(Web Desk) - YouTube has rolled out a new privacy feature that allows users to lock their profiles with a four-digit code when accessing the platform on shared television devices.
According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, the new profile lock feature is now being introduced globally to give users greater privacy when multiple people use the same TV.
Once enabled, the feature prevents other household members from accessing a locked profile, viewing its subscriptions or altering video recommendations.
Users can activate the profile lock through the Settings section in the navigation bar on the left side of the YouTube TV app. The lock is set separately for each device, meaning users with YouTube accounts on multiple TVs or other compatible devices will need to configure the feature individually.
YouTube has also designed the feature to make access more convenient. Users will not necessarily have to enter the four-digit code with a remote every time they want to access a protected profile.
After selecting the locked profile, users can unlock it through the YouTube app on their mobile phone, provided notifications are enabled.
In case a user forgets the four-digit code, the profile can be recovered by selecting the “Forgot password” option on the TV screen and verifying the account through Google account information. Users can then create a new code.
YouTube, however, has clarified that the four-digit code should not be treated as a substitute for an actual account password.
The company said the feature is specifically intended to provide an additional layer of privacy for profiles being accessed on shared devices rather than serve as a replacement for standard account security.