How to block a channel on YouTube
You can block a channel directly from the YouTube app on your phone or tablet. Open any video from the channel you want to block, tap the three dots next to the video title, and select "Don't recommend channel." YouTube will stop showing that channel's videos in your recommendations, search results, and home feed. The channel remains on YouTube — other people can still watch it — but you won't see it anymore.
If you've already subscribed to the channel, blocking it will also unsubscribe you automatically. The block takes effect immediately, though it can take a few hours for YouTube's system to fully remove the channel from all your feeds.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the three-dot menu on any video from the channel you want to block, then select "Don't recommend channel" to hide it from your feed and recommendations.
- Blocking a channel removes it from your home feed, recommendations, and search results, but does not delete the channel or prevent others from watching it.
- If you're subscribed to the channel, blocking it will unsubscribe you at the same time.
- You can unblock a channel anytime by going to Settings, selecting "Notifications and privacy," then "Blocked channels," and tapping the unblock button next to the channel name.
Where to find the block option in the YouTube app
The block option appears in a menu that you access from any video. While watching a video from the channel you want to block, look for three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the video player (on phones) or next to the video title (on tablets). Tap those dots to open a menu with several options.
Scroll down in that menu until you see "Don't recommend channel." Tap it, and YouTube will ask you to confirm. Select "Yes" to finish blocking the channel. You'll return to the video, but the channel is now blocked.
Blocking a channel from search results
You don't have to watch a video to block a channel. If you see a channel name in your search results and want to block it without clicking, tap the three dots next to the channel name in the results list. The same "Don't recommend channel" option will appear.
This method works the same way as blocking from a video — the channel disappears from your recommendations and search results immediately.
Unblocking a channel if you change your mind
If you block a channel and later want to see it again, you can unblock it through your settings. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the upper right corner. Select "Settings," then tap "Notifications and privacy."
Scroll down and select "Blocked channels." You'll see a list of every channel you've blocked. Find the one you want to unblock and tap the unblock button next to its name. The channel will reappear in your recommendations and search results within a few hours.
What happens when you block a channel
Blocking a channel hides it from your personal YouTube experience, but it doesn't affect the channel itself or other users. The channel owner won't be notified that you've blocked them, and the channel continues to exist normally for everyone else on YouTube.
If you were subscribed to the blocked channel, YouTube automatically unsubscribes you when you block it. You won't receive notifications about new uploads, and the channel won't appear in your subscriptions list. However, if someone sends you a direct link to a video from a blocked channel, you can still watch it — the block only affects what YouTube shows you automatically.
Blocking channels versus other privacy options
Don't recommend channel is different from other YouTube privacy features. If you want to hide a single video instead of an entire channel, you can tap the three dots on that video and select "Not interested." This tells YouTube you don't want to see similar videos, but it doesn't block the whole channel.
You can also pause your watch history, which stops YouTube from using your viewing habits to recommend videos. This is a broader setting that affects all recommendations, not just one channel. To pause watch history, go to Settings, select "Notifications and privacy," then toggle off "Save your watch history."
Troubleshooting blocked channels
If you block a channel but still see its videos in your feed, wait a few hours for YouTube's system to catch up. Sometimes recommendations take time to update, especially if you've watched many videos from that channel before blocking it.
If a blocked channel keeps appearing after several hours, try clearing your YouTube app's cache. Go to your phone's Settings, find the YouTube app, select "Storage," and tap "Clear cache." This removes temporary files that might be causing the issue. You won't lose your account information or watch history — only cached data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block a channel without watching one of its videos?
Yes. Search for the channel name, find it in the results, tap the three dots next to the channel name, and select "Don't recommend channel." You can also block a channel from your subscriptions list by tapping the three dots next to the channel name there.
Will the channel owner know I blocked them?
No. YouTube does not notify channel owners when someone blocks their channel. The block is private to your account and does not affect the channel's visibility to other users.
What's the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?
Unsubscribing removes a channel from your subscriptions list, but YouTube may still recommend its videos to you. Blocking removes the channel from recommendations, search results, and your home feed entirely. If you block a subscribed channel, you're automatically unsubscribed.
Can I block multiple channels at once?
No. You must block channels one at a time through the three-dot menu on a video or channel name. There is no bulk-block feature in the YouTube app.
If I block a channel, will it affect my watch history?
Blocking a channel does not delete videos you've already watched from that channel from your watch history. It only stops YouTube from showing you new content from that channel going forward.