How to delete your YouTube channel

Steps last checked

How do I delete my YouTube channel without deleting Gmail?

In YouTube Studio go to Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings, and choose Remove YouTube content. Google states this deletes the channel only, not the Google Account you sign in with, so Gmail and Drive are unaffected.

Google’s delete-a-service page (alternative route) →

Do not delete the Google account when you only want YouTube gone. Your Google account carries Gmail, Drive, Photos, Play purchases and every "Sign in with Google" login you have ever used. Deleting it is one of the most destructive actions available to a normal internet user. YouTube can be removed on its own.

Delete only your YouTube channel

Google is explicit that this route leaves the rest of your account alone: these steps delete the YouTube channel, not the Google Account you sign in with.

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. Select Settings in the left sidebar.
  3. Choose Channel, then Advanced settings.
  4. At the bottom, select Remove YouTube content.
  5. Choose I want to permanently delete my content.
  6. Tick the confirmation boxes, then select Delete my content.

Gmail, Drive, Photos and everything else on the account keep working.

Alternative route: Google’s delete-a-service page removes YouTube from the account as a whole. Either works; the Studio path is the one Google documents.

Hide the channel instead

Hiding makes your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions and subscribers private while keeping the channel recoverable. Deletion of a channel with years of uploads is not reversible, so hide first if there is any doubt.

It sits on the same Remove YouTube content screen. One caveat Google notes: view counts can become inaccurate after hiding.

Download your videos first

Use Google Takeout and select YouTube. Exports of large channels can take a long time and arrive as multi-part archives, so start it well before you plan to delete. Check the files actually open before you proceed.

What deleting the channel removes

Videos other people have downloaded or re-uploaded stay online. Deletion removes your copy, not every copy.

Deleting more than one?

Most people who close one account close another within a week. The rest of the guides:

See all 13 platforms · Save your data first

Common questions

Will deleting my YouTube channel delete my Gmail?

Not if you delete only the YouTube service through Google’s delete-a-service page. Deleting the entire Google account is a separate, far more destructive action that does remove Gmail.

Can I recover a deleted YouTube channel?

No. Channel deletion is permanent. Hiding the channel is the reversible option and removes your content from public view.

Do my comments disappear when I delete my channel?

Yes. Unlike Reddit, deleting a YouTube channel removes your comments across the platform along with your videos.