Where to find your subscriptions on YouTube

Your subscriptions list lives in the left sidebar of YouTube, but where exactly depends on whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet. On a computer, log into your YouTube account, look at the left side of the screen, and you'll see a "Subscriptions" link below your account name. Click it and you'll see every channel you've subscribed to, sorted by most recent uploads.

On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the YouTube app, then tap "Subscriptions." This shows the same list — all the channels sending you notifications and appearing in your feed. The layout is narrower on mobile, but the information is identical.

If you don't see a Subscriptions link in your sidebar on a computer, scroll down in the left menu. YouTube sometimes hides it if you have many subscriptions or if your sidebar is collapsed. You can also search for a channel name directly in the YouTube search bar at the top, and if you're already subscribed, you'll see a "Subscribed" button next to the channel name.

Key Takeaways

  • Your subscriptions list is in the left sidebar on computers and in the menu on phones, showing every channel you've subscribed to.
  • YouTube sorts your subscriptions by most recent uploads, so channels that posted today appear at the top.
  • You can unsubscribe from any channel by clicking the "Subscribed" button next to its name, which turns into an "Subscribe" button.
  • Your subscription list is private — other people cannot see which channels you follow unless you make that information public in your channel settings.

How to organize subscriptions into folders

YouTube lets you group subscriptions into custom folders so you don't have to scroll through a long list. On a computer, go to your Subscriptions page, then look for a small folder icon or "Create a new folder" option. Click it, name the folder (for example, "Gaming" or "News"), and then drag channels into that folder.

On a phone or tablet, the folder feature works differently depending on your YouTube version. Some phones show a folder option when you long-press on a channel name in your subscriptions list. If you don't see this option, you may need to update the YouTube app from your device's app store. Folders sync across your devices, so a folder you create on your phone appears on your computer too.

Checking which channels you're actually watching

Your subscriptions list shows channels you follow, but it doesn't tell you which ones you actually watch. To see your viewing history instead, click your profile picture in the top right corner, select "History," and you'll see every video you've clicked on, in reverse order (newest first). This is different from your subscriptions — you might be subscribed to a channel but never watch it, or watch videos from channels you haven't subscribed to.

If you want to see only videos from channels you subscribe to, go to your Subscriptions page and look for a "Latest" or "All" tab. This shows uploads from your subscribed channels in chronological order. You can also turn on notifications for specific channels so YouTube alerts you when they post, without cluttering your main feed.

Managing notifications from subscribed channels

Subscribing to a channel doesn't automatically send you notifications. To get alerts when a channel uploads, click the bell icon next to the "Subscribed" button on that channel's page. You'll see three options: "All," "Personalized," or "None." "All" sends a notification for every upload. "Personalized" sends notifications only for videos YouTube thinks you'll watch based on your history. "None" turns off notifications but keeps you subscribed.

You can manage all your notification settings in one place. On a computer, click your profile picture, go to "Settings," then "Notifications," and you'll see a list of channels with notification status next to each one. On a phone, go to Settings, tap "Notifications," and you can turn notifications on or off for individual channels or for YouTube as a whole.

Removing subscriptions you no longer want

To unsubscribe from a channel, go to that channel's page and click the "Subscribed" button (it's usually blue or highlighted). A menu appears asking you to confirm. Click "Unsubscribe" and you're done — the channel disappears from your subscriptions list when ready. You won't see its videos in your feed anymore, and it won't send you notifications.

If you want to unsubscribe from many channels at once, go to your Subscriptions page, find the channel, and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Unsubscribe" from the dropdown. On a phone, long-press the channel name and select "Unsubscribe" if that option appears. Unsubscribing doesn't delete your watch history with that channel — YouTube still remembers videos you've watched.

Checking if your subscriptions are private

By default, your subscription list is private. Other people cannot see which channels you follow unless you change your settings. To check your privacy settings, click your profile picture in the top right, go to "Settings," then "Privacy." Look for "Subscriptions" and make sure it says "Private." If it says "Public," anyone who visits your channel can see every channel you're subscribed to.

If you want to keep your subscriptions private but make other parts of your channel public, you can adjust each setting separately in the Privacy menu. Changes take effect when ready, so if you switch from public to private, your subscription list becomes hidden right away. You can change this setting back anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see how many people are subscribed to a channel?

Yes. Go to any channel's page and look below the channel name. You'll see the subscriber count in large text. Some channels hide this number in their settings, so you might see "Subscribe" without a count next to it. The count updates in real time as people subscribe and unsubscribe.

What's the difference between subscriptions and my watch history?

Subscriptions are channels you've chosen to follow. Watch history is every video you've clicked on, whether from subscribed channels or not. You can clear your watch history without affecting subscriptions, and vice versa. Both are private unless you change your settings.

Do subscribed channels know I'm watching their videos?

Channels can see how many views their videos get and some basic information about viewers, but they cannot see your name or personal details unless you comment or like the video. Subscribing doesn't tell them anything extra — they just know you're one of their subscribers.

Can I export a list of all my subscriptions?

YouTube doesn't have a built-in export feature, but you can take a screenshot of your subscriptions page or use third-party tools that connect to your YouTube account. Be cautious with third-party tools — only use ones from trusted sources, and check what permissions you're granting them.

What happens to my subscriptions if I delete my YouTube account?

Your subscriptions are tied to your account. If you delete your account, all subscriptions are deleted too. If you want to keep a record, export or screenshot your subscriptions list before deleting your account. You can resubscribe to channels later if you create a new account.