Clear YouTube History – YouTube became the most viewed video platform in the world years ago; its success revolutionized the Internet, registering millions of users from all over the world daily. You are also probably a loyal user of YouTube since it is a platform that offers a wide variety of content; however, that does not mean that you want to share your searches with the whole world.

If you don’t want those around you to know which channels you visit and what content you watch frequently, you need to learn how to clear YouTube history. Can it be deleted on any device? How do you delete from a computer? And from television or mobile? If you have asked yourself any of these questions, at Inpcworld, we will help you answer them.

YouTube History Basics: What It Is and Why It Matters

YouTube tracks two primary types of personal activity:

History Type Description Why It Matters
Watch History Videos you’ve viewed while signed in Used for recommendations, autoplay suggestions, and personalized content.
Search History Terms you’ve typed into the YouTube search box Influences recommended searches, video suggestions, and ad targeting.

Key Facts:

  • History is tied to your Google Account — not just the device.

  • Clearing history resets some recommendation features.

  • You can pause future history recording for privacy.

  • Even after clearing, some traces may remain in Google systems due to backup retention policy.

Methods to Clear YouTube History — Device by Device

Below are extended step sequences for each device or platform, merging Inpcworld instructions with verified research sources.

How to Clear Youtube History on PC?

Regardless of the device you usually use to access this platform; you are very likely familiar with YouTube viewed from a PC. To prevent your family, your roommates or the rest of the workers in your company from discovering the content you have viewed, at Inpcworld, we give you the following instructions so that you know how to delete the YouTube history on your computer:

  1. Open a browser and go to YouTube.com.

  2. Sign in with your Google account.

  3. Click the Three-line Menu (top left).

  4. Select History.

  5. On the right pane, choose:

    • Clear all watch history

    • Clear all search history (sometimes within Manage all history).

  6. Confirm the action.

How to Clear Youtube History on TV?

Clear Youtube History

Another device you can access on YouTube is the television: it is ideal for viewing content on the platform with family, friends, or your partner in your living room. It allows you to enjoy any video in a larger size. In addition, it is a great alternative to the usual programming offered by television channels, which is why this option has gained a lot of weight in recent years.

If you want to delete YouTube history on TV, you can easily get it. All televisions keep a list of the content you have viewed, but you can delete it like this:

  1. Open the YouTube app on your TV.

  2. Go to Settings using your remote.

  3. Look for Clear history or Clear watch/search history.

  4. Confirm the action.

How to Delete Youtube History from my Mobile?

After discovering how to delete YouTube history on PC and television, it remains to know how to do it on mobile. If you wonder how to delete YouTube history from your mobile, you should know that it can be deleted from any operating system. However, the procedure will be different on an iPhone than on Android.

Clear YouTube History on iPhone

If you have an iPhone and want to delete the history of this platform, at OneHOWTO, we recommend that you follow these steps:

    1. Open the YouTube app — NOT the web browser.

    2. Tap Library.

    3. Go to History.

    4. Tap the three dots / menu.

    5. Choose History Controls.

    6. Select:

      • Delete Watch history

      • Delete Search history

Clear YouTube History on Android

In the case of having a mobile with an Android operating system, you can also delete YouTube history. The procedure is similar to an iPhone’s since the differences are marked by a few application updates in the operating system. Follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the YouTube app.

  2. Tap Profile > Settings > History & privacy.

  3. Tap Clear watch history and/or Clear search history.

  4. Confirm each action.

Privacy Control Options Beyond Manual Deletion

Auto-Delete YouTube History

Google allows automated deletion of search and watch history after pre-set time windows:

Auto-Delete Setting Effect
3 Months Most recent history auto-deleted after 90 days
18 Months History older than 18 months removed
36 Months Longer fixed retention window
Don’t auto-delete No automatic removal — manual needed

Incognito / Private Browsing

Using Incognito Mode inside the YouTube app:

  • Prevents history from being recorded during that session.

  • Works on mobile apps but not in the YouTube website.

  • Browser incognito/private windows also help during desktop use.

Comparison: Manual Deletion vs Auto-Delete vs Pause

Feature Manual Deletion Auto-Delete Pause History
Removes existing past history ✅ ❌ (only future condition) ❌
Prevents future recording ❌ ❌ (future only after events) ✅
Affects recommendations Variable Variable Reduces personalization
Easy recurring upkeep Manual Automatic Set once
Requires Google Account Yes Yes Yes

Brands, Companies & Tools Involved

Though YouTube itself is provided by Google LLC, other entities play roles in privacy management or analytics:

Brand / Company Type Role / Offerings
Google LLC Platform Owner Creates and manages YouTube’s privacy settings and data retention systems.
YouTube Video service Provides watch/search history tracking and controls.
Browser Developers Infrastructure Chrome, Firefox, Edge provide private/incognito modes.
Privacy & Security Tools (e.g., ActivateSecurity) Third-party insight Offers analysis on tracking and history implications.
MyActivity.Google.com Google Data Dashboard Central hub to manage history across YouTube, Search, Chrome, etc.

Privacy Considerations & Risks

  • Deleted data may still exist internally in Google’s backups for a period.

  • History influences personalized recommendations — deleting or pausing changes your content feed.

  • Incognito only prevents history in YouTube, not overall network tracking.

  • Third-party apps with granted permissions may retain historical data even after deletion.

Best Practices for History Management

🔹 Regular Clear Schedule
Set calendar reminders to clear or review history monthly.

🔹 Use Incognito When Needed
Useful for special content that you don’t want tracked.

🔹 Auto-Delete + Pause Combo
Combine auto-delete with paused future tracking for maximum control.

🔹 Monitoring via Google Account
Check MyActivity to see all data collected across services.

Conclusion

Managing YouTube history is essential to protect privacy, control recommendations, and maintain personal data hygiene. From manual deletion steps (as outlined by Inpcworld.com) to advanced privacy settings and auto-delete features, users have multiple tools and methods.

By combining manual steps with automated settings, incognito usage, and Google Account controls, you can tailor how YouTube tracks and stores your viewing and search activity — across devices like PC, mobile, and TV.