Why Was My YouTube Video Removed? Reasons and Next Steps

Finding a red label where your video used to play is horrible, especially if it took you a weekend to make. I've seen creators and small business owners panic and delete everything in sight, which is the one thing you shouldn't do. The label itself tells you a lot, so start by reading it carefully.

YouTube's help pages list a handful of reasons a video gets removed, each with its own message. Below, I'll go through them in the order the help centre gives them, then what a strike does and what you can do next.

Where a removed YouTube video message shows up

According to YouTube's help centre, you'll see a Video removed message next to the uploaded video in your list of content. The wording after the colon is the clue to why it happened. You can also check the violation details on your Studio dashboard or on the Content page in YouTube Studio.

Video removed: Inappropriate content on YouTube

This message means YouTube decided the video broke its Community Guidelines. The help page says to check the violation details in Studio, then read the Community Guidelines strike basics so you know what you can and can't upload. If you think the decision was a mistake, you can appeal the strike.

Video removed: Terms of Service violation on YouTube

Here the help page says the video may have been rejected for a Terms of Use violation or a copyright violation. Its advice is to review the Terms of Service or the copyright guidance. It's a broader label, so read any details attached to the notice before you decide what to do.

Copyright claims that mute or block a YouTube video

This one is different, because the video may not be removed at all. If a copyright owner claims material in your video through Content ID, you might see messages such as Muted due to copyrighted content or Blocked in some countries or regions.

To see what was matched, click the text next to your video. Under Copyright Details you can see the identified material. That's useful if the claim covers a few seconds of background music, because you'll know exactly what to replace.

A YouTube video taken down after a copyright removal request

A video taken down means a copyright owner sent a valid removal request, and your channel received a copyright strike. The help page says there are three ways to resolve a copyright strike, without listing them in that article, so open the notice in Studio to see the options offered for your case.

One warning from the help page is worth repeating. Deleting a video with a strike won't resolve the strike. Leave it in place until you've read the options.

Video removed because of a trademark issue on YouTube

The last label reads Video removed - trademark issue, which means the video violated YouTube's trademark policy. The help page points you to the trademark policies. If your video used a brand name or logo in a way that could mislead viewers, that's the place to start.

What a YouTube strike means for your channel

Not every removal leads to a strike. YouTube says removals for other reasons, such as a court order or a first-party privacy complaint, don't result in one. For guideline breaks, here's how the help page describes it:

• You get an email when you receive a strike, and the notice explains what was removed, which policy was broken and what you can do next.
• A first violation usually brings a warning. If you complete the optional policy training, the warning expires 90 days after you finish it.
• A first strike stops you from uploading, going live, creating Premieres or making custom thumbnails and posts for 1 week.
• A second strike in the same 90-day period means you can't post content for 2 weeks.
• Three strikes in the same 90-day period may lead to permanent removal of your channel.
• Each strike stays on your channel for 90 days from when it was issued, and deleting the content doesn't remove it.

The page also says a single case of severe abuse may lead to a channel being terminated without warning.

What to do after your YouTube video was removed

1. Open YouTube Studio and read the notice for the removed video, including the exact label.
2. Look at the policy named in the notice and compare it with what's in the video.
3. If it's a copyright claim, click the text next to the video and check Copyright Details.
4. If you believe a Community Guidelines decision was wrong, submit an appeal through your channel features page.
5. Keep your other uploads in line with the policy while the strike is active.

YouTube warns against creating or using another channel to get around restrictions. The help page says that can lead to all your channels being terminated, so don't be tempted.

Removed versus deleted: a YouTube video that has simply gone

Sometimes a video disappears because you or someone with access deleted it, not because YouTube removed it. Check your content list and your account's recent activity before assuming the worst. If you do want to take a video down yourself, my guide to deleting a YouTube video (or hiding it instead) explains the difference. And if you're wondering whether quiet old uploads vanish by themselves, I've covered that in my piece on whether YouTube deletes old videos.

When to contact YouTube about a removed video

The help page only describes the appeal process for Community Guidelines strikes. It doesn't explain appeals for Terms of Service, copyright or trademark removals. For those, use the options shown in the notice in Studio, or the help centre and feedback links inside YouTube, and keep any messages you've received. If anyone is threatening or harassing you over the video, report it to the platform and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

This guide is part of my YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Why was my YouTube video removed?

YouTube's help centre lists five reasons: inappropriate content (Community Guidelines), a Terms of Service violation, copyrighted content, a copyright takedown, or a trademark issue. The message next to the video says which.

Does every removed video get a strike?

No. YouTube says removals for other reasons, such as a court order or a first-party privacy complaint, don't result in a strike.

How long does a YouTube strike last?

Each strike remains on your channel for 90 days from when it was issued, and deleting the content doesn't remove it.

Can I appeal a removed YouTube video?

If you believe a Community Guidelines decision was a mistake, you can submit an appeal. The help page doesn't describe an appeal for the other removal types.

Should I delete a video that has a copyright strike?

No. YouTube's help page says deleting a video with a strike won't resolve the strike, so read the options in your notice first.