Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions
YouTube remembers everything that you browse, videos that you have already watched. The reason why YouTube remembers this is to use its algorithms to show you recommendations and also encourage you to watch them. If you want to know how to erase YouTube history, you have come to the right place. This article has been written considering all the pain points of the users of YouTube.
Online privacy is one of the main reasons people search for clearing YouTube search history or any online browsing history. This is why more and more online data service providers are adding features that will talk about their privacy policies. For those who regularly watch YouTube, you know for a fact that your viewing history is an important concern. Your viewing history can tell other third parties and marketers about your likes and dislikes, and this is something that most of the YouTube browsers don't like to disclose.
Why should you delete all YouTube history?
Why should you not go for YouTube history delete all?
For those who don't want to erase the complete search history, here's what you can do. These steps have been divided into two parts. One for the desktop users and the second for the mobile phone users. Follow these easy steps, and get to know how to remove individual searches. The steps are very easy to follow.
Step 1: On your browser, search for YouTube and sign in to your account.
Step 2: You will see the menu icon, then click on that to start removing the items that you no longer want them to be there. Once the menu pops out, you need to select history.
Step 3: After you click on the history option, you will see the search history option towards the right. Click on that to see more menu. You will see a list of search history appear on the screen.
Step 4: If you don't want to delete the entire search history, check the search history box, and on the right side, you will see x buttons. Click on them individually, and that will delete the individual search history.
Step 1: On your mobile phone, you will see the YouTube icon, click on that to launch it. If you have not logged in, sign in by using your credentials.
Step 2: Once you sign in, click on the three bars to see the menu option. From the menu, you will see the history tab. Click on that to see the complete list of searches.
Step 3: Keep looking for the video that you would like to permanently delete from your search history. You will see three dots beside the video. Click on that, click on the option removed YouTube watch history; this will delete the video you don't want to see.
YouTube users use both desktop and mobile phone to browse YouTube videos. This is why we have separated these two devices and have provided with separate steps that will teach you how to delete YouTube history on iPad, Android, laptop, and desktop.
Step 1: Open the browser that you mostly use and visit YouTube. Once done, you will be redirected to YouTube. Those who are already logged in will be able to see all the recommended videos right away. Else, you can click on the sign-in option to sign in to YouTube. You will see the sign-in option on the top-right corner. You will have to enter your credentials to log in.
Step 2: Go to history, you will see a clear all watch history option on the platform. Click on that. YouTube will show you an alert pop up message. If you are sure to take action, click on the clear watch history option on that pop-up message. By doing this, all the watch history will be removed from your account.
Step 3: Just below the watch history, you will see the search history option with a circular button next to it. Once you click on the circular history, it will give you three options, clear all YouTube search history, pause search history, and manage all activity. Since we want to erase the search history, click on the first option. You will yet again see another pop-up option, hit the clear search history option, and that will delete all your previously watched videos.
Step 1: On your mobile handset, you need to open and launch YouTube. Follow the sign-in process if you are not logged in already. Enter your credentials when asked, and you will be signed in.
Step 2: Visit profile and later settings. When you sign in to YouTube, you will see your profile on the mobile screen's top right-hand side. Click on that, and there will be some tabs. Go to the bottom, and look for the setting option. You need to hit the setting option to get started.
Step 3: Click on history and privacy. After clicking on the Settings option, you will come across under the menu table with history and privacy mentioned on it. Click on that, and you will see options such as clear watch history, clear search history, pause watch history, and pause search history.
Step 4: Tap on clear watch history and search history. The two options on the top are what you will be aiming for. First, click on clear watch history, and once you see the pop-up message with a clear watch history option, click on that. Second, do the same for clear search history. Wait for the pop-up message and hit the clear search history option. These two steps will eliminate everything that you have searched for and watched.
Since YouTube keeps track of what you watch, it is better to take a few steps. Pause watch history is a new addition to the history settings. You can use this setting to stop seeing recommendations on YouTube. If you want to pause the history collection, here's what you need to do.
