How To Transfer Youtube Subscriptions From One Account To Another May 2026

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.

Method 1: Using YouTube's built-in feature (limited)

YouTube allows you to transfer your subscriptions to a new account, but there's a catch. This feature only works if you're transferring subscriptions from a Google account that's not verified or a YouTube account that's not linked to a Google account. If you're using a verified Google account or a YouTube account linked to a Google account, this method won't work for you.

1. Sign in to the YouTube account with the subscriptions you want to transfer.
2. Go to the YouTube settings page (www.youtube.com/account).
3. Click on "Account" from the left menu.
4. Scroll down to the "Subscriptions" section.
5. Click on "Transfer subscriptions to a new account."
6. Enter the email address of the new account, and follow the prompts.

Method 2: Using OPML (Recommended)

OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) is a file format that allows you to export and import subscriptions from one account to another. This method works for both verified and non-verified Google accounts.

Step 1: Export subscriptions from the old account

1. Sign in to the YouTube account with the subscriptions you want to transfer.
2. Go to the YouTube settings page (www.youtube.com/account).
3. Click on "Subscriptions" from the left menu.
4. Click on the three vertical dots next to "Subscriptions" and select "Subscriptions OPML."
5. Click on "Export subscriptions" and save the OPML file to your computer.

Step 2: Import subscriptions to the new account

1. Sign in to the new YouTube account.
2. Go to the YouTube settings page (www.youtube.com/account).
3. Click on "Subscriptions" from the left menu.
4. Click on the three vertical dots next to "Subscriptions" and select "Subscriptions OPML."
5. Click on "Import subscriptions" and select the OPML file you exported earlier.

Method 3: Manual transfer (not recommended)

If the above methods don't work for you, you can try manually transferring your subscriptions by:

1. Writing down the channel names or URLs of the subscriptions you want to transfer.
2. Signing in to the new YouTube account.
3. Searching for each channel and subscribing to them one by one.

This method is time-consuming and prone to errors, so it's not recommended.

Troubleshooting tips:

• Make sure you're signed in to the correct accounts.
• Ensure that the OPML file is correctly formatted and not corrupted.
• If you're transferring subscriptions from a verified Google account, try using Method 2 (OPML).

By following these methods, you should be able to transfer your YouTube subscriptions from one account to another.

Moving your YouTube subscriptions to a new account isn't as simple as clicking a "transfer" button, but you can get it done using manual exports or specialized browser extensions.

Option 1: Using the YouTube Subscriptions Transfer Extension (Recommended)

This is the most efficient way to move large numbers of subscriptions without manual clicking.

Install the Extension: Add the YouTube Subscriptions Transfer extension to Chrome or Edge.

Collect Channels: Log in to your old account on YouTube. Click the extension icon and select "Collect channel" while on your subscriptions feed.

Switch Accounts: Use the YouTube profile icon to switch to your new account.

Subscribe: Click the extension icon again and hit "Subscribe". The tool will automatically begin subscribing to the collected list.

Watch this step-by-step guide to see the extension method in action:

(including its videos, comments, and existing subscribers) to a new email address, you must use the "Brand Account" transfer method. Google Help Create a Brand Account : Go to your YouTube Settings and create a new Brand Account. Move the Channel Advanced Settings Move channel to a brand account Add New Owner Sign in to the YouTube account with the

: Once the channel is a Brand Account, you can add your new Gmail address as an "Owner". Primary Ownership seven-day waiting period

YouTube does not support direct, automated subscription transfers between separate Google accounts. 

To move your subscriptions safely without risking account penalties from spam-like automated tools, you must export them from your old account and rebuild them on your new account.  📥 Step 1: Export Your Subscriptions Using Google Takeout 

The safest way to get a list of your subscriptions is through Google's official data backup tool.  Log into your old YouTube account. Navigate directly to Google Takeout. Click Deselect all at the top of the list.

Scroll down to find YouTube and YouTube Music and check the box. Click the button that says All YouTube data included.

Click Deselect all in the pop-up, check only the box for Subscriptions, and click OK. Click Next step at the bottom of the page.

Leave the settings on "Export once" and click Create export.

Wait for the email notification, download the resulting .zip file, and extract it on your computer. 

You will find a file named subscriptions.csv inside the extracted folder. This contains the channel names and direct URLs to every channel you were subscribed to.  📤 Step 2: Rebuilding Subscriptions on Your New Account 

Because Google does not have a native "import" button for CSV files, you have two primary options to process this list.  Option A: Manual Transfer (Safest Method) 

This is highly recommended if you have a manageable number of subscriptions. It eliminates any security risks or rate-limiting bans associated with custom browser scripts. 

Open a new web browser window and log into your new Google account.

Open the subscriptions.csv file in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Copy the URL from the second column for each channel and paste it into your browser's address bar. Click the Subscribe button on the channel page.  Option B: Using Open-Source Browser Extensions 

If you are moving hundreds or thousands of channels and do not want to do it manually, you can use automated extensions. 

⚠️ Warning: YouTube restricts rapid, bulk subscribing. If you use these tools to subscribe to hundreds of channels at once, YouTube may temporarily block you or flag the new account for spam. 

