How to delete a YouTube channel
You delete a YouTube channel from YouTube Studio on a computer: Settings, Channel, Advanced Settings, Remove YouTube Content. It is permanent, and it does not work in the mobile app.
Steps checked against YouTube Help on October 8, 2026.
Before you delete the channel
- ●Deleting is permanent. Your videos, comments, messages, playlists, and history are deleted with the channel.
- ●Your Google Account is not deleted. You can still sign in to Gmail and other Google services.
- ●You need a computer. YouTube says you can’t currently delete a channel on mobile devices.
- ●If you only want the channel out of sight for a while, hide it instead. Hiding can be undone.
- ●If you want to keep your videos, download them before you start. They are gone once the channel is deleted.
Delete your YouTube channel permanently
- 1
Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer
Go to studio.youtube.com and check the profile picture in the corner. It should be the channel you want to delete, not another channel on the same Google Account.
- 2
Open Settings
It is in the left sidebar.
- 3
Select Channel, then Advanced Settings
- 4
Select Remove YouTube Content
The link is at the bottom of the tab. YouTube may ask you to sign in again.
- 5
Select “I want to permanently delete my content”
- 6
Tick the boxes to confirm
They list what will be deleted. Read them before you tick.
- 7
Select Delete my content
The channel is now queued for deletion.
Source: Delete or hide your YouTube channel — YouTube Help. YouTube changes Studio menus from time to time. If a label here does not match what you see, follow the help page.
What happens after you delete it
- ●Deletion is not instant. YouTube says it may take some time.
- ●Thumbnails of your videos may still show up on the site for a short while.
- ●The channel URL and channel name stop being visible or searchable in YouTube Analytics.
- ●Watch time and other data from the channel stay in YouTube’s aggregate reports, but are no longer attributed to the deleted channel.
Hide your YouTube channel instead
Hiding makes your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions, and subscribers private without deleting anything. You have to re-enable the channel before you can upload, comment, or use playlists again.
- 1
Follow steps 1 to 4 above
Studio, Settings, Channel, Advanced Settings, then Remove YouTube Content.
- 2
Select “I want to hide my channel”
- 3
Tick the boxes to confirm what will be hidden
- 4
Select Hide my channel
You can re-enable the channel later from the same place.
View counts can be inaccurate while the channel is hidden. After you re-enable it, YouTube says the counts can take up to a week to update.
Deleting a channel vs. deleting a YouTube account
There is no separate YouTube account. You sign in to YouTube with a Google Account, and the channel belongs to it. The steps on this page delete the channel only.
It works differently in the other direction. If you delete the Google Account that is the primary owner of a channel, the channel is deleted with it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete my YouTube channel?
Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer, open Settings, then Channel, then Advanced Settings. Select Remove YouTube Content, choose “I want to permanently delete my content”, tick the confirmation boxes, and select Delete my content.
Can I delete a YouTube channel on my phone?
No. YouTube says you can’t currently delete a channel on mobile devices. Use a computer.
Does deleting my YouTube channel delete my Google Account?
No. Only the channel is deleted. Gmail, Drive, and the rest of the Google Account stay. The reverse is not true: deleting the Google Account that is the primary owner of a channel deletes the channel too.
Can I get a deleted YouTube channel back?
Treat it as permanent. YouTube describes the deletion as permanent and says it may have a harder time recovering the account afterwards. If you might want the channel back, hide it instead.
How long does it take for a YouTube channel to be deleted?
YouTube does not give a number. It says it may take some time, and that thumbnails of your videos may stay visible on the site for a short while.
What is the difference between hiding and deleting a channel?
Hiding makes the channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions, and subscribers private, and you can re-enable the channel later. Deleting removes the content for good.