How to delete your watch history on YouTube

By default, YouTube remembers which videos you’ve watched when you’re signed in to your Google account. This data is used, among other things, to make recommendations. But you may not want YouTube to save your watch and search history for privacy reasons. Fortunately, you can delete this data manually.

Before we start, it’s useful to know that the YouTube app on your phone or tablet has an incognito mode. In the app, tap your profile icon at the top right of the screen and then choose Turn on incognito† You can then watch videos on YouTube as if you weren’t logged into your account. Your search and viewing history are cleared as soon as you close the app and are therefore never visible in your account.

Clear watch history

But you probably already have some search and viewing data that you would like to delete. You can do this in your browser by going to the YouTube website and clicking the hamburger menu on the left (the three horizontal bars). Choose the option here History†

Now you can delete your viewing history per video viewed by hovering your mouse over the video and clicking on the cross. In the menu bar on the right of the screen you can also choose Clear entire watch history, which means that YouTube no longer has any insight into what you have watched. Keep in mind that this will affect the videos YouTube recommends to you.

In the mobile app, go to Library / History to clear your watch history. Tap the three vertical dots and then Remove from watch history† If you want to delete your entire viewing history, press the top right of the Historymenu on the vertical dots and then History options† Here you will find Clear watch history†

If you also want to clear your search history, you will find that option below. In the browser you can click on the cross in the search bar to delete a search.

Also read: How to delete Instagram search history

Pause Watch History

If you want to prevent YouTube from tracking your search and viewing behaviour, you can use the incognito mode, but unfortunately it is only available for mobile devices. Fortunately, if you use YouTube in the browser, you will find a similar option in the History menu, namely Pause Watch History†

If you also want to interrupt your search history, click below Manage all history on Watch and search history and then on Your YouTube history is saved† Here you can check the box Including your YouTube searches turn of.

Find more YouTube tips here!

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