You can delete watched videos from Facebook one at a time or clear your entire watch history at once
Facebook stores a record of every video you watch, even if you do not finish it. This watch history appears in your activity log and influences what videos Facebook shows you next. You can remove individual videos from this history or wipe the entire record clean. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on desktop and mobile.
Deleting watched videos does not remove them from Facebook itself — it only removes them from your personal watch history. The videos stay on the platform and other people can still see them. Your action is private; the person who posted the video will not be notified that you deleted it from your history.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete individual videos from your watch history by clicking the X next to each one in your activity log.
- To clear your entire watch history at once, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Your Activity, then Videos Watched, and select Clear All.
- Deleting videos from your watch history does not delete the videos themselves or notify the person who posted them.
- After you clear your watch history, Facebook will start fresh recommendations based on videos you watch going forward.
How to delete individual videos from your watch history on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Your Activity. You will see a list of your recent activity sorted by date.
Click the filter icon (it looks like three horizontal lines) near the top and select Videos Watched. Facebook will now show only the videos you have watched. Find the video you want to remove, hover over it, and click the X that appears on the right side. Confirm the deletion when Facebook asks. The video is now removed from your watch history.
How to delete individual videos from your watch history on mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Your Activity. At the top, tap the filter icon and select Videos Watched.
Scroll through your watched videos and tap the one you want to remove. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the video details and select Delete. Confirm when prompted. Repeat this process for each video you want to remove individually.
How to clear your entire watch history at once
If you want to delete all watched videos instead of removing them one by one, Facebook offers a clear-all option. On desktop, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Your Activity. Click the filter icon and select Videos Watched. At the top of the list, you will see a button that says Clear All. Click it and confirm when Facebook asks.
On mobile, follow the same steps: tap the menu icon, then Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Your Activity. Tap the filter icon and select Videos Watched. Tap Clear All at the top and confirm. Your entire watch history will be deleted immediately. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you want to remove all watched videos before you proceed.
What happens after you delete your watch history
Once you delete videos from your watch history, they no longer influence what Facebook recommends to you. If you cleared your entire history, Facebook will start fresh and base recommendations only on videos you watch from that point forward. This means your feed may look different the next time you log in, with fewer personalized video suggestions.
If you delete only some videos, Facebook will still remember the others and use them to shape your recommendations. Deleting watch history does not affect your other activity on Facebook — your likes, comments, shares, and posts remain unchanged.
Why you might want to delete your watch history
Some people delete their watch history to keep their browsing private from others who use the same device. If you share a computer or phone with family members or roommates, clearing your history prevents them from seeing what videos you have watched. This is especially useful if you watch videos you prefer to keep private.
Others delete their watch history to reset their recommendations. If Facebook has been showing you videos you no longer want to see, clearing your history tells the platform to stop using those old preferences. Your recommendations will shift based on what you watch next instead of what you watched months ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my watch history delete the videos themselves?
No. Deleting videos from your watch history only removes them from your personal record. The videos stay on Facebook and other people can still find and watch them. Only the person who posted the video can delete it from the platform entirely.
Will the person who posted the video know I deleted it from my history?
No. Deleting a video from your watch history is completely private. The person who posted it will not receive any notification, and they have no way to know you watched it or removed it from your history.
Can I undo clearing my entire watch history?
No. Once you clear all your watched videos, they are permanently deleted from your history and cannot be recovered. If you think you might want to see your watch history again later, delete videos individually instead of clearing all at once.
Does deleting my watch history affect my Facebook recommendations?
Yes. Deleting videos from your watch history removes them as factors in what Facebook recommends to you. If you clear your entire history, your recommendations will reset and Facebook will base them only on videos you watch going forward.
Can I prevent Facebook from storing my watch history in the first place?
Facebook does not offer a setting to stop recording your watch history. The platform automatically tracks every video you view. Your only option is to delete videos from your history after you watch them, or to clear your entire history regularly.