YouTube guide
Checked August 14, 2026
Reset YouTube recommendations
YouTube does not label one button as an algorithm reset. Deleting all YouTube watch history removes a major recommendation signal, and pausing history can remove Home recommendations when little history remains.
Removing the history used for recommendations gives the feed much less old behavior to work from.
On this page
Exact path
Make the change.
Labels can vary slightly by device and account. If this path is absent, use the fallback below.
YouTube app or website
- Open your YouTube History controls. Official YouTube destination (opens in a new tab)
Tap Manage history.
Tap Delete, then Delete all time.
Confirm Delete.
Keep history on to rebuild, or pause it.
What changes
- Deleted watch history stops influencing future video recommendations.
- With watch history off and little or no prior history, recommendation-dependent Home features may disappear.
What stays
- Subscriptions and channel memberships
- Playlists, saved videos, uploads, comments, and your account
- Likes and explicit feedback unless you remove those separately
Can’t find the control?
- Open myactivity.google.com/product/youtube while signed into the same Google account.
- Delete individual outlier videos from History if you do not want to clear everything.
Rebuild from here
- Watch a few videos from trusted channels all the way through.
- Subscribe deliberately and use Not interested or Don’t recommend channel when needed.
- Remove accidental or unwanted watches from history before they become a pattern.
YouTube questions
Does deleting YouTube history remove subscriptions?
No. Subscriptions, playlists, uploads, and your Google account remain. You are deleting viewing and search activity, not the account.
Why is my YouTube Home page empty after a reset?
YouTube says Home recommendations can disappear when watch history is off and the account has little significant prior history. Turn history on and watch intentionally if you want Home to relearn.
Can I clear only one bad YouTube signal?
Yes. Open History and remove an individual video or search instead of deleting all time.