Delete a video permanently from your YouTube channel
To delete a video, sign into YouTube, go to your channel, and find the video in your uploads. Click the three dots next to the video title, select Delete forever, and confirm. The video disappears from YouTube within minutes, though it may take longer to vanish from search results and recommendations.
Once deleted, the video cannot be recovered. YouTube does not keep copies of deleted videos, and viewers who try to access the link will see an error message. If you think you might want the video back later, consider making it private or unlisted instead — both hide it from public view while keeping it in your account.
Deleting a video also removes all comments, likes, and view counts associated with it. If the video is part of a playlist, it will be removed from that playlist automatically. Any external links pointing to the video will break.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted videos cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it permanently before confirming.
- Private and unlisted are better options if you might want the video back — they hide it without deleting it.
- Deletion takes a few minutes to process, and search results may show the video for several more hours.
- All comments, likes, and view history tied to the video are deleted along with it.
The difference between delete, private, and unlisted
YouTube gives you three ways to control who sees a video. Delete removes it entirely and cannot be undone. Private keeps the video in your account but only you can see it — not even people you share the link with can watch it. Unlisted hides the video from your channel page and search results, but anyone with the direct link can watch it.
Use private if you are storing a video for personal reasons or want to keep it away from public view. Use unlisted if you want to share the video with specific people without making it searchable. Use delete only when you are certain you do not want the video anywhere on YouTube.
You can change a video's privacy setting at any time. Go to your uploads, click the three dots, select Details, and change the privacy dropdown. This is much safer than deleting if you are unsure about your decision.
How to delete multiple videos at once
If you need to remove several videos, you can select them in bulk instead of deleting one at a time. Go to your channel, click Videos in the left menu, and check the box next to each video you want to delete. A toolbar will appear at the top with a delete icon — click it and confirm.
YouTube will process the deletion in the background. Depending on how many videos you selected, this may take several minutes. You do not need to stay on the page while it processes — you can close the tab and come back later to check your uploads.
Be careful when selecting multiple videos. Double-check that you have chosen only the ones you want to remove, because confirming the deletion will remove all selected videos at once with no way to undo it.
What happens to your channel statistics when you delete a video
Deleting a video removes its view count from your total channel views. If the video had thousands of views, your overall statistics will drop noticeably. YouTube does not show a separate "deleted videos" category in your analytics — the views straightforward disappear from your records.
Subscriber counts are not affected by deletion. If someone subscribed because of that video, they remain subscribed to your channel. However, if the video was part of a series or playlist that viewers were following, removing it may confuse people looking for it later.
If you are concerned about losing view history or analytics data, take a screenshot of your video statistics before deleting. YouTube's analytics page shows detailed information about each video, including where viewers came from and how long they watched.
Deleting videos that have copyright claims or Community Guidelines strikes
If YouTube flagged your video for copyright or policy violations, deleting it will remove the strike from your channel's record after a certain period. Copyright strikes typically expire after 90 days if you do not receive another one. Community Guidelines strikes expire after 90 days as well, but repeated violations can lead to channel suspension.
Deleting the video does not when ready clear the strike, but it stops the violation from affecting new uploads. YouTube counts active strikes against your channel, so removing the problematic video helps you avoid channel suspension if you are close to the limit.
If your video was claimed by a copyright holder rather than struck, deleting it will stop them from earning money from it. However, the copyright claim itself may remain in YouTube's system. Deleting does not dispute or remove the claim — it only removes the video.
How to delete videos on mobile devices
The YouTube mobile app lets you delete videos from your phone or tablet. Open the app, tap your profile icon, go to Your channel, and tap Videos. Find the video you want to delete, tap the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Mobile deletion works the same way as desktop — the video is removed permanently and cannot be recovered. You can select multiple videos on mobile by tapping the three dots on each one and deleting them individually, though the mobile app does not have a bulk-select feature like the desktop version.
If you are having trouble finding the three-dot menu on mobile, make sure you are looking at your own uploads, not someone else's channel. You can only delete videos from your own account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a video after I delete it?
No. Once you confirm deletion, YouTube removes the video permanently. There is no trash folder or recovery option. If you need the video back, you would have to re-upload it from your original file.
How long does it take for a deleted video to disappear from Google search results?
The video usually vanishes from YouTube's own search within minutes, but Google Search may show the broken link for hours or even days. You can request removal from Google Search Console to speed this up, but it is not necessary — the link will eventually disappear on its own.
If I delete a video, do my subscribers get notified?
No. YouTube does not send notifications when you delete a video. However, if subscribers were watching a series or playlist, they may notice the video is missing when they try to find it.
What if someone downloaded my video before I deleted it?
Deleting your video from YouTube does not affect copies that other people downloaded or saved. You can report copyright infringement if someone is sharing your content without permission, but deletion only removes it from your YouTube channel.
Can I delete a video that has a lot of views or comments?
Yes. YouTube does not prevent you from deleting popular videos. All views, comments, and engagement tied to that video will be removed along with it. If you want to keep the content but hide it, make it private or unlisted instead.