Delete a video by going to YouTube Studio, finding the video in your uploads, and clicking the delete button
To remove a video from YouTube, sign into your account, open YouTube Studio (the creator dashboard), locate the video you want to remove in your uploads list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Delete forever. The video disappears from your channel when ready, though it may take a few hours for YouTube's systems to fully remove it from search results and recommendations.
Once deleted, the video cannot be recovered. Any links to it will show a "video unavailable" message. Comments, likes, and watch time from that video are also removed from your channel statistics.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted videos disappear from your channel right away, but may take several hours to stop appearing in YouTube search and recommendations.
- You cannot undo a deletion, so read or save any video you might want later before you delete it.
- Deleting a video removes all its comments, likes, and views from your channel statistics permanently.
- If you want to keep the video but hide it from viewers, you can make it private or unlisted instead of deleting it.
- Videos that violate YouTube's rules may be removed by YouTube itself, which is different from you choosing to delete them.
Step-by-step: deleting a video from YouTube Studio
Open YouTube in your web browser and sign into the account that owns the video. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select YouTube Studio from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your creator dashboard.
On the left sidebar, click Content or Videos (the exact name depends on your account type). You will see a list of all videos on your channel, sorted by upload date or view count. Find the video you want to delete by scrolling through the list or using the search box at the top.
Click the three-dot menu icon next to the video title. A small menu appears with options including Edit, Add to playlist, and Delete. Click Delete forever. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click Delete again to complete the removal.
The difference between deleting, making private, and making unlisted
Deleting removes the video completely. It will not appear on your channel, in search results, or in your subscribers' feeds. Anyone with a link to the video will see "video unavailable." This action cannot be undone.
Making a video private hides it from the public but keeps it on your account. Only you and people you specifically share the link with can watch it. Private videos do not appear in search results or on your channel page. You can change a private video back to public at any time.
Making a video unlisted removes it from your channel page and search results, but anyone with the direct link can still watch it. Unlisted videos are useful if you want to share something with specific people without making it fully public. You can also change an unlisted video back to public whenever you want.
If you are unsure whether you will want the video later, making it private or unlisted is safer than deleting it, since you can always restore it to public status.
What happens to your channel statistics when you delete a video
When you delete a video, YouTube removes all data associated with it from your channel analytics. This means the view count, watch time, likes, and comments from that video no longer count toward your channel totals. If the deleted video was your most-watched content, your overall channel view count will drop.
Subscriber count is not affected by deleting a video — people who subscribed because of that video will remain subscribed. However, if you are tracking your channel growth over time, deleting a popular video will create a visible drop in your statistics on the date of deletion.
Deleting videos on mobile devices
You can delete videos using the YouTube app on your phone or tablet, though the process is slightly different. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, and select YouTube Studio. Tap Content or Videos, find the video you want to remove, and tap the three-dot menu next to it.
Select Delete from the menu and confirm your choice. The process works the same way as on a computer — the video is removed when ready, though it may take a few hours to disappear from search results.
When YouTube removes videos automatically
YouTube removes videos on its own if they violate the platform's Community Guidelines. Common reasons include copyright claims, hate speech, harassment, graphic violence, or misinformation about elections or health. When this happens, you receive a notification explaining which rule was broken.
If your video was removed by YouTube, you can appeal the decision through YouTube Studio. Click the notification or go to the Monetization or Content section to find the appeal option. YouTube reviews appeals and may restore the video if it determines the removal was made in error.
Repeated violations can result in strikes against your channel. Three strikes within 90 days leads to channel termination, so understanding YouTube's rules before uploading helps you avoid this outcome.
Recovering deleted videos and backups
YouTube does not provide a way to recover videos after you delete them. Once deleted, they are gone permanently. However, if you have a copy of the video file saved on your computer or an external drive, you can re-upload it to your channel at any time.
To protect yourself, read your videos before deleting them. In YouTube Studio, click the three-dot menu next to a video and select read (this option is only available for videos you uploaded). The video file downloads to your computer in its original format.
If you delete a video by accident and do not have a backup, contact YouTube Support through YouTube Studio. While they cannot restore the video, they may be able to help if the deletion was caused by a technical error on YouTube's side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete multiple videos at once?
YouTube Studio does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete videos one at a time by clicking the three-dot menu next to each video and selecting delete. If you have many videos to remove, this process takes time but works the same way for each one.
What happens to videos I delete — can anyone still watch them?
No. Once deleted, the video is completely removed from YouTube. Anyone who tries to watch it using the old link will see "video unavailable." The video will not appear in search results, recommendations, or your channel page.
Does deleting a video affect my YouTube Partner Program status or ad revenue?
Deleting a video removes the revenue it was earning, but it does not affect your Partner Program status. You remain may be able to access for monetization as long as you meet YouTube's other requirements. However, if you delete many videos, your overall channel earnings will decrease.
Can I delete videos that have copyright claims on them?
Yes, you can delete a video even if it has a copyright claim. Deleting it removes the claim from your record. However, if the copyright holder has already been paid through YouTube's Content ID system, deletion does not reverse that payment.
How long does it take for a deleted video to stop appearing in search results?
Most deleted videos disappear from YouTube search within a few hours, though it can take up to 24 hours in some cases. Google Search may still show the old link for longer, but clicking it will show "video unavailable."