How to Delete a YouTube Channel
Millions of people around the world use YouTube to share videos with friends and family, or to build a following for their personal brand. But what happens when you want to delete your YouTube channel?
In this article, I’ll show you how to delete a YouTube channel and an alternative to deleting it.
Deleting your YouTube channel is a permanent action that cannot be undone, so if you’re sure you really want to delete it, then read on to get the exact step by step instructions.
Table of Contents
How to delete a YouTube channel
Deleting a YouTube channel is a pretty straightforward process. Just follow these steps:
1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left sidebar, select Settings (the gear icon)
3. On the Settings popup on the new left vertical menu, select Channel
4. Select Advanced Settings on the horizontal menu
5. At the bottom, select Remove YouTube content.
6. You will then be prompted to enter your sign-in details. (Important step else anyone with access to your computer can delete your channel in an instant!).
7. Select I want to permanently delete my content.
8. Select the boxes to confirm you want to delete your channel.
9. Select Delete my content.
It may take some time for your channel to be permanently deleted. In the short term, you may continue to see thumbnails of your videos on the site.
Note: The steps above will only delete your YouTube channel and not your Google Account. Deleting your entire Google Account is a completely different process.
And that’s it! Your channel, channel URL, and channel name will be deleted and all of your videos and personal information will be permanently removed from YouTube.
Why you might want to delete a YouTube channel
There are many reasons why you might want to delete your YouTube channel. Maybe you no longer use YouTube and don’t want your videos and personal information out there anymore. Or maybe you are closing down your business and don’t need the channel anymore. Whatever your reasons, deleting a YouTube channel is a relatively simple process.
What happens when you delete a YouTube channel
When you delete a YouTube channel, all of your videos and personal information will be permanently removed from the site. Your channel URL will also be released and can be claimed by someone else. So if you ever decide to come back to YouTube, you may not be able to get your old channel back.
Alternative to deleting a YouTube channel
If you’re not ready to delete your channel but just want to take a break from YouTube, you can always hide your channel instead. Hiding your channel will make it private and only visible to people who have the direct link.
To hide your YouTube channel, just follow these steps:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- From the left sidebar, select Settings (the gear icon)
- On the Settings popup on the new left vertical menu, select Channel
- Select Advanced Settings on the horizontal menu
- At the bottom, select Remove YouTube content.
- You will then be prompted to enter your sign-in details.
- Select I want to hide my content.
- Select the boxes to confirm what will be hidden on your channel.
- Select Hide my channel.
Hiding your channel is a good alternative if you’re not sure you want to delete your channel permanently. It allows you to take a break from YouTube without losing your channel, your URL, or your videos.
You can always re-enable the channel to restore your content for public access whenever you’re ready.
Conclusion
Deleting a YouTube channel is a pretty straightforward process. Just follow the steps outlined in this article and your channel will be deleted in no time. Keep in mind that once you delete your channel, all of your videos and personal information will be permanently removed from YouTube. So if you ever decide to come back to the site, you may not be able to get your old channel back.
If your YouTube aspirations didn’t work out, then consider faceless YouTube ideas for your channel that might be much easier for you to attain success.
If you’re not ready to delete your channel but want to take a break from YouTube, you can always hide your channel instead. Hiding your channel will make it private and only visible to people who have the link.
About the Author: Jian Brant
