How to Report a YouTube Video, Short, Comment or Channel

Sometimes you come across a video that's harmful, a scam, or a copy of something you made. Reporting it's the way to put it in front of YouTube's reviewers, and it only takes a few taps. I'll walk you through how it works for videos, Shorts, comments and channels, what happens after you report, and what to do when a report isn't the right tool. Everything here comes from YouTube's help centre.

Report a YouTube video in the app or on a computer

YouTube's help page gives these steps:

1. Open the video.
2. Tap or click More (the three dots).
3. Select Report.
4. Choose the reason that best fits.
5. Tap Report to send it.

Pick the reason carefully. The closer it matches the problem, the easier it'll be for reviewers to judge the video against the right policy. Menus vary by app version and between phone and computer, so look for the three-dot menu near the video.

Reporting a YouTube Short, comment or live chat message

• Short: open the Short, tap More at the top right, then Report. Choose a reason and confirm. On a computer, YouTube says to use the Shorts player.
• Comment: tap More on the comment, then Report, then choose a reason.
• Community post: tap More at the top right of the post, then Report.
• Live chat message: tap the message, then Report, and choose a reason.

If the comments are on your own channel, YouTube says you can also hide the user from your channel, which stops their comments appearing for everyone else.

How to report a whole YouTube channel

When the problem is the channel itself rather than one video, such as a channel pretending to be your business, YouTube's help centre says to tap More under the channel or content and choose Report. Then choose the reason that fits. If someone's copying your channel name, it helps to know how names and handles differ; my guide on YouTube channel names vs handles explains it.

What happens after you report a YouTube video

According to YouTube's help page:

• Your report is anonymous. The uploader isn't told who reported them.
• Reported content isn't taken down automatically.
• YouTube reviews reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Content that breaks the Community Guidelines is removed.
• Content that may not suit younger viewers may be age-restricted.
• If there's no violation, the video stays up.

You can follow progress in your Report history on a computer. If you're curious why channels end up removed, I've written about why YouTube channels get shut down.

YouTube report options for privacy and legal problems

Problem on YouTube	Route YouTube suggests
Breaks Community Guidelines	More, then Report, then a reason
Your private details or image	YouTube's privacy complaint process
Copyright or other legal issue	More, then Report, then Legal issue form
A misleading ad	Tap the ad info, then Report ad

YouTube's help page notes that misuse of its legal forms can lead to your Google Account being terminated, so only use them for real legal problems.

Picking the right reason when you report on YouTube

When you tap Report, YouTube asks you to choose a reason. It's tempting to pick the first one that sounds roughly right, but the reason you choose steers which policy a reviewer looks at first. A scam video reported as spam, or a video copying your work reported as harassment, may not be judged the way you hoped.

If the issue is about your own rights, such as someone uploading your video, your logo or your private details, the general report may not be the best route. YouTube's help centre points you to the Legal issue option and its privacy complaint process for those. For legal reports, it recommends using its online form rather than sending anything by post or fax.

Why a reported YouTube video might stay up

It's frustrating when you report something and it's still there days later. YouTube's help page explains that a report doesn't remove a video automatically: reviewers check it against the Community Guidelines, and if they don't find a violation, it stays. Something can be unpleasant or wrong without breaking a specific rule. If you see a video that you still think is harmful, you can report it again with the reason that fits best, and keep an eye on your Report history.

Keeping your family safer on YouTube while you wait

A report doesn't remove anything straight away. If you're worried about what children in your house might see in the meantime, Restricted Mode is worth a look; my guide on turning Restricted Mode on and off shows where it lives. And if someone's threatening you or you're in danger, report it to the platform and contact the police.

If you can't find the YouTube Report button

• Look for the three dots next to the title, under the video or at the top right of a Short.
• Check you're on the item you mean to report, not the channel page or a playlist.
• Update the app if the menu looks different from these steps.
• For ads, the report option sits behind the ad's own info or menu rather than the video's.

If you want the full set, start at the YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a YouTube video?

Open the video, tap More, select Report, choose the reason that fits and tap Report.

Is reporting a YouTube video anonymous?

Yes. YouTube's help centre says reports are anonymous, so the uploader can't see who reported them.

Does YouTube remove a video as soon as it's reported?

No. YouTube reviews the report and only removes content that breaks its Community Guidelines. Some videos are age-restricted instead.

How can I check on a YouTube report I made?

On a computer, open your Report history to see the status of reports you've sent.

Why is a YouTube video I reported still online?

YouTube only removes reported content that breaks its Community Guidelines. If reviewers find no violation, the video stays up.

How do I report a YouTube comment?

Tap More on the comment, then Report, choose a reason and confirm.