptions and NewPipe data
While YouTube does not offer a single-click "Transfer" button, you can move your subscriptions between accounts using official data tools, browser extensions, or channel migration features Method 1: Using Browser Extensions (Fastest for Bulk Transfer) Browser extensions are the most common third-party solution for automatically re-subscribing to channels on a new account. Extensions : Tools like YouTube Subscriptions Transfer (Chrome) or SmartSwitch (Firefox) are popular options. Log into your account and use the extension to "Collect" or "Export" your subscription list. Switch to your account in the same browser. Open the extension and click "Subscribe" to begin the automated process. Important Note : YouTube has "soft limits" on how many channels you can subscribe to in a short window. If you have hundreds of subscriptions, you may need to wait if the process pauses. Chrome Web Store Method 2: Google Takeout (Official Data Export) This method uses Google's official data backup tool to get a permanent list of your subscriptions. SubShift: Transfer your YouTube subscriptions - Chrome Web Store This ensures that you only move the channels
YouTube does not provide a direct one-click button to transfer subscriptions between separate Google accounts. However, you can achieve this using browser extensions , Google Takeout , or by moving your channel to a Brand Account . Option 1: Browser Extension (Fastest for Many Subs) This is currently the most popular automated method. Tools like the YouTube Subscriptions Transfer extension (available for Chrome and Edge) can collect your list and re-subscribe you on a new account. Install the extension : Add a transfer extension from the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-ons store. Collect Channels : Log into your old account, open the extension, and click Collect channel . This gathers your current subscription IDs. Switch Accounts : Use the YouTube "Switch account" feature to log into your new account. Subscribe : Open the extension again and click Subscribe . The tool will automatically open each channel and subscribe you. Note : If you have hundreds of subscriptions, this may take some time (e.g., ~137 subscriptions might take 9 minutes). Option 2: Google Takeout (Manual CSV Method) If you prefer not to use third-party extensions, you can export your list as a file and manually re-subscribe. Export Data : Go to Google Takeout. Deselect everything except YouTube (specifically check only Subscriptions ) and create an export. Download CSV : Download the resulting ZIP file and locate subscriptions.csv . This file contains the URLs for every channel you follow. Re-subscribe : Log into your new account and open the links from the CSV one by one (or in batches) to click "Subscribe" manually. Option 3: Moving a Channel to a Brand Account How to Transfer YouTube Channel to Another Google Account
How to Transfer YouTube Subscriptions from One Account to Another: The Ultimate 2026 Guide If you’ve been on YouTube for years, your subscription feed is likely a carefully curated library of your favorite creators, news outlets, educational channels, and entertainment. But what happens when you need to switch accounts? Maybe you’re moving from a college email to a personal Gmail, taking over a brand account, or simply retiring an old username you hate. The dreaded realization hits: YouTube does not offer a native, one-click “Transfer Subscriptions” button. However, all hope is not lost. While Google has avoided building this feature directly into the UI, there are several reliable workarounds, ranging from using Google Takeout to third-party browser extensions. In this guide, we will walk you through every possible method to move your subscriptions from Account A (Old) to Account B (New), ensuring you don't lose a single creator in the process.
The Hard Truth: Why YouTube Won't Let You Just Click "Transfer" Before we dive into the solutions, it helps to understand the problem. YouTube is part of the Google ecosystem, and subscriptions are tied to your Channel ID , not just your email address. If you have a Brand Account (a channel linked to your main Google account but with a separate name), moving data is easier. However, if you are moving between two entirely different Google logins (e.g., old@gmail.com to new@gmail.com ), Google treats these as two different people. They do not provide a backend API for bulk transferring subscriptions because it would be a goldmine for spam bots (imagine a bot instantly cloning a legit channel's 500 subs). Consequently, we have to rely on Import/Export techniques. Select "Manage" at the top right of your
Method 1: The "Takeout & Thunderbird" Method (100% Safe, No Extensions) This is the most secure method because it uses Google’s official data export tool and a desktop email client. It requires no third-party apps accessing your passwords. Step 1: Export your subscriptions from the Old Account You will use Google Takeout .
Go to takeout.google.com while logged into your old YouTube account. Click "Deselect all" at the top to avoid downloading 10GB of Google Drive data. Scroll down and find YouTube . Click the checkbox. Inside YouTube, click "All YouTube data included." You will see a list of checkboxes. Deselect everything except "subscriptions." (You can keep "playlists" if you want to move those too, but for this guide, we want only subs). Click "OK," then scroll to the bottom and click "Next step." Choose "Export once," file type .zip , size "2GB" (the subscription file is tiny, usually under 1MB). Click "Create export." Google will email you a link within minutes (or hours if servers are busy). Download the .zip file and extract it. Inside, you will find a folder called Takeout/YouTube/YouTube subscriptions/subscriptions.csv .
Step 2: Decode the CSV file Open the subscriptions.csv file with Excel, Google Sheets, or Notepad. It will look like this: Channel Id,Channel Url,Channel Title UCXuqSBlHAE6Xw-yeJA0Tunw,https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXuqSBlHAE6Xw-yeJA0Tunw,Linus Tech Tips YouTube does not have an "
This is a list of channel IDs and URLs. Step 3: Import using RSS (The "Thunderbird" Method) YouTube subscriptions operate on an old RSS (Really Simple Syndication) backbone. RSS readers can import OPML files, but we have a CSV. Here is how to convert CSV to subscriptions without coding:
Download Mozilla Thunderbird (free email client) and install the "RSS Editor" or use the built-in Feed function. Alternatively, use a web-based RSS reader like Feedly (Free tier). Simpler trick: Use a free online tool to convert your CSV into an OPML file (search "CSV to OPML converter"). Upload your subscriptions.csv , and it will produce an output.opml . Log into your New YouTube account. Go to YouTube.com/feed/you (This is the "Manage Subscriptions" page). Unfortunately, YouTube does not have an "Import OPML" button. So we use a browser trick next.