- How to make your YouTube channel private by hiding it
- What hiding your channel makes private
- Hide or delete: don't mix them up
- If you only want some videos private
- Private, unlisted and public videos compared
- How to share a private video with named people
- Which should you choose?
- Before you hide your channel
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
YouTube doesn't have a single private switch for a whole channel. To make your YouTube channel private, you hide it: in YouTube Studio go to Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings, select Remove YouTube Content, then I want to hide my channel, and confirm.
Hiding makes your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions and subscribers private, and you can bring it all back later. If you only want some videos out of sight, change those videos to Private or Unlisted instead.
Below are both routes, a table of what each privacy setting does, and the mistake that deletes a channel when you meant to hide it. The steps come from YouTube Help, read in October 2026.
How to make your YouTube channel private by hiding it
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Settings from the left sidebar.
- Select Channel, then Advanced settings.
- At the bottom, select Remove YouTube Content. You may be asked to sign in again.
- Select I want to hide my channel.
- Tick the boxes to confirm what will be hidden.
- Select Hide my channel.
Read step five twice. The same page offers I want to permanently delete my content, which closes the channel for good.
What hiding your channel makes private
YouTube Help says hiding your channel makes these private:
- Your channel name.
- Your videos.
- Your likes.
- Your subscriptions.
- Your subscribers.
While it's hidden you can't upload, comment or use playlists. To do any of those, or to make your content viewable again, you re-enable the channel.
There's a side effect YouTube mentions: your view counts may be inaccurate while the channel is hidden, and after you re-enable it, it can take up to a week for the counts to update. Don't panic if your numbers look odd for a few days.
Hide or delete: don't mix them up
| Hide your channel | Delete your channel | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you undo it? | Yes, re-enable the channel | No, it's permanent |
| What happens to videos | Made private | Deleted, with comments, messages, playlists and history |
| Can you do it on a phone? | The steps are in YouTube Studio | YouTube says you can't currently delete a channel on mobile |
| Your Google Account | Stays the same | Stays the same, only the channel goes |
If you've already deleted a channel by mistake, my guide to recovering a deleted YouTube channel covers what's possible. If deleting is what you want, my guide to deleting a YouTube channel walks you through it.
If you only want some videos private
Often the real goal isn't a private channel, it's a few videos nobody else should see. YouTube lets you set each video to Public, Private or Unlisted.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Content from the left menu.
- Point to the video you want to change.
- Click the down arrow under Visibility and choose Private or Unlisted.
- Select Save.
My guide to making a YouTube video private goes into this in more detail, including sharing a private video by email.
Private, unlisted and public videos compared
| What it can do | Private | Unlisted | Public |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shows in search, related videos and recommendations | No | No | Yes |
| Posted on your channel | No | No | Yes |
| Shows in your subscribers' feed | No | No | Yes |
| Anyone with the link can watch | No, only people you choose | Yes | Yes |
| Can be commented on | No | Yes | Yes |
Two details from YouTube Help are worth knowing. Comments aren't available on private videos, so if you want feedback from a small group, use unlisted. And for creators aged 13 to 17, the default privacy setting for new uploads is already private.
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How to share a private video with named people
Private doesn't have to mean only you. YouTube lets you share a private video with specific people by email.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Content from the left menu.
- Click the video you want to share.
- Click the Visibility box and select Share privately.
- Enter the email addresses you want to share it with, then select Save.
Unlisted works differently. YouTube says anyone with the link can watch and reshare an unlisted video, and the people you send it to don't need a Google Account. That's handy for a client or a course group, but it means you can't control where the link goes next.
One more thing worth knowing: YouTube says its systems and human reviewers may still review private videos for ad suitability, copyright and other abuse prevention. Private hides a video from viewers, not from YouTube.
Which should you choose?
- Taking a break and want everything out of sight for a while: hide the channel.
- Rebranding and keeping a few old videos for reference: make those videos private.
- Sharing training or client videos with a specific group: use unlisted, or private with named email addresses.
- Leaving YouTube for good: delete, but only once you've downloaded anything you want to keep.
Before you hide your channel
A few minutes of preparation saves you a headache later. If your channel is linked from your website, email signature or other social profiles, update those links first so visitors don't land on an empty page. If you have regular viewers or clients who rely on your videos, tell them you're taking a break. And note your current subscriber and view counts, because YouTube warns those numbers can look wrong for up to a week after you bring the channel back.
My verdict
For most people searching this, hiding is the right answer. It's reversible, it makes your name, videos and subscriber list private in one go, and it doesn't touch your Google Account. Just read the option on the Remove YouTube Content page slowly, because hide and delete sit next to each other. If it's only a handful of videos you're worried about, leave the channel alone and switch those videos to private.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a whole YouTube channel private?
Not with one privacy switch. YouTube lets you hide your channel, which makes your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions and subscribers private until you re-enable it.
How do I hide my YouTube channel?
In YouTube Studio, go to Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings, select Remove YouTube Content, choose I want to hide my channel, tick the boxes and select Hide my channel.
Does hiding a YouTube channel delete my videos?
No. Hiding makes them private, and you can re-enable the channel later. YouTube says view counts can take up to a week to update after you re-enable it.
Can people comment on private YouTube videos?
No. YouTube says comments aren't available on private videos. If you want comments on a video that isn't public, set it to unlisted.
