YouTube provides a wealth of videos covering every subject imaginable, from entertainment and education to news and sports, but occasionally channels appear that you find annoying. Perhaps they contain spammy, offensive, or irrelevant material to you; whatever their cause, blocking YouTube channels could be beneficial in maintaining an aesthetically pleasing feed.
But how can you do that? Are there ways to block YouTube channels permanently? What are their benefits, and what questions often come up regarding this topic?
This article is here to address these and additional queries surrounding how to block YouTube channels, as well as provide insight into its benefits and how best to implement them using various methods and devices. Additionally, we'll outline all of their advantages as well as offer some FAQs that may further assist your understanding.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaway
- Blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed can help you improve your YouTube experience by removing unwanted or inappropriate content.
- You can block YouTube channels from appearing in your feed using various methods, such as using the “Don't recommend channel” option, using the “Block user” option, using a browser extension, or using a third-party app.
- Blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed does not prevent them from uploading videos or commenting on other videos. It only affects your personal feed and recommendations.
- Blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed is different from reporting them. Reporting a channel is a way of notifying YouTube that the channel is violating its policies or community guidelines.
How to Block YouTube Channels From Appearing in Your Feed
There are multiple methods available to you to block YouTube channels from appearing in your feed, depending on which device and browser you're using. Here are a few common ones:
Using the “Don't recommend channel” option
This is the easiest and simplest method of blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed, working across desktop computers as well as mobile phones where the same account exists.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app or website on your device.
- Find a video from the channel that you want to block in your feed or recommendations.
- Tap or click on the three-dot menu icon next to the video title.
- Select “Don't recommend channel” from the menu that appears.
- You will see a confirmation message saying that you won't see videos from this channel again.
- Repeat these steps for any other channel that you want to block.
This method will tell YouTube not to recommend videos from a particular channel in your feed or suggestions; however, this won't remove existing videos that already reside within your feed or history; to do that, you must clear both your watch history and your search history first.
Also, using this approach won't stop channels from commenting or sending you messages; for this, you must use another solution.
Using the “Block user” option
This method allows you to block a channel so it will no longer comment or send messages about videos you upload, yet you will still see its videos appear in your feed or recommendations (unless another method of blocking them has been applied).
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app or website on your device.
- Go to the channel page of the channel that you want to block.
- Tap or click on the “About” tab.
- Tap or click on the flag icon under the channel stats.
- Select “Block user” from the menu that appears.
- Tap or click on “Submit”.
- You will see a confirmation message saying that you have blocked this user.
This method will prevent the blocked user from commenting on your videos or sending you messages. However, it will not stop them from uploading videos or commenting on other videos.
Using a browser extension
If you use Chrome or Firefox on a desktop browser computer, using an extension like Video Blocker, Channel Blocker, or BlockTube could prevent YouTube channels from showing up in your feed or recommendations. These extensions include Video Blocker (Chrome and Firefox), Channel Blocker, or BlockTube for this purpose.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Install the browser extension of your choice from the web store or add-on site of your browser.
- Open the YouTube website on your browser.
- Find a video from the channel that you want to block in your feed or recommendations.
- Right-click on the video title or thumbnail and select the option to block the channel from the extension menu.
- You will see a confirmation message saying that you have blocked this channel.
- Repeat these steps for any other channel that you want to block.
This method will hide all videos from the blocked channels in your feed or recommendations. However, it will not affect your watch history or search history. To clear them, you will need to do it manually.
Also, this method will not block the channel from commenting on your videos or sending you messages. To do that, you will need to use another method.
Using a third-party app
If you own an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, third-party applications like YouTube Vanced, BlockTube, or BlockTube offer the capability of blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed or recommendations.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Install the app of your choice from the app store of your device.
- Open the app and sign in with your YouTube account.
- Find a video from the channel that you want to block in your feed or recommendations.
- Tap on the three-dot menu icon next to the video title and select the option to block the channel from the app menu.
- You will see a confirmation message saying that you have blocked this channel.
- Repeat these steps for any other channel that you want to block.
This method will remove videos from blocked channels from your feed or recommendations; it won't impact your watch history or search history, though; these must still be manually cleared out to keep their privacy.
However, this method will not stop users from commenting or sending you messages; to do this, you would require another approach.
Benefits of Blocking YouTube Channels From Appearing in Your Feed
Blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed can have several benefits for your YouTube experience. Here are some of them:
- It can help you avoid unwanted or inappropriate content that may offend you, annoy you, or distract you from your interests.
- It can help you save time and bandwidth by not loading videos that you are not interested in watching.
- It can help you customize your feed and recommendations to suit your preferences and tastes.
- It can help you discover new and relevant content that matches your interests and needs.
FAQs About Blocking YouTube Channels From Appearing in Your Feed
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed:
Q: How do I unblock a YouTube channel that I have blocked?
A: Depending on the method that you have used to block a YouTube channel, you can unblock it by following these steps:
- If you have used the “Don't recommend channel” option, you can unblock it by going to Google's My Activity site and deleting your “YouTube Not Interested Feedback” activity.
- If you have used the “Block user” option, you can unblock it by going to the channel page of the blocked user and selecting “Unblock user” from the flag icon menu.
- If you have used a browser extension, you can unblock it by going to the extension settings and removing the blocked channel from the list.
- If you have used a third-party app, you can unblock it by going to the app settings and removing the blocked channel from the list.
Q: What is the difference between blocking and reporting a YouTube channel?
A: Blocking a YouTube channel is a way of personalizing your feed and recommendations by hiding videos from that channel. Reporting a YouTube channel is a way of notifying YouTube that the channel is violating its policies or community guidelines by uploading harmful, abusive, or misleading content.
Blocking a YouTube channel does not affect its status or visibility on YouTube. Reporting a YouTube channel may result in its removal or suspension from YouTube if it is found to be in violation.
Q: Can a blocked YouTube channel see my videos or comments?
A: Yes, a blocked YouTube channel can still see your videos or comments unless you make them private or unlisted. Blocking a YouTube channel only prevents it from commenting on your videos or sending you messages. It does not prevent it from viewing your content or interacting with other users.
Q: Can I block multiple YouTube channels at once?
A: Yes, you can block multiple YouTube channels at once using some of the methods mentioned above. For example, you can use a browser extension or a third-party app to block multiple channels by selecting them from a list or entering their names manually.
Conclusion
Blocking YouTube channels from appearing in your feed is a useful feature that can help you improve your YouTube experience by removing unwanted or inappropriate content. You can block YouTube channels using various methods and devices, such as using the “Don't recommend channel” option, using the “Block user” option, using a browser extension, or using a third-party app.
However, blocking YouTube channels does not prevent them from uploading videos or commenting on other videos. It only affects your personal feed and recommendations. If you want to report a YouTube channel for violating its policies or community guidelines, you will need to use another feature.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to block YouTube channels from appearing in your feed and why it is beneficial. If you have any questions or feedback about this article, drop comments below.
