How to Delete YouTube Search History on Mobile and Web

Your YouTube search history affects the recommendations you see, and sometimes, it can reveal more about your interests than you’d like. Whether you’re cleaning up for privacy reasons or just want to reset your algorithm, here’s how to delete your YouTube search history—step by step—on both mobile and desktop.

✅ Why Delete Your YouTube Search History?

YouTube uses your search history to recommend videos. That’s helpful—until it’s not. Maybe you searched for one DIY video, and now your homepage is flooded with how-to content you don’t care about. Or maybe you just value your privacy. Either way, wiping your history gives you control over what YouTube remembers.

📱 On Mobile (iPhone or Android)

You’ll need the YouTube app installed and signed into your account.

To delete individual search entries:

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap the Search icon (magnifying glass).
3. Your recent searches will appear.
4. Tap and hold on a search query you want to remove.
5. Tap Remove.

To clear your entire search history:

1. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > History & privacy.
3. Tap Clear search history.
4. Confirm your choice.

You can also pause your search history from this menu if you don’t want YouTube to save your searches going forward.

💻 On Desktop/Web

To delete individual search entries:

1. Go to YouTube and make sure you’re signed in.
2. Click the Search bar and your recent searches will show in a dropdown.
3. Click the Remove option next to any item you want to delete.

To clear your entire search history:

1. Click your profile icon > Your data in YouTube.
2. Scroll down to YouTube Search History.
3. Click Manage your YouTube Search History.
4. Tap Delete > choose:
   • Delete today
   • Delete custom range
   • Delete all time

You can also pause search history here, just like on mobile.

🛡 Bonus: Use Auto-Delete for Future Privacy

If you don’t want to remember to clear history manually:

1. Go to Manage your YouTube Search History.
2. Click Auto-delete.
3. Choose to automatically delete activity older than:
   • 3 months
   • 18 months
   • 36 months

Final Thoughts

Deleting your YouTube search history is quick, easy, and gives you more control over your viewing experience. Whether you want cleaner recommendations or tighter privacy, now you know how to handle it on any device.

Got questions or tips? Drop them in the comments.