How Do I Permanently Delete My YouTube Account?

In a nutshell: If you want a social media break that's going to last more than a few days, it might be time to think about deleting accounts for the sites that take up the most time. Getting rid of your YouTube account is a pretty big step, but it doesn't take long if you're ready. Once deleted, all your videos, playlists, subscriptions, and comments will be gone forever. There are lots of reasons to want a fresh start online, so take control today. This guide walks you through every step, with screenshots noted so you can follow along easily.

Introduction

If you want a social media break that's going to last more than a few days, it might be time to think about deleting accounts for the sites that take up the most time. Getting rid of your YouTube account is a pretty big step, but it doesn't take long if you're ready. Once deleted, all your videos, playlists, subscriptions, and comments will be gone forever. There are lots of reasons to want a fresh start online, so take control today. This guide walks you through every step, with screenshots noted so you can follow along easily.

To delete your account, you'll need to be signed in. On many devices, log-in may be automatic and linked to your Google profile, so make sure the account you want to delete is the one currently logged in.

Once you're logged into the right account, click on your avatar picture to bring up a dropdown menu and select YouTube Studio from the options.

In YouTube Studio, look at the menu on the left-hand side. Click on Settings. The button is pinned, so it should always be visible when you enter the Studio.

When you click on settings, a pop-up box opens. Choose Channel from the left side menu.

Once you've selected Channel, you can click on the Advanced tab and choose the "remove YouTube content" button.

You'll be asked to re-enter verification credentials to proceed to the removal page. You may be asked for your Microsoft pin, Google password, or another method, depending on your Google account settings.

If you select "I want to permanently delete my content," you'll see a drop-down list with all the content to be removed. It includes your posted videos, playlists, subscriptions, comments, gift settings, watch history, and more. Check the boxes for the type of content you'd like to delete.

After you've checked both boxes, click on the "Delete My Content" button.

A verification screen will pop up to confirm you want to delete your YouTube Content. Put in your credentials to continue.

Deleting your YouTube account is permanent, and there's no way to recover the information after you finish erasing your account. Be sure before you hit the final OK.

Conclusion

Deleting your YouTube account is a serious step, but it can bring peace of mind if you’re ready to step away from the platform. By following the steps above, you’ll permanently remove your channel and its content.

There's no way to recover your lost YouTube account or conversations with online friends in the comments. But, deleting your YouTube account doesn't delete your Google account, Gmail, or other Google services. If you have videos you want to keep, download them before deleting your channel.If you're sure you're ready to step away from YouTube, go ahead and delete your account today.

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