What happens when you delete YouTube

Deleting your YouTube account removes your channel, all your videos, comments, and subscriptions from YouTube's servers. The deletion is permanent — YouTube cannot recover your videos or channel after 30 days. If you only want to hide your channel without losing your videos, you can make it private or unlisted instead, but deletion erases everything.

Before you delete, understand that your YouTube username becomes available for someone else to use, and any videos you uploaded will no longer be viewable by anyone. If other people have linked to your videos or playlists, those links will break. Comments you left on other channels' videos will also disappear.

You have 30 days after you request deletion to change your mind. During that window, you can sign back in and cancel the deletion. After 30 days, the deletion is final.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube deletion is permanent after 30 days and removes your channel, all videos, and all comments you posted.
  • You can read your videos before deleting if you want to keep copies on your computer.
  • If you only want to hide your channel, making it private or unlisted keeps your videos without deleting them.
  • The deletion process takes place in YouTube settings on a computer, not in the mobile app.
  • You have 30 days to cancel the deletion if you change your mind.

read your videos before deleting

If you want to keep copies of your videos, read them to your computer before you start the deletion process. YouTube does not automatically save your videos when you delete your account.

Go to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) and sign in with the Google account connected to your YouTube channel. Click Deselect all, then scroll down and check only the YouTube and YouTube Music box. Click Next step, choose your file format and size, then click Create export. Google will prepare a read file containing all your videos, which can take hours or days depending on how many videos you have. You will receive an email with a read link when it is ready.

read the file to your computer and save it somewhere you will remember. Only then should you proceed with deleting your account.

Delete your YouTube channel on a computer

Open a web browser on your computer and go to youtube.com. Sign in with the Google account that owns the YouTube channel you want to delete. Do not use the mobile app — the deletion option is only available on the website.

Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side menu, click Account. Scroll down and click Advanced settings (it appears as a link near the bottom). You will see a red Delete channel button. Click it.

YouTube will ask you to confirm that you understand your videos will be deleted. Read the information on the screen, then enter your password when prompted. Click Delete channel again to confirm. You will see a message saying your channel is scheduled for deletion.

What to do during the 30-day waiting period

After you request deletion, your channel becomes hidden from YouTube when ready. Other people cannot find it or watch your videos. However, the actual deletion does not happen for 30 days, giving you time to change your mind.

If you decide you want to keep your channel, sign back into your YouTube account within the 30 days. Go to Settings > Account > Advanced settings and look for an option to cancel the deletion. Click it, and your channel will be restored with all videos and comments intact.

If you do nothing for 30 days, the deletion becomes permanent and cannot be undone.

Alternatives to deleting your entire account

If you want to stop using YouTube but are not sure about permanent deletion, consider hiding your channel instead. Go to Settings > Channel > Basic info and scroll to Channel visibility. Choose Private to hide your channel from search results and recommendations, or Unlisted to keep it hidden but allow people with the link to watch your videos.

You can also delete individual videos without deleting your entire channel. Go to YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com), click Videos on the left menu, find the video you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete forever. This removes only that video, not your channel or other videos.

If you want to stop receiving notifications and emails from YouTube, go to Settings > Notifications and turn off the types of alerts you do not want. This lets you keep your account without being bothered by YouTube activity.

What happens to your Google account

Deleting your YouTube channel does not delete your Google account. Your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services will remain active. Only the YouTube part of your account is removed.

If you want to delete your entire Google account instead, that is a separate process. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & privacy on the left menu, scroll down to Your data & privacy options, and click Delete your Google Account. This will remove Gmail, Drive, Photos, and all other Google services, not just YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my YouTube channel from my phone?

No, the delete option only appears on the YouTube website when you use a computer. Open youtube.com in a browser on your computer, not the YouTube app, to find the deletion settings.

What if I forgot my password?

You will need your password to confirm the deletion. Go to accounts.google.com and click Forgot password? to reset it. Follow the steps to verify your identity, then set a new password. Once you have access to your account again, you can proceed with deleting your channel.

Can someone else use my YouTube username after I delete?

Yes, your username becomes available for anyone to claim after your channel is deleted. If you want to prevent this, you could change your channel name to something generic before deleting, though this does not stop someone from creating a new channel with your old username.

Will my comments on other channels disappear?

Yes, all comments you posted on any YouTube video will be deleted when your account is deleted. Other people will see that a comment was removed, but they will not see what you wrote.

How long does it take for YouTube to fully delete my channel?

Your channel becomes hidden when ready after you request deletion, but the full deletion takes up to 30 days. During this time, you can cancel and restore your channel. After 30 days pass with no cancellation, the deletion is permanent.