Connecting VidAI to your YouTube — FAQ
The most common question, answered first: your VidAI subscription and your YouTube channel can be on completely different emails — and that's totally fine. Here's the mental model, then the details.
The mental model: account vs channel
Think of it as two separate things that don't have to share an email:
Your VidAI account
This is the account for the tool — your subscription and credits live here. It is not tied to any YouTube channel. It can be linked to zero channels and still do almost everything.
Your YouTube channels
These live on Google. One person often has several, sometimes on different Google logins. VidAI works on whichever one you currently have open in YouTube Studio.
Because the extension simply works on the page you're already on, which Google account owns the channel is irrelevant for the everyday tools. Titles, descriptions, chapters, tags, comment replies and browser-mode translation all run against whatever channel's video you have open — your VidAI login email never has to match it.
So when do I actually need to "connect" a channel?
Only for the fast, background (server) translation — where VidAI translates and publishes languages on its own side so you can close the tab. To do that, VidAI needs the channel's permission, so you authorize it once. Everything else needs nothing.
No connection needed
AI titles, descriptions, chapters, tags, hashtags, comment replies, SEO analyzer, comment summary, and Browser-mode translation & subtitles. Unlimited channels, any Google account.
Connection required
Only the faster Server-mode translation (background translation jobs). The channel must be authorized once — and the number of authorized channels is what your plan limits.
How to connect (authorize) a channel
Open My connected channels
Go to vidai.help/youtube_channels while signed in to VidAI (with your VidAI email — the one with the subscription).
Start the connect flow
Click to add / connect a channel. A Google sign-in window opens.
Sign in with the channel's Google account
Here's the key part: sign in with the Google account that owns the YouTube channel — even if that's a different email than your VidAI login. Then approve the access VidAI asks for.
Repeat per channel
Do this once per channel you want server-side translation for, up to your plan's limit. Re-authorizing a channel you already added does not use another slot.
How many channels can I authorize?
Authorization is the only channel-limited thing, and it scales with your plan. The everyday in-browser tools are never limited by this.
Plans and limits can change over time — the Plans & pricing page is always the source of truth. Manage your plan in Manage subscription.
More quick answers
Do I need a paid plan to use VidAI?
No. A free account can use VidAI and gets a starter credit allowance to try every feature. Paid plans raise your monthly credits, unlock the heavier Pro actions, and increase how many channels you can authorize. See Credits & Plans.
I removed or re-connected a channel — does that use up a slot?
No. The limit only counts adding a new channel. Re-authorizing or refreshing a channel you already connected doesn't consume another slot.
Can my team use the same channel from different computers?
Each person signs in with their own VidAI account in the extension. The in-browser tools work for anyone signed in to VidAI on whatever channel they have open; server-side translation uses the authorization already on the channel. You can link a new device from Settings → Link a device.
I'm signed into VidAI but a channel still isn't available for fast translation — why?
That channel just hasn't been authorized yet (or you're at your plan's authorization limit). Open My connected channels, connect it with its own Google account, and you're set. Browser-mode translation still works in the meantime with no connection.
✅ The whole thing in five lines
- Your VidAI account is the account for the tool — independent of any YouTube channel or Google email.
- Everyday features work on any channel you have open, unlimited, even with nothing connected.
- Only fast server-side translation needs a channel authorized — sign in with that channel's own Google account.
- Authorized-channel count is the only plan-limited part (Free/Entry 1 · Essential 2 · Professional 5 · Max 10 · Ultra 20).
- Different emails for subscription vs channel is normal and fully supported.