YouTube stores two separate histories you can delete independently
YouTube keeps track of two different things: videos you've watched (your watch history) and searches you've typed into YouTube's search bar (your search history). You can delete all of it, part of it, or pause recording it going forward. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet, but the settings live in the same place for all devices.
Deleting your history doesn't erase videos from YouTube itself — it only removes the record that you watched them. Other people won't see what you've deleted, and YouTube won't show you recommendations based on videos you've removed from your history.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete your entire watch history at once, or remove individual videos one by one from the history page.
- Search history is separate from watch history and requires its own deletion step in the same settings menu.
- You can pause YouTube from recording new history without deleting what's already there, which is useful if you're browsing privately.
- Deleting history from YouTube's website or app only affects that account — if you use multiple accounts, you'll need to delete history in each one separately.
- YouTube keeps deleted history off your account immediately, but the company's own servers may retain data longer for internal purposes.
How to delete your watch history on a computer
Go to YouTube.com and sign into your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "History" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to a page showing every video you've watched, with the most recent at the top.
To delete everything at once, look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) on the left side of the page, just above your video list. Click it and select "Clear all watch history." YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Clear watch history" again and it's done. To delete individual videos instead, hover over any video in the list and click the X that appears on the right side of that row.
How to delete your watch history on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "History" from the menu. You'll see the same list of videos you watched, with the newest first.
To clear everything, tap the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen and select "Clear all watch history." Confirm when YouTube asks. To remove individual videos, swipe left on any video in the list (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android), then tap the delete or trash icon that appears.
How to delete your search history separately
Search history is stored in a different place than watch history. From your profile menu, select "History" and then look for "Search history" — it's usually a separate tab or link on the same page as your watch history. You'll see every search term you've typed into YouTube.
Click the three vertical dots next to "Search history" and select "Clear all search history" to remove everything at once. To delete individual searches, click the X next to any search term. Like watch history, this only removes the record from your account — it doesn't affect what other people can see or search for on YouTube.
How to pause YouTube from recording new history
If you want YouTube to stop tracking what you watch and search for going forward, you can pause history recording without deleting what's already there. Go to your profile menu, select "History," and look for an option that says "Pause watch history" or "Pause search history" (the exact wording varies by device).
When history is paused, YouTube won't add new videos or searches to your history, and you won't get recommendations based on recent activity. Your old history stays on your account until you delete it. You can turn history recording back on the same way — just click the pause button again.
What happens when you delete history from multiple devices
If you watch YouTube on your phone, computer, and tablet, deleting history on one device removes it from all of them — as long as you're signed into the same account. YouTube syncs your history across devices, so clearing it in the app on your phone also clears it from the website on your computer.
If you have multiple YouTube accounts, each one has its own separate history. You'll need to sign into each account and delete the history individually. Signing out of one account and signing into another doesn't automatically switch whose history you're viewing.
Why you might want to delete your history
Deleting watch history is useful if you share a device with other people and don't want them to see what you've been watching. It's also a way to reset your recommendations if YouTube keeps suggesting videos you're no longer interested in. Some people delete history regularly for privacy reasons, even if they're the only one using their account.
Pausing history is handy when you're researching something you don't want to affect your recommendations — for example, if you're shopping for a gift and don't want YouTube to start suggesting related items every time you open the app. You can pause, do your browsing, then delete that session's history and turn recording back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my YouTube history delete the videos themselves?
No. Deleting your history only removes the record that you watched those videos from your account. The videos stay on YouTube, and other people can still find and watch them. Your deletion only affects what YouTube shows you and what recommendations it makes to you.
If I delete my history, will YouTube stop recommending videos I used to watch?
Yes, but not immediately. YouTube's recommendations are based on your entire viewing pattern, so deleting old history removes some of that data. However, if you continue watching similar videos, YouTube will start recommending them again based on your new activity.
Can I delete history from just one day or one week?
YouTube doesn't have a built-in option to delete history from a specific date range. You can only delete individual videos, your entire watch history, or pause recording going forward. If you need to remove videos from a specific time period, you'll have to delete them one by one.
What if I'm signed out of YouTube — can I still see my history?
No. Your history is tied to your account, so you have to be signed in to see it or delete it. If you sign out, YouTube won't show you your history or use it for recommendations. Signing out is different from deleting history — your history stays on your account until you actively remove it.
Does YouTube keep my deleted history somewhere?
YouTube removes deleted history from your account immediately, so it won't show up in your recommendations or history page. However, YouTube's internal systems may retain data longer for their own purposes, though you won't have access to it or be able to see it in your account.