How to Turn Off and Delete YouTube Activity on Android and Desktop

Ever felt a strange sense of déjà vu while scrolling through YouTube, only to realize you’ve already watched that cat video compilation? Or maybe you’re privacy-conscious and want to keep your viewing habits under wraps. Whatever your reason, this comprehensive guide will show you how to turn off and delete your YouTube watch history on both Android devices and desktops.

Tamming the Algorithm: Turning Off Watch History

By turning off watch history, you prevent YouTube from recording the videos you watch. This can be beneficial for:

• Avoiding Repetitive Recommendations: The algorithm won’t bombard you with similar videos based on your watch history.
• Maintaining Privacy: You can keep your viewing habits confidential.

Turning Off Watch History on Android:

1. Launch the YouTube App: Tap on the YouTube icon to open the app on your Android device.

2. Access Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture located in the top right corner of the screen.

3. Navigate to Settings: From the profile menu, tap on “Settings.”

4. History & privacy: Within the Settings menu, locate and tap on “History & privacy.”

5. Pause Watch History: Toggle the switch next to “Watch history” to the “Off” position. A confirmation pop-up might appear; confirm your choice if needed.

Turning Off Watch History on Desktop:

1. Open YouTube on Your Browser: Head over to https://www.youtube.com/ in your preferred web browser.

2. Click on Your Profile Picture: In the top right corner of the screen, click on your profile picture.

3. Select History: From the profile menu, click on “History.”

4. Pause Watch History: On the History page, locate the “Watch history” section and click on the toggle switch to turn it “Off.” A confirmation message might appear; confirm your choice if needed.

Erasing the Past: Deleting Watch History

If you want to remove past watch history entries, here’s how to do it:

Deleting Watch History on Android:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from the “Turning Off Watch History” section.

2. Clear Watch History: In the “History & privacy” menu, tap on “Clear watch history.”

3. Select Time Range (Optional): You can choose to delete your entire watch history or select a specific time range (e.g., last hour, today, all time). Choose your preference and tap “Clear watch history” again to confirm.

Deleting Watch History on Desktop:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from the “Turning Off Watch History” section.

2. Clear Watch History: On the History page, click on the “Clear watch history” button.

3. Select Time Range (Optional): A pop-up window will appear allowing you to choose the time range for deletion. Select your preference and click “Clear watch history” to confirm.

Bonus Tip: Manage Other YouTube Activity

You can also manage your YouTube search history and other activity data through your Google Account settings. Here’s how:

1. Go to My Activity: Head over to https://myactivity.google.com/ in your web browser. You’ll need to be signed in to your Google Account.

2. Filter by YouTube: On the My Activity page, use the filters on the left side to view and manage activity specifically related to YouTube.

3. Delete Individual Entries or All Activity: You can choose to delete individual YouTube activity entries or delete your entire YouTube activity history using the options provided.

By following these steps, you can effectively turn off and delete your YouTube watch history on both Android devices and desktops. Now you have control over your viewing experience and can maintain the level of privacy you desire on YouTube.