Other people who use Google can access your name, your profile picture, and other basic info. You can control what others see about you across Google services.
Important:
- If you haven't added a profile picture yet, you'll see your initials instead.
- If you change your Google name or profile picture, it won't change your YouTube name or profile picture. For more information, go to Manage your channel branding.
Learn more about your YouTube channel's basic info.
Add or change your profile picture
- On your iPhone or iPad, open a Google app, like Gmail
or Google Maps
.
- If you don't use any Google apps, you can go to myaccount.google.com or any Google service, like mail.google.com.
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial
Google Account.
- At the top, tap Personal info.
- Under "Basic info," tap Profile picture.
- Tap Change or Add profile picture.
- Take or choose a new profile picture.
- Drag your profile picture to the center of the square.
- Tap Next
Save as profile picture.
Tips:
- Your profile picture is used across all Google services. Your other photos aren't shared. Find out where your profile picture shows up.
- You can tap and edit your profile picture in most places where your picture shows up.
- To find a past profile picture, at the top right, tap More
Edit your name
You can change your name as many times as you want.
-
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
-
Tap Menu
- If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
-
At the top, tap Personal info.
-
Under "Basic info," tap Name.
-
Follow the steps on the screen.
Fix an old name that still shows
After you change your name, clear your cache and cookies. Clearing your cache and cookies may not update your name in every product. Past Chat conversations where you were mentioned may show your old name.
Important: When you clear your cookies, you can be signed out of non-Google sites.
Change your personal info
-
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
-
Tap Menu
- If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
-
At the top, tap Personal info.
-
Select the info you want to change.
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Follow the steps on the screen.
More details
You can change your name as many times as you want.
To add, update, or remove your nickname, go to About Me or account.google.com. For account.google.com, follow these instructions:
- Tap Personal info.
- To the right of your name, tap
- Next to "Nickname," tap Edit
.
Once you add your birthday to your account, you can't delete it. However, you can edit it and choose who can see it.
Important:
- Google may use your birthday for account security and personalization across Google services.
- Changing your birthday can affect your access to age-restricted content or services. In some circumstances, you may be asked to verify your age.
Who can view your birthday
We don't automatically share your birthday with other people who use Google services. To control who can view your birthday:
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left, tap Personal info.
- Under "Basic info," tap Birthday.
- Fill in your birthday information if not already there.
- Under "Choose who can see your birthday," select Only you or Anyone.
Highlight your birthday
When you set "Choose who can see your birthday" to Anyone (or Your organization, if applicable), you can allow Google to highlight it. For example, near your birthday Google may decorate your profile picture wherever it may appear. Others can see your birthday and birthday highlights when they communicate with you or view content you create in some Google services.
If you don't want your birthday visible, set "Choose who can see your birthday," to Only you and Google won't highlight it. Google will still do things like decorate your profile picture in some places, but only you can see them.
Tip: If your birthday isn't highlighted near the correct date, make sure your birthday is correct in your profile. If it appears highlighted to others on a different date, they may have entered the date incorrectly in their Google Contacts.
Some ways Google uses your birthday
Google may use your birthday to:
- Verify your age and make sure you're old enough to use certain services and features.
- Know when to show a birthday theme on the Google Search page.
- Determine your age group for personalized recommendations and ads. You can turn off personalized ads in your ad settings.
You have a few options in the Gender section of your Google Account. You can:
- Specify your gender
- Choose not to specify your gender
- Add a custom gender and choose how Google refers to you
Who can view your gender
By default, your gender isn't shared with other people who use Google services. To control who sees your gender, go to the About me section of your Google Account.
How Google uses your gender
We use your gender to make Google services more personal. When you specify your gender, you help us to:
- Personalize messages and other text that refer to you. For example, people who can see your gender will see text like "Send him a message" or "In her circles."
- Provide more relevant, tailored content you might be interested in, like ads.
If you don't specify your gender, we'll refer to you in gender-neutral terms, like "Send them a message."
Change other info
Change your Google Account password-
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
- At the top right, tap your profile picture or initial
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
- At the top, tap Personal info.
- Select Password. Sign in again if prompted.
- Follow the steps on the screen. Learn how to create a strong password.
You can choose what info other people see about you on Google services. Under "Choose what others see," tap Go to About me.
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