You can delete your own comments in seconds, but YouTube keeps a record for a short time

To delete a comment you wrote on YouTube, find the comment, click the three vertical dots next to it, and select Delete. The comment disappears from the video page when ready. However, YouTube stores deleted comments for a limited time before removing them from their servers entirely — this matters if you posted something you regret and worry about screenshots or copies.

The process is the same whether you commented on a video, a channel, or a community post. You can only delete comments you wrote yourself; you cannot delete other people's comments unless you own the channel the comment appears on.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the three dots next to your comment and select Delete to remove it from the video page in seconds.
  • Deleted comments stay on YouTube's servers briefly before being fully removed, so screenshots taken before deletion are permanent.
  • You can delete comments on videos, in the community tab, and on channel pages using the same method.
  • If you own the channel, you can also delete other people's comments from your videos using the same three-dot menu.

Finding and deleting a comment you wrote

Open the video where you left the comment. Scroll through the comments section until you find your own comment — it will have your profile picture and username next to it. Hover your mouse over the comment (on desktop) or tap and hold (on mobile) to reveal a three-dot menu icon to the right of your comment.

Click or tap the three dots, then select Delete from the menu that appears. The comment will vanish from the page within a few seconds. You will not see a confirmation message; the comment straightforward disappears.

Deleting comments from your own channel

If you own or manage a YouTube channel, you can delete any comment posted on your videos, not just your own. Use the same three-dot menu next to the comment you want to remove. Channel owners also have the option to Pin comments (to keep them at the top), Mark as spam, or Hide a comment instead of deleting it.

Hiding a comment keeps it on YouTube's servers but makes it invisible to other viewers unless they click "Show hidden comments." This is useful if you want to review a comment later or if you are unsure whether to remove it permanently. Deleting removes it entirely from your channel page.

What happens to deleted comments

When you delete a comment, it stops appearing on the video page or in your comment history. However, YouTube does not erase it from their servers when ready. The comment remains in YouTube's database for a period of time — the exact length varies and YouTube does not publish this timeframe publicly. After that window closes, the comment is fully removed.

This means that if someone took a screenshot of your comment before you deleted it, that screenshot is permanent and separate from YouTube's systems. Deleting the comment does not erase copies that exist elsewhere online. If you posted something sensitive or harmful, assume it may have been captured already.

Deleting comments on community posts

YouTube's community tab allows channels to post images, polls, and text directly to subscribers. If you commented on a community post, you can delete that comment the same way: find your comment, click the three dots, and select Delete. The process is identical to video comments.

Channel owners can also delete comments on community posts using the same method. Community posts themselves (not comments on them) can only be deleted by the channel owner who created them.

When you cannot delete a comment

You can only delete comments you wrote yourself, unless you own the channel. If someone else wrote a comment on a video you do not own, you cannot remove it — only the comment author or the channel owner can. If a comment violates YouTube's Community Guidelines, you can report it instead by clicking the three dots and selecting Report comment.

YouTube's moderation team will review reported comments and may remove them if they break the rules. Reporting takes longer than deleting (usually hours or days) but is the correct path when someone else's comment is abusive, spam, or harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a comment instead of deleting it?

No. YouTube does not have an edit feature for comments. If you want to change what you wrote, you must delete the original comment and post a new one. This is why many people reply to their own comment with a correction instead of deleting and reposting.

Will the person who posted the video know I deleted my comment?

The channel owner may see that a comment was deleted if they check their moderation tools, but they will not receive a notification that you specifically deleted it. They will straightforward see that a comment is no longer there.

Can I delete comments on my own videos in bulk?

YouTube does not have a bulk delete tool for comments. You must delete comments one at a time using the three-dot menu. If you need to remove many comments at once, you can use YouTube Studio's moderation features to filter and review them faster, but deletion is still individual.

What if I delete a comment and then want it back?

Once you delete a comment, you cannot recover it from YouTube. You would need to rewrite and repost the comment if you change your mind. YouTube does not have an undo feature for deleted comments.

Does deleting my comment delete replies to it?

When you delete a comment, any replies to that comment are also removed. People who replied to your comment will see that the original comment is gone, but their replies will not appear separately.