Quick answer
Go to My Activity > YouTube History > Controls and turn history on (or off). YouTube says videos watched while history is off don’t appear in your history, and without relevant recent history, homepage recommendations can be removed. To delete history, use Manage history and remove single videos or use DELETE. YouTube warns that bulk delete also removes your search history for that time. To clean up automatically, use Auto-delete. On a TV or console, use Settings > Pause watch history or Clear watch history.
Does this match what you see?
- The YouTube home page shows no recommended videos.
- Videos you watched don’t appear in your history.
- Recommendations don’t match what you watch.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Based on YouTube’s watch history page, read directly from support.google.com, with steps for the YouTube app, My Activity in a browser, signed-out use and TVs.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Why your history or home feed may look wrong, according to YouTube.
| What’s happening | Cause |
|---|---|
| Blank home page | No recent history and history-based recommendations off |
| Videos missing from history | History was off |
| Search history gone too | Bulk delete removes searches |
- Watch history is turned offCheck this first
YouTube says videos you watch while history is off don’t appear in your history.
- No relevant recent historyCheck this first
YouTube says if you have no relevant recent history and have opted out of history-based recommendations, features such as homepage recommendations are removed.
- You deleted historyPossible
YouTube says it won’t base future recommendations on history you delete.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Make sure you’re signed in to the account you normally use.
- Open My Activity > YouTube History and check whether history is on.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Turn watch history on (or off)
YouTube says you control watch history from the Controls tab in My Activity.
iPhone & iPad
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile photo > Settings > Manage all history.
- Tap the Controls tab, and select or unselect Include the YouTube videos you watch.
Android
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile photo > Settings > Manage all history.
- Tap the Controls tab, and select or unselect Include the YouTube videos you watch.
Computer (browser)
- Open My Activity and sign in.
- Click YouTube History.
- Open the Controls tab and turn history on, or select Turn off to pause it.
- Choose what gets saved: videos you watch, your searches, and voice and audio activity.
Signed out? On a computer, YouTube says go to History and choose Pause or Clear. In the app: Settings > History & privacy > pause or clear watch history.
Did it work? A video you watch now appears in Manage history.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Delete watch history
YouTube says it won’t base future recommendations on history you delete.
- Open My Activity > YouTube History > Manage history (in the app: profile photo > Settings > Manage all history).
- To remove one video, click or tap the close (X) icon beside it.
- To remove several, use DELETE and choose a time frame.
YouTube warns that using DELETE also deletes your search history for the time frame you choose.
Did it work? The videos no longer appear in Manage history.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Set history to delete automatically
YouTube offers an Auto-delete option in My Activity.
- Open My Activity > YouTube History > Manage history.
- Click Auto-delete.
- Choose a time range and click Next.
- Click Confirm.
Did it work? Auto-delete shows the time range you chose.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Why the home page goes blank
YouTube says that if you have no relevant recent history and have opted out of history-based recommendations, features such as homepage recommendations are removed. Its example is a new user who hasn’t watched anything yet.
Our note: turning watch history back on and watching a few videos is the usual way recommendations return. You can still search and use your subscriptions in the meantime.
On a TV or games console
- Pause: Settings > Pause watch history > Pause.
- Clear: Settings > Clear watch history > Clear.
How to know it worked
- History is on, new videos appear in it, and your home page shows recommendations again.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Videos won’t play? See YouTube videos not playing.
- Want to clear your Facebook searches instead? See Facebook search history.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my YouTube home page blank?
YouTube says if you have no relevant recent history and have opted out of history-based recommendations, homepage recommendations are removed. Turning watch history back on helps.
Why isn’t YouTube saving my watch history?
YouTube says videos watched while history is off don’t appear in your history. Turn it on in My Activity > YouTube History > Controls.
Does deleting YouTube watch history delete search history?
Using the bulk DELETE option does: YouTube says it also deletes search history from the selected time frame.
Can YouTube delete my history automatically?
Yes. In My Activity > YouTube History > Manage history, use Auto-delete and choose a time range.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 28 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google or YouTube. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.