By default, YouTube channels are public—anyone can view them, and YouTube might recommend them to others. But if you’re wondering how to make your YouTube channel private, the platform makes it easy to control who can see your content. In this article, we’ll explain how private channels work, why you might want to make your YouTube channel private, and the steps to do it.
What Exactly Is a Private YouTube Channel?
A private YouTube channel means that only people you specifically grant access to can view your videos. These private videos won’t appear in YouTube search results, won’t be recommended by the algorithm, and cannot be monetized.
If you’re a creator between the ages of 13 and 17, YouTube automatically sets your channel to private for safety. However, if you’re 18 or older, your videos are public by default unless you manually switch them to private. Note that users under 13 are not permitted to upload videos to YouTube.
How Do You Make a YouTube Channel Private?
Want to keep your YouTube channel private? The process is straightforward and only takes a few steps through your YouTube Studio dashboard. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Sign in to Your YouTube Account
Launch the YouTube app (or go to the website) and sign in to your account.
Step 2: Go to YouTube Studio
This will bring you to your channel’s main dashboard.
Step 3: Open the Settings Menu
You’ll find the Settings button in the lower-left corner of the dashboard.
Step 4: Click on “Channel”
This opens your channel configuration options.
Step 5: Navigate to the “Advanced Settings” Tab
Here, you can manage more detailed preferences for your channel.
Step 6: Choose “Remove YouTube Content”
Scroll down to find this option. Don’t worry—it won’t delete anything right away.
Step 7: Re-Verify Your Account
You’ll be asked to sign in again to confirm your identity. This extra step helps prevent unauthorized changes.
Step 8: Select “I Want to Hide My Channel”
This is the option that makes your channel private.
Step 9: Choose What to Hide
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Check the first box to make your videos and playlists private.
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If you also want to delete your comments and replies, check the second box.
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Lastly, acknowledge that this change won’t affect data stored on other Google services.
Once confirmed, your channel will be hidden from public view. You can always reactivate it later if you change your mind.
Why Would You Make Your YouTube Channel Private?
There are a variety of reasons someone might choose to set their YouTube channel to private. Whether for personal, strategic, or creative purposes, making your channel private gives you full control over who can see your content. Here are some common scenarios:
Sharing Personal Content
Some creators use YouTube as a private space to upload personal videos meant only for close friends or family. This could include home videos, travel vlogs, or special moments you want to preserve and share privately. Setting the channel to private ensures that only people you explicitly invite can view the content, keeping your personal life off the public internet.
Targeting a Limited Audience
Not all content is meant for everyone. Private channels are useful when you’re sharing videos with a specific group—such as members of a class, team, organization, or subscription-based community. This is especially useful for educational institutions, coaches, or businesses who want to deliver tutorials, webinars, or internal updates to a restricted audience.
Testing and Experimentation
If you’re learning how to create videos or want to test out new editing styles, content formats, or scripts, a private channel offers a safe space to experiment. You can share the work with a few trusted collaborators or mentors to gather feedback before deciding whether to publish it more widely.
Managing Sensitive or Confidential Content
Some videos contain personal, emotional, or otherwise sensitive material that you may not be comfortable sharing publicly. Making your channel private allows you to store and share such content securely, without risking exposure to an unintended audience.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
For those who are cautious about their digital footprint, a private channel offers an added layer of privacy. Whether you’re a parent uploading videos of your children, a business protecting proprietary information, or an individual concerned about being searchable online, privacy settings help control access. For example, a company might host employee training videos on YouTube but restrict them from public view to avoid sharing internal processes.
Creating Exclusive, Monetized Content
If your goal is to offer exclusive content to a select, making your channel private can be part of your monetization strategy on YouTube. This allows you to create a sense of exclusivity and protect the value of your premium content.
FAQs: Making Your YouTube Channel Private
1. What does it mean to make a YouTube channel private?
Making your YouTube channel private means your videos are hidden from the public. Only people you specifically give access to can view them. Private videos won’t show up in search results, recommendations, or on your channel page.
2. Can I choose who sees my private videos?
Yes. When you upload a private video, you can enter the email addresses of the people you want to give access to. Only those individuals will be able to view the content.
3. Is there a difference between making a video private and making a channel private?
Yes. Making a video private hides only that individual video, while making your channel private hides all videos, playlists, and channel activity from the public. The article guides you through hiding the entire channel.
4. Will I lose my videos if I make my channel private?
No. Making your channel private doesn’t delete your videos or data. Everything remains stored on your account and can be made public again later if you change your mind.
5. Can I still upload new videos to a private channel?
Absolutely. You can continue uploading videos and choose whether each video is private, unlisted, or public—even if your channel is hidden from the public.
6. Can private videos be monetized?
No. Private videos are not eligible for monetization through YouTube’s partner program. Ads won’t run on them, and they won’t generate ad revenue.
7. How can I make my channel public again?
To unhide your channel, go back to YouTube Studio, access the same settings where you made it private, and follow the steps to make it visible again. You can also adjust individual videos’ privacy settings.
8. Do people get notified when I make a video private?
No. People won’t receive notifications if you switch a video or your channel to private. Only those with specific access to private videos will be able to view them.