--- # How to Hide Your Old Google/YouTube Videos — A Step-by-Step Guide (GreatGuyTV) Quick summary (do these in order) 1. Audit your videos. 2. Change visibility to **Private** (best) or **Unlisted** (convenient). 3. Remove embeds and delete copies on other sites. 4. Remove traces from Google Search (Remove URLs / Outdated Content). 5. If necessary, delete the video and use removal tools — and keep a secure backup. --- ## Intro — why this matters (short) Old videos can come back to haunt you: unwanted exposure, outdated opinions, personal info in frames or audio, or clips republished by others. The fastest safe route is to make videos **private** so they’re not accessible to viewers; use deletion + removal tools only when you’re sure. Unlisted videos are still accessible to anyone with the link, so use them only when you plan to share with a controlled list. --- ## Step 1 — Audit everything (5–20 minutes) Action: Make a list of every video you want to hide (channel > YouTube Studio > Content). Why: You need a complete map before changing things. Note where it’s embedded (your website, social posts, playlists) and whether other channels reused it. Checklist: * Open YouTube Studio → Content. * Filter by date / search by title to find old uploads. * For each video, note: title, published date, current visibility, links where it’s embedded, and whether you own the original files. --- ## Step 2 — Change visibility (fast, reversible) Action: In YouTube Studio → Content, select video(s) → Visibility → change to **Private** (recommended) or **Unlisted**. Save. Why: * **Private** = only you (and invited Google accounts) can see it. Completely removed from search & channel pages. * **Unlisted** = not searchable but anyone with the link can view. Use only if you must keep sharing links. How-to (step-by-step clicks): 1. Go to YouTube Studio → Content. 2. Tick the checkbox next to the video(s). 3. Click the “Visibility” dropdown (top bar) → choose **Private** → **Save**. 4. Optionally, click a single video → Details → Visibility → Private → Save. Note: Private videos disappear from channel, playlists and search instantly. Unlisted videos may still show if previously indexed — keep reading for search removal steps. --- ## Step 3 — Remove embeds and links you control Action: Delete or update any web pages, blog posts, or social posts on *your* sites that embed or link the video. Why: Even if the video is private, an embedded player or link on a public page increases the chance a copy or cached item exists. Checklist: * Search your own website and blog for the video URL / video ID and remove or replace embeds. * Update social posts where you control the account — either delete the post or edit to remove the link. Pro tip: If you use a CMS, search the database for the YouTube ID (the string after `v=`) to catch hidden embeds. --- ## Step 4 — Remove the video from playlists and other YouTube pages Action: In YouTube Studio, remove videos from public playlists. Why: Playlists can still surface the video even if it’s unlisted. How: * YouTube Studio → Playlists → Open each public playlist → Edit → remove the video. --- ## Step 5 — Remove traces from Google Search (Outdated Content & Remove URLs) Action: Use Google’s removal tools to speed up delisting from search results. Why: Google may have indexed the video or page. Changing video visibility doesn’t always remove cached search results immediately. Two options: * If you control the page that linked/embedded the video: update or delete the page, then use **Google Search Console → Remove URLs** (temporary) and request re-indexing. * If the page was removed already or the video is deleted: use **Google’s Remove Outdated Content** tool (search “remove outdated content google”) to request cache removal. Suggested text for Remove Outdated Content: > “The page at [URL] previously contained a YouTube video that I have now removed/privatized. Please remove the cached copy and search result showing this content.” Note: You’ll see results faster if you can prove you control the domain via Search Console. If you don’t have access, use the Outdated Content form and provide the exact URL(s). --- ## Step 6 — Handle copies / reuploads by others Action: If copies exist on other channels/sites, issue takedown requests or use copyright/DMCA if you own the content. Why: People can reupload your video; privacy settings on your original don’t affect those copies. What to do: * On YouTube: Open the infringing video → ⋮ → Report → “Infringes my rights” → follow copyright takedown flow. * Off-YouTube: Contact site admins or use their DMCA process. If the content is personal and you didn’t authorize it, say so clearly in your complaint. Important: Misuse of DMCA can have consequences; only file if you genuinely own the content or have the right to request removal. --- ## Step 7 — Remove transcripts, captions and metadata Action: Delete automatically generated transcripts and captions if they contain sensitive phrases, and edit metadata (title/description/tags) before deleting if needed. Why: Transcripts & descriptions sometimes mention names, places or contact details that persist in caches or third-party scrapers. How: * YouTube Studio → Subtitles → choose video → delete any subtitle/manual transcript. * Edit video details to remove sensitive text before deleting (if immediate deletion is your next move). --- ## Step 8 — If you want the video gone forever: delete it (and back it up first) Action: Delete the video from YouTube. If you think you might regret it, download the original first. How: 1. YouTube Studio → Content. 2. Select video(s) → Options (three dots) → Delete forever → check “I understand” → **Delete**. Note: Deletion is permanent — YouTube warns this is irreversible. If you might reuse the footage, download a local copy or keep it in a private, encrypted cloud backup. --- ## Step 9 — Final sweep & monitoring Action: Re-check search results, wait 24–72 hours, then search Google for the video title, your channel name + video title, and the video ID. Use incognito and different search engines. Why: Sometimes caching takes time. Monitoring reveals whether additional removal steps are needed. Checklist: * Search Google (incognito) for: video title, video ID, your channel name + title. * Search social networks for the video ID or title. * Set a calendar reminder to re-check in 1 week and 1 month. --- ## Extra precautions & risk notes * **Unlisted ≠ private.** Unlisted videos are accessible if someone saved the link — treat unlisted as only mildly private. Private is the safest. * **Copies exist.** You cannot control every reupload. If the footage is sensitive, expect a minority risk of reappearance. Use DMCA/copyright or legal channels if needed. * **Search caches.** Google caches and third-party archives might keep thumbnails and snippets; removal tools accelerate but don’t always guarantee immediate permanent deletion. * **Backups.** Before deleting, keep an encrypted backup offline if you may need the footage later. * **Legal help.** If the content is defamatory, highly sensitive, or a privacy/legal issue, consult a lawyer — removal tools have limits. --- ## Sample emails / messages (copy/paste) To a collaborator who shared the video: > Hey — quick heads up: I’m privatizing/deleting the old video titled “[Title]” because it contains [reason]. Please remove any embeds or links on your site and let me know if you need the file. Thanks. To a website admin hosting a copy: > Hello — I’m the owner of the content that appears at [URL]. The video contains personal content I have not consented to be public. Please remove the video and any cached copies. If you need proof of ownership, tell me what you require and I’ll comply. --- ## Quick checklist (one-line actionable) * [ ] Audit videos (YouTube Studio → Content). * [ ] Change to Private (or Unlisted if you must). * [ ] Remove embeds/links on your sites & posts. * [ ] Remove from public playlists. * [ ] Use Google Remove URLs / Outdated Content tools. * [ ] Search for and act on reuploads (DMCA if needed). * [ ] Delete transcripts/metadata with sensitive info. * [ ] Backup originals before permanent deletion. * [ ] Monitor search results 24–72 hours and again at 1 month. --- ## Closing (GreatGuyTV sign-off) There you go — quick, practical, and safe. If you want, I can: * Turn this into a formatted GreatGuyTV blog post with images and step screenshots. * Produce an email template pack for collaborators and web admins. * Or build a short checklist card you can print.