YouTube youtube.com How to delete a YouTube account
Open YouTube Studio on a computer, go to Settings > Channel > Advanced settings > Remove YouTube content, and choose permanent deletion. This deletes your channel, not your Google Account. You can't do it on mobile.
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- youtube.com
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- Delete an account
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Step by step
- 1
Sign in on a computer
Sign in to YouTube with the account that owns the channel. Google says channel deletion isn't supported on mobile devices, so use a desktop or laptop browser.
- 2
Open YouTube Studio
Go to YouTube Studio from your profile picture menu.
- 3
Go to Settings
In the left menu choose Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings.
- 4
Choose Remove YouTube content
Select Remove YouTube content. You'll be offered a choice between hiding your content and permanently deleting it.
- 5
Pick permanent deletion and confirm
Choose to permanently delete your content and follow the prompts to confirm. Google notes it can take some time for the channel to be fully deleted.
Watch out for
- Deleting the channel does not delete your Google Account. You sign in with that account for Gmail and other Google services, and it stays open.
- Deletion removes your videos, comments, messages, playlists and history. Download anything you want to keep first.
- If you delete the primary owner account linked to a channel, the channel is deleted too.
- You can't delete a channel from the mobile app or mobile browser view.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Hide the channel instead
The same page lets you temporarily hide your channel and content instead of deleting it. Pick this if you might come back.
What stays out there
Deleting your channel stops new data building up on YouTube. It doesn't reach copies held elsewhere. If your channel used your real name, a people-search site or old search result may still show it, and a phone number or email you listed publicly can sit in other databases.
Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them.
Frequently asked
Does deleting my YouTube channel delete my Google Account?
No. Google says these steps delete only the channel, not the Google Account you sign in with.
Can I delete a YouTube channel on my phone?
Not currently. Google's help page says channel deletion isn't supported on mobile devices, so use a computer.
What is the difference between hiding and deleting a channel?
Hiding keeps your content stored but hides it from others, so you can bring it back. Deleting removes your videos, comments, messages, playlists and history.
How long does YouTube take to delete a channel?
Google says it may take some time for the channel to be permanently deleted. It doesn't give a fixed number of days on the page.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
