How to Delete Suggested Videos on YouTube: A Definitive Guide

So, you’re tired of seeing those cringe-worthy or just plain irrelevant suggested videos cluttering your YouTube feed? You’re not alone! Taking control of your viewing experience is crucial, and thankfully, YouTube offers several ways to fine-tune your recommendations. The core method revolves around signaling to the algorithm what you don’t want to see.

To delete (more accurately, influence) suggested videos on YouTube, you essentially need to interact with the three vertical dots (ellipsis) next to each video suggestion. Clicking this presents several options:

• “Not interested”: This is your primary weapon. Selecting this tells YouTube you don’t want to see videos like this again.
• “Don’t recommend channel”: This is a nuclear option. YouTube will stop suggesting videos from the channel in question. Use with caution, but it’s powerful for channels you actively dislike.
• “Save to Watch Later” or “Add to Playlist”: While not directly deleting suggestions, engaging with videos you do like helps YouTube understand your preferences, pushing the unwanted suggestions further down (or out of) your feed.

Remember, it’s about training the algorithm. Repeatedly using “Not interested” and “Don’t recommend channel” will, over time, drastically improve the quality of your suggested videos. YouTube learns from your actions.

Taking Control of Your YouTube Suggestions

Beyond the basic “Not interested” button, let’s delve into more strategic ways to curate your YouTube viewing experience. We’re not just deleting suggestions; we’re actively shaping what YouTube thinks you want to see.

Leverage Your Watch History

Your watch history is the algorithm’s primary source of information. Keeping it clean and relevant is paramount.

• Pause Watch History: If you’re planning a binge-watching session of something completely outside your usual interests (say, competitive pigeon racing), pause your watch history beforehand. This prevents those videos from polluting your future suggestions.
• Remove Individual Videos: Found something embarrassing or irrelevant in your watch history? Remove it. Every little bit helps.
• Clear Watch History: A more drastic measure, but sometimes necessary. Clearing your entire watch history is like starting with a clean slate. Be prepared to retrain the algorithm from scratch.
• Manage Activity: YouTube’s “Manage all activity” section, accessible through your Google account, lets you review and delete YouTube activity, including searches and watched videos, providing granular control over your data.

Master Your Search History

Just like your watch history, your search history influences recommendations.

• Remove Individual Searches: Delete searches that led you down a rabbit hole of content you don’t actually care about.
• Pause Search History: Similar to pausing watch history, this prevents your searches from influencing recommendations during specific periods.
• Clear Search History: Another nuclear option. Use this only if your search history is hopelessly polluted.

Fine-Tune Your Subscriptions

Your subscriptions are strong indicators of your interests.

• Unsubscribe from Channels: Be honest with yourself. Are you really watching all those videos from that channel you subscribed to three years ago? If not, unsubscribe.
• Manage Notification Preferences: Even if you want to stay subscribed, adjust your notification settings. Receiving fewer notifications can reduce the temptation to click on content you’re not genuinely interested in.

Utilize the “Tell us why” Feedback

When you click “Not interested”, YouTube often asks “Tell us why”. Use this! Providing specific feedback like “I don’t like this topic” or “I’m not interested in this channel” helps the algorithm refine its understanding of your preferences. Don’t just click “Not interested” blindly.

Explore YouTube Premium Features

While not directly related to deleting suggestions, YouTube Premium offers background playback and ad-free viewing. This can subtly improve your experience by reducing distractions and allowing you to focus on content you genuinely enjoy. The less you click on random, attention-grabbing videos, the better the algorithm will understand your tastes.

The Power of “Dislike”

Don’t underestimate the power of the “dislike” button. While its impact is debated, it’s another signal you can send to YouTube that you don’t appreciate certain content. It’s a passive way of influencing your recommendations.

Be Patient and Persistent

The YouTube algorithm is a complex beast. It takes time and consistent effort to train it to your liking. Don’t expect overnight miracles. Be patient, be persistent, and keep using the tools at your disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to help you better understand how to manage your YouTube suggestions:

1. How often does YouTube update its algorithm for video suggestions?

YouTube’s algorithm is constantly evolving. It’s updated frequently, sometimes multiple times a day, based on user behavior, trending topics, and various other factors. This means your efforts to train the algorithm need to be ongoing.

2. Does watching YouTube on different devices affect my suggestions?

Yes, if you are logged into the same Google account on all devices. YouTube tracks your activity across devices to provide a consistent experience. If you want different recommendations on different devices, use separate accounts.

3. Can I block specific keywords from appearing in my suggested videos?

Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t offer a direct keyword blocking feature. The best you can do is repeatedly use the “Not interested” option on videos containing those keywords.

4. Will deleting my watch history completely reset my YouTube recommendations?

Yes, clearing your watch history will essentially reset your recommendations. You’ll be starting from scratch, so be prepared to retrain the algorithm.

5. How long does it take for YouTube to learn my preferences after using “Not interested”?

The effect is usually noticeable within a few days, but it depends on how frequently you use the “Not interested” button and how much YouTube data you’re providing.

6. Does the “Don’t recommend channel” option completely block a channel from my YouTube feed?

It significantly reduces the chances of seeing videos from that channel, but it’s not a guaranteed block. The algorithm may still occasionally suggest their content if it’s highly relevant to your broader interests.

7. Is there a way to see a list of channels I’ve marked as “Don’t recommend channel”?

Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t provide a direct list of channels you’ve marked as “Don’t recommend channel.” You’ll need to remember which channels you’ve blocked.

8. Does watching YouTube in Incognito mode affect my recommendations?

No, watching in Incognito mode won’t affect your recommendations because YouTube doesn’t track your activity when you’re not logged in.

9. Can I use a VPN to get different video suggestions on YouTube?

Using a VPN might expose you to videos trending in the region you’re connected to, but it won’t fundamentally change the algorithm’s understanding of your personal preferences tied to your account.

10. How does age-restricted content affect my YouTube recommendations?

Age-restricted content generally doesn’t significantly influence your recommendations unless you actively seek it out and watch it frequently.

11. Is there a limit to how many videos I can mark as “Not interested”?

There’s no known limit to the number of videos you can mark as “Not interested.” Feel free to use it liberally!

12. Does liking or disliking comments on YouTube videos affect my suggestions?

While primarily for engaging with the comment section, liking and disliking comments might subtly influence the algorithm’s understanding of your preferences, particularly if the comments are related to the video’s content. However, the impact is likely minimal compared to watching, searching, and using the “Not interested” feature.

By using these strategies and understanding how the YouTube algorithm works, you can effectively curate your viewing experience and banish those unwanted suggested videos to the digital abyss. Happy watching!