How to Stop YouTube Videos Recommendations

YouTube recommendations can be helpful, but sometimes you may want to stop them to have a cleaner and more personalized experience. Here’s a simple guide on how to stop YouTube from recommending videos using the YouTube app on your mobile device.

Steps to Stop YouTube Recommendations

1. Open YouTube App

• Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
• Ensure you are signed in to your account.

2. Access Your Profile

• Tap on the You icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.

3. Go to Settings

• Tap on the Settings icon (gear symbol) located at the top right corner of your profile page.

4. Navigate to History and Privacy

• In the settings menu, you will find the history and privacy option

5. Navigate to Google Usage ID

• In the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on Google Usage ID.

6. Reset Google Usage ID

• In the Google Usage ID section, you will see an option to Reset Google Usage ID. Tap on it.
• A prompt will appear asking if you want to reset the Google Usage ID. This will prevent Google from linking your usage metrics from before this point to the usage metrics after this point. Confirm by tapping Reset.

7. Confirm Reset

• Click Reset and Confirm it

8. YouTube Recommendation Reset Successfully

• After resetting, another prompt will appear confirming that your Google Usage ID has been reset. Tap OK to finalize the process.

FAQs

Q: What happens after resetting the Google Usage ID? A: Resetting your Google Usage ID will stop YouTube from using your past activity to recommend new videos. However, it will start collecting data from this point onwards unless you periodically reset the ID.

Q: Will resetting the Google Usage ID delete my watch history? A: No, resetting the Google Usage ID does not delete your watch history. It only prevents YouTube from using your previous data to recommend videos.

Q: How often should I reset my Google Usage ID? A: You can reset your Google Usage ID as often as you like. Some users prefer to reset it weekly or monthly to prevent any long-term tracking.

Q: Are there any other ways to manage YouTube recommendations? A: Yes, apart from resetting the Google Usage ID, you can clear your watch history, remove specific videos from your watch history, or use the “Not interested” option on videos that are recommended to you.

Q: Can I stop YouTube recommendations on the desktop site as well? A: Yes, similar steps can be followed on the desktop site, but the options might be located in slightly different places within the settings menu.

By following these steps, you can effectively stop YouTube from recommending videos based on your past activities, giving you more control over your YouTube experience.

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