YouTube tracks the videos you watch to offer personalized recommendations. If you’re concerned about your privacy, clearing your watch history is a great way to regain control.
In this article, we’ll explain how to delete your YouTube watch history and protect your privacy.
How to Delete Watch History on YouTube
To delete watch history on YouTube through desktop and Android devices follow these given steps:
On Android
- Open the YouTube app then tap on your profile picture from the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the Gear icon to open Settings.
- Next, tap on Your data in YouTube.
- Scroll down to the YouTube Watch History section then tap on the Manage your YouTube Watch History option.
- To view your full watch history, tap on Verify to confirm your identity.
- Tap on Continue then use your fingerprint or screen lock password to confirm it’s you.
- Once done, tap on the Cross (X) icon next to the video you want to delete.
That’s it, now the selected video will be removed from your watch history.
Alternatively, if you prefer to delete your entire watch history then follow these steps:
- Tap on the DELETE option then select Delete all time.
- To confirm your action, tap on the Delete option from the bottom right corner.
On Desktop
- Navigate to the YouTube app on your desktop then click on your profile picture icon from the top right corner.
- Click on Your data in YouTube. Next, navigate to the YouTube Watch History section.
- Click on Manage your YouTube Watch History.
- A list of watched videos will display on your screen select the video you want to delete.
- Next, click on the Cross (X) icon given next to the selected video.
That’s it, the selected video will be removed automatically from your watch history.
Alternatively, you can also delete the entire watch history.
- Click on the drop-down arrow next to the DELETE option.
- Click on Delete all time.
- Lastly, click on Delete to confirm your action.
- Once selected, the entire watch history will be deleted from your account.
How to Set Up YouTube Auto Delete to Clear Your History
Follow the below given instructions to set up YouTube Auto Delete to clear your history:
- Follow the first two steps from our previous heading on how to delete watch history on YouTube.
- Tap on Manage all history then tap on Auto-delete.
- Tap on the drop-down arrow given under Auto-delete activity older than.
- From the available option select how long you want to keep your history (3 months, 18 or 36 months) then tap on Next.
- Lastly, tap on Got it to save your preferences.
Are There Benefits to Deleting Your YouTube Watch History?
There are numerous benefits of deleting your YouTube watch history including:
- It helps prevent others from seeing what videos you have watched and maintain your privacy.
- It can declutter your feed by removing unwanted suggestions and give you a fresh start with the algorithm.
- It can also make your homepage less cluttered, allowing you to focus more on your subscriptions and recent views.
- It also gives you more control over the ads you see.
- If you share your phone or account with others, deleting your watch history can also help improve your privacy.
Who Can Access My YouTube Watch History?
Generally, YouTube watch history is private and only you and YouTube itself have access to it. Other users cannot see what videos you have watched. However, if you share your mobile device and account login information with others, they may be able to view your watch history as well. If you are concerned about your privacy it is recommended to regularly clear your watch history to prevent others from seeing it.
Can I Delete My Entire Watch History at Once?
Yes, it is possible to delete your entire watch history at once on both your desktop and mobile app. We have detailed the steps on how to do this in our above-given heading on how to delete watch history on YouTube. Go through the process to easily delete your entire watch history in one go.
Does Clearing the Watch History in YouTube Delete Views?
No, clearing the watch history on YouTube does not delete the views of the video. The views will remain the same as before. When you delete the watch history, it only removes the record of the video from your accounts database.
Is YouTube History Stored Even If I’m Not Signed In?
No, YouTube does not store your watch history if you are not signed in. This means if you are using the YouTube app without logging in to your account the platform will not save your viewing activity. However, YouTube does still track certain information such as cookies and your IP address to gather data about your activity. This data is used to show recommended videos.
Follow the steps given in this article to delete your YouTube watch history and maintain your anonymity on this popular platform.
