Best Ways to Delete or Hide Your YouTube Channel

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A user-friendly guide to removing your YouTube content and deleting your channel permanently
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Do you want to delete your YouTube channel? You can easily do so from YouTube itself or your Google Account settings. Keep in mind that deleting your YouTube content and channel is permanent; you won't be able to recover this data afterwards. This wikiHow will show you how to delete a YouTube channel and account using your computer, iPhone, or Android device. We’ll also explain how to temporarily hide your channel or delete your entire YouTube account, even if you don’t have a channel.

How to Delete Your YouTube Channel

  1. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
  2. Tap Google Account > Data & privacy .
  3. Select Apps and services .
  4. Select Settings under the YouTube header.
  5. Choose Advanced settings > Delete channel .
  6. Select I want to permanently delete my content .
  7. Check the boxes to confirm which data you want to delete.
  8. Tap Delete my content .
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using the Mobile App

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  1. This looks like a red rectangle with a white play button in the middle. YouTube is available for iOS in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store .
    • If you aren't already signed in, tap the Account button and do so now. [1]
    • Use this method to permanently erase your YouTube account and its content. You won't be able to recover this data once you delete it.
  2. This will be in the top-right or bottom right corner of the app, depending on your device’s OS.
    • A menu will open.
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  3. 3
    Tap Google Account . You’ll see this option in the horizontal menu bar just below your name and YouTube handle.
  4. You can find this tab at the top, next to Personal info .
  5. This will be below the Data from apps and services you use header.
  6. 6
    Scroll down and select Settings under the YouTube header. This will take you to your YouTube account page in a mobile browser.
  7. 7
    Tap Advanced settings . It’s in the sidebar on the left side of the page.
  8. 8
    Select Delete channel . This option will delete the channel associated with your YouTube account, but won’t delete the parent account.
  9. 9
    Tap I want to permanently delete my content . A dropdown menu will expand.
  10. 10
    Select the data you want to delete. You’ll see a couple different options to choose from in this menu.
    • Tick the first box if you just want to delete the content associated with your channel (including any videos you’ve posted, your playlists, your subscriptions to other channels, your subscribers, your comments and other activity on videos, your gift settings, and your search and watch history).
    • Tick the second box if you also want to delete any paid subscriptions associated with your channel.
  11. 11
    Tap Delete my content . This will begin the process of permanently deleting your content. Verify your selection if prompted to do so. It may take a few hours or even a few days for the process to complete.
    • If you have multiple YouTube channels associated with the same Google account, you’ll need to repeat this process for all of them to delete them all. You can switch to a different channel by tapping your user icon in the top right corner of the page and selecting Switch account .
  12. 12
    Alternatively, use the “Delete a service” option. If you want to delete all the YouTube content associated with your Google account, you can also use this option. (Note that you may need to repeat this process if you have multiple YouTube channels associated with the same Google account.)
    • Tap your profile picture and select Google Account .
    • Tap the Data & privacy tab near the top of the screen.
    • Select the arrow next to Apps and services (below the Data from apps and services you use header ).
    • Tap Delete a service .
    • Log in if prompted to do so. Even if you’re already signed in, your device might prompt you to verify your account.
    • Tap the Delete icon next to YouTube .
    • Select I want to permanently delete my account.
    • Check the boxes to select which data you want to delete. The first one will delete things like your playlists and videos, any YouTube Kids profiles associated with your account, your comment and like history, and so on. The second will delete all your active YouTube subscriptions.
    • Tap Delete my content . Verify your choice if prompted to do so.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Desktop

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  1. 1
    Go to studio.youtube.com in a web browser. If you’re not already logged into the YouTube channel you want to delete, do so now.
    • Keep in mind that this will permanently erase your YouTube channel and its content, including videos , comments , playlists , history, and more. You won't be able to recover this data once you delete it.
    • If you have more than one YouTube channel associated with your Google account, you’ll need to repeat this process for each one. You can switch to a different channel by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner of the YouTube Studio dashboard and selecting Switch account .
  2. 2
    Click Settings in the left-hand sidebar. A new window will open. [2]
  3. 3
    Select Channel . It’s near the top of the menu on the left side of the window.
  4. 4
    Click Advanced Settings . This tab is at the top of the window.
  5. 5
    Scroll down and click Remove YouTube Content . You may be prompted to enter your login details again.
  6. 6
    Click I want to permanently delete my content . A dropdown menu will open.
  7. 7
    Check the boxes next to the data you want to delete. Ticking the first box will delete data like your videos, playlists, account activity (such as comments and likes), and any YouTube Kids profiles you’ve set up. Ticking the second box will delete your active YouTube subscriptions.
  8. 8
    Click Delete my content. You may be prompted to enter your sign-in details again to verify your choice. Be patient–it may take a few hours or even a few days for YouTube to finish deleting your content!
  9. 9
    Alternatively, delete your YouTube content from your Google account. You can also delete your YouTube data from your Google account page. To do so:
    • Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser. All YouTube accounts are linked with a Google account. If you aren't already signed in, enter your email address and password to do so now. [3]
    • Click Data & privacy in the left-hand menu panel.
    • Click Delete a Google service . Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find it. You may be prompted to sign in again.
    • Click the Delete icon next to YouTube . Verify your sign-in details again if prompted.
    • Select I want to permanently delete my content . Check the boxes to specify which content you want to delete.
    • Click Delete my content . Verify your choice if prompted to do so.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Hiding Your Channel Temporarily

