You can delete your YouTube search history in three ways: clear it all at once, remove individual searches, or pause recording new searches going forward
YouTube stores every search you make unless you tell it to stop. That history lives in your Google Account — the same account that powers Gmail, Google Maps, and other Google services. Deleting your YouTube search history does not delete your watch history, your likes, or your comments. It only removes the record of what you searched for.
The fastest way is to clear everything at once through your Google Account settings. If you want to remove only certain searches, you can delete them one by one from your YouTube homepage. If you want to prevent YouTube from recording future searches, you can turn on Pause mode, which stops the recording without deleting what is already there.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing your YouTube search history through Google Account settings removes all searches at once, but does not affect your watch history or likes.
- You can delete individual searches directly from your YouTube homepage by clicking the X next to each one.
- Turning on Pause stops YouTube from recording new searches without deleting your existing history.
- YouTube search history is stored in your Google Account, so clearing it there affects YouTube across all your devices.
- Signing out of YouTube or using Incognito mode prevents YouTube from recording searches to your account in the first place.
Clear all your search history at once through Google Account settings
This is the fastest method if you want to wipe your entire YouTube search history. Go to myactivity.google.com in your web browser while signed into your Google Account. On the left side, click Search and browse activity. You will see a list of everything you have searched for across Google, YouTube, and other Google services.
At the top of the page, click the three-dot menu icon and select Delete activity. A box will pop up asking what time range you want to delete. Choose All time to remove everything. Then click the dropdown that says All products and select only YouTube Search if you want to keep your Google search history but only delete YouTube. Click Delete to confirm.
This change takes effect when ready across all devices where you are signed into that Google Account. If you use YouTube on your phone, tablet, and computer with the same account, the search history disappears from all of them.
Delete individual searches from your YouTube homepage
If you only want to remove certain searches, you can delete them one at a time. Sign into YouTube and go to your homepage. Look for the search box at the top. Click on it, and YouTube will show you a dropdown list of your recent searches.
Hover your mouse over any search term in that list. An X will appear on the right side of it. Click the X to delete that single search. The search disappears from your history when ready, but only on the device you are using. If you are signed into the same account on another device, that search will still appear there until you delete it from that device too.
This method works on desktop and mobile browsers. On the YouTube app for Android or iPhone, the process is similar: tap the search box, find the search you want to remove, and swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) to see the delete option.
Pause YouTube from recording new searches
If you want to keep your existing search history but stop YouTube from recording future searches, you can turn on Pause mode. Go to myactivity.google.com, click Search and browse activity on the left, and look for the blue toggle at the top that says Pause. Click it to turn it on.
When Pause is on, YouTube will not record any new searches you make. Your old searches stay in your history, but nothing new gets added. You can turn Pause off at any time by clicking the toggle again. This setting applies to your entire Google Account, so it affects YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps, and other Google services all at once.
Pause is useful if you want to keep your history for reference but do not want to add to it. However, it does not hide your searches from Google — it only stops them from being stored in your activity log. Google still processes your searches to show you results.
Use Incognito mode to prevent recording from the start
If you do not want YouTube to record a search before you even make it, use Incognito mode (called Private Browsing on Safari). Open YouTube in an Incognito window or tab, and nothing you search for, watch, or click on will be saved to your account.
On desktop, open a new Incognito window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac. Then go to YouTube.com. On mobile, open your browser's menu and select New Incognito tab (Chrome) or New Private Tab (Safari), then navigate to YouTube.
The downside is that YouTube will not remember your preferences, recommendations, or subscriptions in Incognito mode. You will see a generic homepage instead of personalized suggestions. Incognito mode is best for occasional searches you do not want recorded, not for regular YouTube use.
Sign out of YouTube to prevent automatic recording
Another way to stop YouTube from recording your activity is to straightforward sign out of your account before you search or watch. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Sign out. After that, YouTube will not record anything to your account.
When you are signed out, YouTube will still show you recommendations and search results, but they will be based on what is popular in your region, not on your personal history. You will lose access to your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history. This method works if you want to use YouTube without logging in, but it is less convenient than Incognito mode because you have to sign out and back in each time.
What happens when you delete your search history
Deleting your YouTube search history removes only the record of what you searched for. It does not delete videos you watched, videos you liked, comments you made, or playlists you created. Those remain in your account unless you delete them separately.
Your deleted searches also do not come back. Once you clear them, they are gone from your Google Account activity log. However, your internet service provider, your router, and the websites you visit may still have records of your activity depending on their own logging practices. Deleting your YouTube history is about controlling what Google stores about you, not about erasing your activity from the entire internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting YouTube search history also delete my watch history?
No. Search history and watch history are separate. Deleting one does not affect the other. If you want to remove your watch history too, you need to go to your YouTube account, click your profile picture, select History, and then click Clear all watch history.
Can I delete my search history on the YouTube app?
Yes. On the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Privacy, and select Clear search history. You can also delete individual searches by tapping the search box and swiping left (iPhone) or long-pressing (Android) the search you want to remove.
If I delete my search history, will YouTube stop recommending videos to me?
No. YouTube recommendations are based on your watch history and what you like, not just your searches. Deleting search history alone will not change your recommendations. To get different recommendations, you would need to clear your watch history or adjust your privacy settings.
Does Pause mode hide my searches from YouTube?
Pause stops YouTube from storing your searches in your activity log, but YouTube still processes your searches to show you results and improve its service. Your internet service provider can still see what you search for. Pause is about controlling what is stored in your account, not about hiding your activity from YouTube entirely.
What if I want to delete my search history but keep my recommendations?
Delete your search history through Google Account settings as described above. Your recommendations will stay the same because they are based on your watch history and likes, not your searches. You can also turn on Pause to stop recording new searches while keeping your recommendations working.