Can I delete my YouTube channel and start again?

Answered by Michael Wilson

Deleting your YouTube channel is a straightforward process that can be done through the account settings menu. I’ve gone through it myself, so I can share my personal experience and guide you through the steps.

1. Sign in to your YouTube account: Start by signing into the YouTube account associated with the channel you want to delete. Make sure you’re using the correct account, as deleting a channel is irreversible.

2. Access your account settings: Once signed in, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the YouTube homepage. A drop-down menu will appear, and you should select “Settings” from the options provided.

3. Go to the advanced settings: In the left-hand sidebar of the settings page, you’ll find an option called “Advanced settings.” Click on it to proceed.

4. Find the “Delete channel” option: Scroll down the advanced settings page until you locate the “Delete channel” section. Here, you’ll see a link that says “Delete channel” next to it. Click on this link to initiate the deletion process.

5. Verify your identity: YouTube will ask you to verify your identity before proceeding with the channel deletion. This is to ensure that only the channel owner can delete it. You may be prompted to enter your password or provide other verification details.

6. Confirm the deletion: After verifying your identity, YouTube will display a warning message informing you that the deletion is permanent and can’t be undone. Take a moment to double-check that you’re deleting the correct channel, as there’s no going back once you confirm. If you’re certain, click on the “Delete my content” button to proceed.

7. Wait for the deletion process to complete: Once you confirm the deletion, YouTube will begin the process of permanently deleting your channel. This may take some time, especially if you have a large amount of content on your channel. You can close the page or navigate away while the deletion is in progress.

8. Your channel is deleted: Once the deletion process is complete, your YouTube channel will be permanently deleted. All your videos, playlists, comments, and other channel content will be gone. It’s important to note that this action cannot be undone, so make sure you’re absolutely certain before proceeding.

Starting again on YouTube is relatively easy. You can create a new channel using the same Google account or create a separate account altogether. Simply sign in to YouTube, click on your profile picture, and select “Create a new channel” from the drop-down menu. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your new channel, choose a name, and customize it to your liking.

Remember, if you want to hide your YouTube channel instead of deleting it, you can make it private so that only you can see its content. This can be done through the same account settings menu by selecting the “Privacy” option and adjusting the visibility settings as desired.

I hope this detailed explanation helps you delete your YouTube channel and start again if that’s what you’re looking to do. Good luck with your new channel!