How to Delete a YouTube Account?

9 min read

13/12/2024F. Baris ŞAHAN

YouTube, one of the world's most popular video-sharing platforms, attracts billions of users. The platform allows users to watch and upload videos, create digital content, and even serve as a search engine. With millions of pieces of content from countless sectors, YouTube offers a user-friendly interface that ensures ease of use.

Although YouTube is one of the most widely used platforms, you might decide to leave it and delete your account. The desire to delete your YouTube account may stem from various reasons, such as privacy concerns, infrequent usage, or the desire to create a new account. This article will guide you through the steps required to permanently delete your YouTube account and highlight the key points to consider during the process.

Things to Know Before Deleting Your YouTube Account

Before deleting your YouTube account, you should understand that this action is permanent. Once the deletion is complete, changes may also occur across other Google services. During this preparation phase, it is essential to review all your data to avoid losing subscriptions, saved videos, and more. Here’s what you should check:

Subscriptions and Membership Services

YouTube subscriptions will no longer be accessible once you delete your account. If there are channels you actively follow and wish to revisit in the future, consider noting them down. If you have a YouTube Premium or YouTube Music subscription, you must cancel these services to avoid further charges on your saved payment method.

Content and Personal Projects

If you own a YouTube channel and believe it’s time to close it, ensure you review all your content before it is permanently removed. This includes videos, playlists, community posts, and comments. Backup valuable content using a cloud storage service or download it using Google Takeout.

How to Download Data Using Google Takeout

Before deleting your YouTube account, Google Takeout allows you to easily download your data from Google services. Here’s how:

Log in to your Google account and go to the Google Account Data and Privacy Page.
Find the option labeled Download or Delete Your Data.
Click on the Download Your Data section and select the content you wish to download.
If you prefer to download Drive data, it’s better to do so directly through Google Drive.
Remove unnecessary data to make the download process faster and more efficient.
After selecting the files you want, proceed to the next step.
Choose the file type and download frequency.
Click on the Export button to download the data you need.

Inform Your Subscribers and Community

If you’ve been actively using your YouTube channel, you may have subscribers, sponsors, or a community. Don’t forget to inform them before deleting your channel. You can create a public social media post or upload a farewell video. This step is important to retain your audience and keep them engaged with your future projects.

Steps to Delete Your YouTube Account

All YouTube accounts are linked to Google accounts. Therefore, you need to go to Google settings to delete your YouTube account.

Deleting a YouTube Account on Desktop

Log in to your Google account and go to the Settings section.
Navigate to the Data & Privacy tab and select Apps & Services.
Click on Delete a Service, then click the trash icon next to YouTube.
Select the option I Want to Permanently Delete My Account, then check Delete My Content.

Deleting a YouTube Account on the Mobile App

Open the YouTube app on your device.
Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner to access deletion steps.
Go to Manage Your Google Account.
Tap on the Data & Privacy tab at the top of the page.
Enter the Data From Apps and Services You Use section.
Click on the arrow next to Apps & Services.
Tap on Delete a Service and follow the instructions to complete the deletion.

If hiding your YouTube account suits you better than deletion, you can select I Want to Hide My Channel. This will hide your comments and replies, but your other content will remain private.

How to Delete a YouTube Channel

If you’ve been sharing content on your YouTube channel but no longer wish to remain active, you can delete the channel entirely. Before proceeding, keep in mind that all your uploaded data and videos will also be deleted. Therefore, back up your important content using the methods described above.

To delete your channel:

Log in to your YouTube Studio account on a desktop browser.
Note: This process cannot be completed through the mobile app.
Navigate to your channel dashboard and click on the Advanced Settings tab.
Scroll down and select the Remove YouTube Content link. Alternatively, choose the option to hide your account if you’re not ready for deletion.
Click the link labeled Delete My Account and follow the prompts. You may need to log in again.
On the new page, click on the I Want to Permanently Delete My Content dropdown menu. You will see two options:
The first option confirms that all channel content will be removed.
The second option also cancels memberships such as YouTube Music. Ensure both options are checked to avoid future charges on your saved payment method.
Finally, click Delete My Content to complete the process.