Step 1: For the first step, you will have to launch YouTube on your browser. After doing that, click on the three bars that you see on the top left-hand.
Step 2: From the menu bar, click on the history option. You will see history type, clear all watch history, pause watch history, and finally manage all activity.
Step 3: Click on the pause watch history option to pause any recommendation. Once you click on that, YouTube will show you a pop-up message. There will be two options, pause and cancel. To pause watch history, click on the pause option.
Readers may note that by doing this step, it could become difficult for you to find videos on YouTube. On top of that, you will get to see only a few recommendations. Also, you must note that pausing will not delete your search history. The search history will still be there.
Those who use their mobile phone to browse through YouTube videos follow these simple steps to pause watch history.
Step 1: Launch YouTube on your mobile phone.
Step 2: Click on your profile, and if you have not logged in, you need to sign in first.
Step 3: After clicking on your profile, you will see a menu list with a few options; click on the history and privacy option.
Step 4: There will be a few options, such as clear watch history, clear search history, pause watch video, search history. You will have to switch on both the pause watch history and pause search history.
Yet again, remembers may note that by doing this, it will become a bit difficult for browsers to search for related content. Also, doing this doesn't mean deleting your YouTube search history.
Apart from learning how to delete your history on YouTube, there's another way to protect your search history. By going incognito, you will leave no traces of your search history on YouTube. Here's how to do it.
This function is available on the Android app. Hence if you would like to go incognito on YouTube desktop or laptop, you need to pause your search history. That will allow you to go incognito. To do that, here's what you need to do.
Step 1: Visit YouTube, and click on the three bars that you see on the top left corner.
Step 2: Once the menu bar pops up, click on the history option.
Step 3: You will start seeing a new page. If you don't want YouTube to stop keeping track of what you watch, click on the pause, watch history.
Step 1: Launch YouTube on your mobile phone.
Step 2: Sign in to YouTube if you have been logged out. Now, click on your profile, which will be on the top right-hand corner.
Step 3: Your profile will have a turn on the incognito option. To go incognito, click on that option, and it's done.
Going incognito on your mobile phone's YouTube is much easier than desktop. If you don't want anyone else sees your search history, then going incognito makes sense.
While getting to know how to delete your search history on YouTube steps is necessary, it is also important for you to know what to do if you end up deleting a few videos that you don't want to.
If you have deleted a few YouTube videos that you didn't want to, the first thing that you should be doing is contacting the YouTube support team. You may write to them and let them know what happened.
Step 1: On your YouTube channel, you need to scroll down to the bottom. Once you do, you will see the help option.
Step 2: After clicking on the help option, you will see need more help. Click on that option, and afterward hit the get creator support.
Step 3: You will see email support, choose that, and write to the email support as soon as possible to get the video back.
If, by contacting YouTube support, you don't get your files back, here's another solution for you. You can get software like Wondershare Video Recovery, and easily recover your videos. This video recovery tool is available for both Mac and Windows PC. Depending on your computer, you can download the correct tool.
Step 1: The first step is to download the tool on your computer. With the Recoverit Video Recovery tool's help, you will be able to get all the videos back. After launching the videos, you will have to select the location where you lost the videos.
Step 2: Once you locate the video, allow the software to begin scanning the device. While scanning, it will find all the lost video files as well. Readers may note that this process will require some time.
Step 3: After the scanning process is completed, the tool will show you all the results. Go through the results, and click on the YouTube video that you would like to recover. Clicking on the recover button will allow you to have all the YouTube videos back.
Step 4: Preview the video to see that you are saving the right video.
These are the steps that you need to follow. Using Recoverit Video Recovery tool is not difficult at all. Once you find all the videos that you would like to save, store them somewhere safe.
YouTube is one of the most preferred video platforms tools which has a galore of videos for users of every kind. Suppose you have wanted to know about how to clear YouTube search history and watch history, follow the steps that we have mentioned above. If you delete a few videos you didn't want to, in that case, you have the Recoverit Video Recovery tool to get them back.
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Eleanor Reed
staff Editor