You can delete a YouTube video from your channel in under a minute

To delete a video you uploaded, sign into YouTube, go to your channel, find the video in your uploads, and click the delete option. YouTube removes the video from public view immediately, though it may take a few hours for it to disappear from search results and recommendations. Once deleted, the video cannot be recovered — YouTube does not keep backups of deleted videos.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using a computer or phone, and there are a few things to know before you delete, like what happens to comments and watch time.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted videos are gone permanently and cannot be restored, so download a copy first if you might want it later.
  • On a computer, go to YouTube Studio, click "Content," find your video, click the three-dot menu, and select "Delete permanently."
  • On a phone, open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, go to "Your channel," find the video, tap the three-dot menu, and choose delete.
  • Deleting a video removes it from your channel and search results, but YouTube may take hours to remove it from recommendations and user watch histories.
  • If you want to keep the video but hide it, you can set it to private or unlisted instead of deleting it.

How to delete a video on a computer

Open YouTube in your browser and sign in to the account that uploaded the video. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Create a post" or "YouTube Studio" — the exact wording depends on your account type, but you're looking for the creator dashboard. Once in YouTube Studio, click "Content" in the left menu.

Find the video you want to delete in the list. You can search by title using the search box at the top. Click the three-dot menu icon next to the video title. A dropdown menu will appear with options including "Delete permanently." Click that option. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again in the confirmation box. The video is now deleted and no longer appears on your channel.

How to delete a video on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Your channel" from the menu. Scroll through your uploads to find the video you want to delete, or use the search icon to find it by title.

Tap the three-dot menu icon next to the video. Select "Delete" from the options that appear. YouTube will ask you to confirm the deletion. Tap "Delete" again to complete the action. The video is now removed from your channel.

What happens when you delete a video

When you delete a video, YouTube removes it from your channel page, your uploads list, and public search results. The video's URL becomes inactive — anyone who tries to visit the link will see a message that the video is no longer available. Comments on the video are deleted along with it.

YouTube may take several hours to remove the video from recommendations, suggested videos, and user watch histories. If someone had the video in a playlist, it will disappear from that playlist. The view count and watch time from that video do not carry over to other videos — they are lost when you delete.

When to delete versus making a video private or unlisted

Deleting is permanent, so consider your alternatives first. If you want to hide a video from public view but keep it for yourself or share it with specific people, you have two other options.

Private videos are visible only to you and people you explicitly share the link with — they do not appear in search, recommendations, or your public channel. Unlisted videos are hidden from search and your channel page, but anyone with the link can watch them. To change a video's privacy setting instead of deleting it, go to YouTube Studio, click "Content," find the video, click the three-dot menu, select "Details," and change the privacy setting from "Public" to "Private" or "Unlisted."

Before you delete: what to do if you might want the video later

YouTube does not keep copies of deleted videos, so if you think you might want to use the video again — to re-upload it, edit it, or archive it — download it first. On a computer, go to YouTube Studio, find the video, click the three-dot menu, and select "Download." YouTube will provide a file you can save to your computer.

If the download option is not available, you can use a third-party video downloader tool, though you should only download videos you own. Keep the file in a safe location with a clear name so you can find it later if needed.

Troubleshooting: video won't delete or delete option is missing

If you cannot find the delete option, check that you are signed into the correct account — the one that uploaded the video. You can only delete videos from your own channel. If you are signed in to the right account and the delete option still does not appear, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache.

If the video is still not deleting after you click the button, wait a few minutes and try again. Sometimes YouTube's servers are slow to process the request. If the problem persists, sign out completely, sign back in, and attempt the deletion again. If you continue to have trouble, you can report the issue to YouTube through the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a video after I delete it?

No. Once you delete a video, YouTube does not keep a backup and cannot restore it. If you think you might want the video later, download it to your computer before deleting it from YouTube.

Will deleting a video affect my channel's overall view count?

Deleting a video removes the views and watch time from that specific video, but it does not affect your total channel statistics. Your channel's overall view count will decrease by the number of views that video had.

What happens to comments and likes on a deleted video?

All comments, likes, and engagement on the video are deleted along with it. If someone had replied to a comment on that video, those replies are also removed.

Can I delete a video that someone else uploaded to my channel?

Only the person who uploaded the video or a channel manager with deletion permissions can delete it. If someone else uploaded a video to your channel and you want it removed, you can remove them as a manager, but you cannot delete their videos directly.

How long does it take for a deleted video to disappear from Google search?

YouTube removes the video from its own search and recommendations within a few hours, but Google Search may take longer — sometimes days or weeks. You can request faster removal by going to Google Search Console and requesting URL removal, though this is optional.