SubShift: A tool found in the Chrome Web Store that processes your files locally in your browser.

Youtube Subscriptions Transfer (YST): An open-source tool available on GitHub that can read your Google Takeout ZIP file directly and attempt automated channel subscriptions on the targeted profile. 

3. Notifications will reset.

When you subscribe to a channel on a new account, YouTube treats it as a brand new subscriber. You will need to re-enable bell notifications (All / Personalized / None) for each channel. There is no way to transfer notification settings.

Method 2: The RSS Feed Loop (No Third-Party Tools)

This method leverages YouTube’s old RSS architecture and works surprisingly well for moderate-sized lists.

On your old account:

1. Go to YouTube’s “Manage subscriptions” page.
2. Look for “Export subscriptions” (this option appears for some users under Settings → Advanced → Export subscriptions). If visible, it will download an .opml file (common for RSS readers).

On your new account:

1. Sign into a free RSS service like Feedly or Inoreader with your new Google account.
2. Import the .opml file into the RSS reader.
3. Most RSS readers will display each channel. You will still need to click each channel’s YouTube link and hit subscribe—but the links are organized in one place.

Method 4: The "Channel Manager" Workaround (For Brand Accounts Only)

If you are moving to a Brand Account (a business page linked to your personal Google account), you have a secret advantage. YouTube allows you to "move channels" between Brand Accounts without losing subscriptions.

Step 2: Extract the Channel URLs

Use an online RSS parser or a tool like curl to grab all the XML links. You are looking for tags like <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/..."/>.

Option B: Using a Third-Party Extension (Best for large lists)

If you have hundreds of subscriptions, doing this manually is tedious. Several browser extensions exist to automate this by reading the .csv file and automatically clicking "subscribe" for you.

1. Search the Chrome Web Store (or Firefox Add-ons) for keywords like "YouTube Subscription Importer" or "YouTube Sub Transfer".
2. Install a reputable extension.
3. Upload your subscriptions.csv file to the extension while logged into your new account.
4. Run the script

There is currently no official way to automatically transfer subscriptions directly from one YouTube account to another. However, you can use workarounds involving official data exports combined with third-party tools or manual efforts. How to Transfer Subscriptions 1. Export Data via Google Takeout Method 2: Using OPML (Recommended) OPML (Outline Processor

The first step is to get a list of your current subscriptions from your old account: Go to Google Takeout. Deselect all products except for YouTube and YouTube Music.

Click All YouTube data included, deselect all, and select only subscriptions.

Finish the export and download the .zip file. You will find a subscriptions.csv or subscriptions.json file inside. 2. Import to New Account

Since YouTube has no "Import" button, use one of these methods to add them to your new account:

Browser Extensions (Recommended): Tools like YouTube Subscriptions Transfer or SubShift can automate the process. You typically upload your Takeout file, and the extension clicks "Subscribe" for you on each channel while you are logged into your new account.

The "Public Profile" Hack: On your old account, make your subscriptions public in privacy settings. Visit your old channel's URL while logged into your new account, go to the "Channels" tab, and manually click "Subscribe" for each creator listed there.

Manual CSV Copy: Open your exported .csv file, copy the channel URLs, and paste them into your browser one by one to subscribe manually. New Feature Concept: "YouTube Passport"

To solve this frustration officially, YouTube could introduce YouTube Passport, a secure migration tool located in the "Advanced Settings" of a Google Account.

One-Click Migration: Users could authorize a one-time "Sync" between two accounts they own.

Selective Transfer: Instead of a blind dump, a checklist would appear allowing users to select which subscriptions, playlists, and even "Liked" video history they want to bring over.

Anti-Spam Safeguard: To prevent abuse, this feature would be restricted to accounts with verified recovery phones and might only be usable once every 365 days.

Smart Recommendations: The feature could analyze the new account's viewing habits and suggest only the top 50 most-watched channels from the old account to keep the new feed "clean." Youtube Subscriptions Transfer - Chrome Web Store

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

Subject: How to Transfer YouTube Subscriptions from One Account to Another (Without Losing Your Feed)

By [Your Name / Staff Writer]

If you’ve decided to switch to a new YouTube account—whether due to a rebrand, a typo-ridden old handle, or simply wanting to separate your “work” watch history from your 3 a.m. lo-fi jazz rabbit holes—you’ve likely run into a frustrating reality: YouTube does not offer a one-click “transfer subscriptions” button.

But don’t abandon your carefully curated feed just yet. While Google has not built a native migration tool, there are several reliable workarounds. Below, we break down the most effective methods, from manual exports to third-party tools.

Method 1: Google Takeout (The Official, Safest Method)

Best for: People who want a permanent, verifiable backup and don’t mind a small learning curve. This is the only method officially supported by Google.

Google Takeout is the data liberation front door. It allows you to download everything Google knows about you—including your YouTube subscriptions. go to the "Channels" tab

"The browser extension subscribed me, but the sub feed is empty."

Extensions often subscribe to the channel page, but YouTube’s backend takes up to 24 hours to populate the feed. Give it a day.