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  1. 1
    Go to studio.youtube.com in a browser. Sign in with your account if you aren’t already logged in. [4]
    • You can also get here by opening the YouTube app on a mobile device and tapping your profile picture, then going to Google Account > Data & privacy > Data from apps and services you use > Apps and services > YouTube > Settings .
    • This method will hide your channel, videos, and playlists without actually deleting any of your content. It will also make your likes, comments, subscriptions, and other account activity private.
    • If you have multiple channels linked to your Google account, you can select a different one by clicking or tapping your profile picture in the top right corner of the page and selecting Switch account .
  2. 2
    Click Settings . It’s in the left-hand menu panel. If you’re using the mobile app, tap Advanced settings instead.
  3. 3
    Click Channel . You’ll see this option in the left-hand panel of the Settings window.
    • If you’re using the mobile app, skip this step.
  4. 4
    Click the Advanced Settings tab. This option is at the top of the window.
    • Skip this step if you’re using the mobile app.
  5. 5
    Scroll down and click Remove YouTube content . You may be prompted to log in again.
    • In the mobile app, tap Delete channel instead.
  6. 6
    Select I want to hide my channel . On the mobile app, this will say I want to hide my content . When you tap or click this option, a menu will expand.
  7. 7
    Check the boxes to confirm what will be hidden. Checking these boxes won’t affect what’s hidden, it will only confirm that you understand what will and will not be made private. You may see slightly different options depending on what kind of channel you’re using.
    • For example, if you have a Brand account, your public playlists and videos will be hidden, but your channel name, page, art and icon, and any likes and subscriptions will not.
    • For non-Brand accounts, you’ll be able to hide your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions, subscribers, comments, and replies.
  8. 8
    Click Hide my content . On the mobile app, you’ll see Hide my channel instead. Confirm your choice if prompted to do so.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

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  1. 1
    Visit myaccount.google.com in a browser. Sign in if you haven’t already done so.
    • Even if you don’t have a channel, you still have a YouTube account if you’ve ever logged into YouTube with Google. You can delete data associated with the account, but the only way to completely get rid of it is to delete your Google account.
    • Before doing this, you may want to download any data associated with your account that you’d like to keep. You can do so at takeout.google.com .
  2. 2
    Click Data & privacy . It’s in the left-hand menu panel.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and click Delete your Google Account . It’s under the More Options header.
    • At this point you may be prompted to log in again to verify your identity.
  4. 4
    Read through the information on the deletion page and agree to the terms. You’ll be prompted to check a few boxes stating that you understand what you are deleting. Once you’ve deleted your account and associated data, it’s gone for good!
    • If you have any child accounts linked to your main Google account, those will either be deleted or relinquished to your child’s control, depending on your child’s age.
  5. 5
    Click Delete Account . Follow the prompts to confirm your choice and complete the deletion process.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What are the dangers of deleting a YouTube account?
    Community Answer
    Deleting your YouTube account means you will lose your channel, and your videos and comments will be deleted forever.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 40
  • Question
    What if I have a brand account? Will that be deleted as well?
    Community Answer
    You cannot fully delete a brand account, you can only hide it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 24
  • Question
    If I delete my YouTube channel, will my videos be deleted as well?
    Community Answer
    Yes, your videos will also be deleted from YouTube, because they are linked to your YouTube channel.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • You may want to download your data before deleting your YouTube account. You can do so by going to takeout.google.com and selecting YouTube and YouTube Music from the list of options. Click Next step and follow the prompts to save your data.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/3802431?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android&oco=0
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/55759?hl=en#zippy=,hide-your-channel-temporarily,delete-your-channel-permanently
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/55759?hl=en#zippy=,delete-your-channel-permanently
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/55759?hl=en#zippy=,hide-your-channel-temporarily,delete-your-channel-permanently

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Visit myaccount.google.com and login with your Google account.
      2. Click the "Delete your account or services" link.
      3. Select "Delete products" and enter your Google password.
      4. Click the trashcan icon next to "YouTube".
      5. Confirm that you want to delete it. Be careful that you don't your whole account.

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        Jun 15, 2017

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