YouTube stores two separate histories you can delete independently
YouTube keeps a record of every video you watch and every search you perform. This history helps YouTube recommend videos and lets you resume watching where you left off. But you can delete all of it, part of it, or pause recording new history going forward — each option works differently and takes about two minutes.
The simplest approach is to delete your entire watch history at once. You can also remove individual videos, delete only your search history, or turn off history recording so YouTube stops saving new activity. Which you choose depends on whether you want a clean slate or just want to remove specific videos.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your entire watch history in one action from your YouTube account settings, and this does not affect videos you have uploaded or liked.
- Deleting history removes YouTube's recommendations based on what you watched, so the site will show you fewer personalized suggestions until you watch more videos.
- You can remove individual videos from your history without deleting everything, which is useful if you want to keep most of your history but hide specific videos.
- Pausing history recording stops YouTube from saving new watches and searches, but does not delete what you have already watched.
- Clearing history on your device does not delete your YouTube history — you must do this inside your YouTube account settings.
Delete your entire watch history at once
Open YouTube on a computer or phone and sign into your account. In the top right corner, tap or click your profile picture, then select History from the menu. This shows you a list of videos you have watched, with the most recent at the top.
On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Click or tap Clear all watch history. YouTube will ask you to confirm. Click Clear watch history again. The entire list disappears when ready. YouTube will no longer show you recommendations based on videos you have watched, and your watch history page will be blank.
This action does not delete videos you uploaded to your own channel, videos you liked, or comments you left. It only removes the record of what you watched.
Remove individual videos from your history
If you want to keep most of your history but hide specific videos, you can delete them one at a time. Go to your History page the same way: profile picture, then History. Find the video you want to remove.
Hover your mouse over the video (on a computer) or tap the three dots next to it (on a phone). A menu appears. Select Remove from watch history. That video disappears from your history when ready, but the rest of your watch history stays intact.
This is slower than clearing everything at once, but useful if you watched something you do not want YouTube to remember without losing the rest of your viewing record.
Delete your search history separately
YouTube keeps a separate record of what you have searched for. Deleting your watch history does not delete your search history, and vice versa. To clear searches, go to your History page and look for the menu on the left side. Click or tap Search history.
You will see a list of every search you have typed into YouTube. Click Clear all search history and confirm. All your searches disappear. Like watch history, you can also remove individual searches by clicking the three dots next to each one and selecting Remove.
Pause history recording so YouTube stops saving new activity
If you want YouTube to stop recording what you watch and search for going forward, you can pause history without deleting what you have already watched. Go to your History page, and on the left menu, click Manage all history. This takes you to your account settings.
You will see two toggles: one for Web & App Activity and one for YouTube Search History. Turn either or both of these off. When they are off, YouTube stops recording new watches and searches, but your old history remains visible on your History page until you delete it.
Turning these off also affects other Google services — when you pause Web & App Activity, Google stops recording your activity across YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps, and other Google products. If you only want to pause YouTube specifically, you may need to manage settings within the YouTube app itself rather than in your main Google account.
What happens after you delete your history
Once you delete your watch history, YouTube's recommendations change noticeably. The homepage will show fewer personalized suggestions and more trending or general videos. YouTube needs to see what you watch in order to learn your preferences, so a blank history means generic recommendations until you build a new one.
Deleted history cannot be recovered. YouTube does not offer an undo button or a way to restore what you deleted. If you think you might want to see your old history later, consider removing only specific videos instead of clearing everything.
Deleting history on your YouTube account is separate from clearing your browser history or app cache. Clearing your browser history removes cookies and cached data from your device, but does not touch your YouTube account history. To fully remove traces of your YouTube activity, you need to do both: clear your YouTube history in your account settings and clear your browser history on your device.
Delete history on the YouTube app
The process is nearly identical on the YouTube mobile app. Open the app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select History. On the next screen, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Clear all watch history. Confirm when prompted.
For search history on the app, tap your profile picture, go to History, then tap the three dots and select Clear all search history. The app works the same way as the website, just with slightly different menu locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my YouTube history delete my liked videos?
No. Your liked videos are stored separately from your watch history. Deleting watch history does not affect your likes. If you want to remove liked videos, you must go to your Liked Videos playlist and unlike them individually.
Will deleting my history log me out of YouTube?
No. Deleting your history does not log you out or change your account settings. You stay signed in and can continue using YouTube normally. Your subscriptions, playlists, and uploads remain unchanged.
Can I delete history from a specific date or time period?
YouTube does not offer a way to delete history from a specific date range. You can only delete all history at once or remove individual videos. If you want to keep history from before a certain date, you would need to remove videos one at a time from after that date.
If I pause history recording, will YouTube still recommend videos to me?
YouTube will still recommend videos, but recommendations will be based on your account information and general trends rather than your recent watches. Recommendations become less personalized the longer you keep history paused.
Does clearing my browser history delete my YouTube history?
No. Clearing your browser history removes cookies and cached data from your device, but does not delete your YouTube account history. You must delete YouTube history through your YouTube account settings separately.