Your YouTube Recap is a personal end-of-year summary of the interests, creators, music and moments from your year on YouTube, built from your own watch history. You'll find it in the YouTube mobile app or by visiting youtube.com/recap in a browser, and you have to be signed in to see it.
One thing to know before you go looking: as of October 2026, YouTube's Help article describes the 2025 Recap. That version was built from watch history between January and late October 2025, and it needed the YouTube app at version 18.43 or newer on Android or iPhone.
The other thing most people miss is that a Recap doesn't stay around. YouTube Help says Recaps are deleted automatically for everyone after the end of the year. So if you want to look back at yours, don't leave it until January.
Where to open your Recap
YouTube gives you two routes, and both need you signed in to the account whose history you want summarised.
- On your phone: update the YouTube app first. Help lists version 18.43 or newer for both Android and iPhone. Then open the app while signed in. A banner titled Your Recap is Here appears on the You tab.
- On a computer: open your browser and go to youtube.com/recap.
If neither route shows anything, it's almost always an eligibility problem rather than a bug. The table further down covers the four causes YouTube lists.
What counts toward it, and what doesn't
Your Recap reflects what you watched over the past year. According to YouTube Help, that includes:
- Long-form videos and YouTube Shorts, together.
- Anything you watched while signed in on the mobile app, a computer or a TV.
- Videos you downloaded and watched offline.
Two content types are left out: YouTube TV content and Primetime Channels. So if most of your viewing this year was live TV through YouTube TV, or shows from a channel subscription, your Recap may look thin or not appear at all.
Music is handled separately too. If you listen in the YouTube Music app, you get a separate Recap inside that app. I've covered that one in how YouTube Music Recap works, so I won't repeat it here.
Why your Recap isn't showing
YouTube Help gives four reasons someone can't access Recap. One of them nearly always explains it.
| Reason | What YouTube says | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Not enough watch history | You need enough eligible history for the year. If history was paused or auto-delete was on, that viewing doesn't count | Your watch history settings |
| Age | You must meet the minimum age of 13+ (or the applicable age in your country). Supervised accounts aren't eligible | Account age and whether it's supervised |
| Signed out or Brand Account | You must be signed in. Delegate users on a Brand Account aren't eligible | Which account and channel you're using |
| Location | Recap is available in over 185 countries and in 17 languages | The country you're in |
Watch history is the usual culprit
Recap is generated from your watch history, so anything that stops history being saved stops it counting. YouTube Help says any videos you watch while history is turned off won't show up in your history, and the Recap article adds that paused history or auto-delete means that viewing won't count.
Auto-delete lives in your watch history controls, where you can pick a time range for YouTube to clear older history. If it's set short, a whole year of viewing may never build up. If your history keeps switching itself off, start with why YouTube watch history keeps turning off. To see what's saved right now, here's how to view your YouTube watch history on any device.
Brand Accounts catch people out
If you manage a channel for a business, you may be using it through a Brand Account. YouTube Help says delegate users on a Brand Account aren't eligible for Recap. To check, go to myaccount.google.com/brandaccounts and look under Your Brand Accounts. YouTube also points out that you can only use one channel at a time, and having a Brand Account doesn't mean you're using it. Switch back to your personal account and try again.
Why it looks different from your friends'
Recap is unique to you and your history. YouTube Help also says some cards or stats have their own eligibility rules, so it's normal to see different insights from friends depending on what you watch, your location or your language settings. A missing card isn't a fault.
The Personality types
Your Recap may give you a Personality type and tell you which other types you're most compatible with. These are the types listed in YouTube Help, with what each one points to in your viewing:
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| Personality type | Drawn to content that |
|---|---|
| The Adventurer | takes you on an exciting journey |
| The Challenger | shows competition and rising to a challenge |
| The Changemaker | inspires positive change in the world |
| The Connector | sparks conversation and builds community |
| The Creative Spirit | inspires self-expression |
| The Curious Mind | is educational and helps you understand the world |
| The Dreamer | fuels your imagination |
| The Philosopher | explores the deeper meaning of things |
| The Self-Improver | helps you grow and reach your potential |
| The Serenity Seeker | helps you relax and find inner peace |
| The Skill Builder | helps you develop skills |
| The Sunshiner | spreads positivity and good vibes |
| The Trailblazer | is original and challenges the norm |
| The Wonder Seeker | is awe-inspiring and shows extraordinary skills |
Deleting it, and why you can't redo it
You can't refresh or edit a Recap. What you get is what you get. You can delete it, though, in two ways:
- On the You tab, tap the X on the Your Recap is Here banner.
- While watching your Recap, tap the 3-dot icon at the top of the Recap player and choose Delete this Recap.
Once it's deleted, you won't be able to see it again. And remember that Recaps disappear for everyone after the end of the year anyway.
If there's viewing you'd rather not have shaping things in future, the fix sits in your history, not the Recap. You can delete individual videos or a time range from history, and Help notes that deleting history this way also removes your search history for the same period. My walkthrough on deleting your YouTube watch history has the steps.
My verdict
Recap is a fun look back, but it's only as good as your watch history. My advice: if you want one, check now that your history is on and auto-delete isn't set too short, make sure you're watching on your personal account rather than a Brand Account, and open your Recap as soon as you see the banner. You can't regenerate it, and it won't wait past the end of the year.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see my YouTube Recap?
Sign in and open the YouTube mobile app (version 18.43 or newer on Android or iPhone, per YouTube Help) and look for the Your Recap is Here banner on the You tab, or go to youtube.com/recap in a browser.
Why can't I see my YouTube Recap?
YouTube Help lists four causes: not enough eligible watch history (paused history or auto-delete doesn't count), being under 13 or on a supervised account, being signed out or a delegate on a Brand Account, or being outside the eligible regions.
Does YouTube Recap include Shorts and TV watching?
Yes. It includes long-form videos and Shorts, plus anything you watched while signed in on the mobile app, a computer or a TV. Downloaded videos count too.
Does YouTube TV count toward my Recap?
No. YouTube Help lists YouTube TV content and Primetime Channels as content types that aren't included.
Can I get a new Recap or delete it?
You can't refresh or edit it. You can delete it from the X on the Your Recap is Here banner or from the 3-dot menu in the Recap player, but you won't be able to see it again. Recaps are deleted for everyone after the end of the year.
What are the YouTube Recap personality types?
YouTube Help lists 14, including The Adventurer, The Curious Mind, The Dreamer, The Skill Builder and The Wonder Seeker. Each reflects the kind of content you were drawn to.
What is the difference between YouTube Recap and YouTube Music Recap?
YouTube Recap covers your viewing on YouTube. If you listen in the YouTube Music app, you get a separate YouTube Music Recap inside that app.
