You would like to upload videos to YouTube so that someone who has asked for them can view them; however, you don’t like the fact that anyone on the web can watch the same videos rather than the selected viewers? Don’t panic: you can create a private channel and allow only handpicked users to view your videos.
Whether you already have a channel or want to create a new one, it doesn’t matter: keep reading and you will find all the information you need. You can also choose whether to operate from a computer, a smartphone, or a tablet.
Content Index
Create a private channel on YouTube from a computer
If you are on a PC and you want to make your YouTube channel private, first head over to Youtube’s home page and, if you have not done so, log into your Google account. Then click on the menu button (≡) located at the top left corner and tap on the Settings button in the sidebar that appears on the left.
Channel
In the new page that opens, select the Privacy button located on the left and, in the Playlists and subscriptions section, enable the items Keep all my saved playlists private and Keep all my subscriptions private so that your saved playlists and your subscriptions to other users’ YouTube channels are invisible.
Videos and playlists
Next, change the visibility of any playlist and videos you’ve already posted on your channel. Then, click on your photo located at the top right corner, select the YouTube Studio option from the opened menu and select the Video button, located on the left, so you can see the list of videos you have published.
Now, tick the Video box, select all the videos uploaded to the channel, open the Edit menu, select Visibility, and select “Private” from the drop-down menu. Finally, click on the blue button to UPDATE THE VIDEOS and you’re done.
This way, the videos will not be available through YouTube search (alternatively you can select the Unlisted option which, on the other hand, allows only those who have the URL of the content to view the videos).
Future videos
When you upload a new video (via the menu Create> Upload video located at the top right corner), remember to select Private or Unlisted (based on your needs) when you are going to select the visibility. Understood?
Create a private channel on YouTube from a smartphone or a tablet
If you prefer to operate from a smartphone or a tablet, you must first open the YouTube app on your Android or iOS / iPadOS device, if you have not already done so. Then, click on your photo, located at the top right corner, select the Your channel option from the menu that pops up and tap on the wheel icon located on the right.
Channel
In the next screen, toggle the button located near the Keep all my subscriptions private and Keep all my saved playlists private to turn it ON, in order to render all the saved playlists and your subscriptions to other people’s YouTube channels invisible.
Videos
Now, let’s see how you can change the privacy of your channel’s videos and playlists: keep in mind that as for the videos you had already published, you can only work on one movie at a time (unlike what can be done on a computer).
To proceed, press the arrow pointing left (on top-left corner), to go to the main screen of your channel, then select the Video tab, locate the clip you want to change the privacy for, press the three dots icon placed next to it and select the Edit button from the menu that pops up.
Then, all you have to do is set the video as private, by tapping on “Private” or “Unlisted” (if you want to make it visible to those who have the link of the content in question) in the Privacy section, depending on your needs, and save the changes, using the appropriate Save button located at the top-right corner. Then repeat the operation for every other video that you have uploaded to the channel.
Future videos
For videos that you will upload in the future, on the other hand, the privacy option you have used recently should be selected by default (in any case, as I have just shown you, you can change it whenever you need).
Playlists
As for the privacy of the playlists, select the Playlists tab, locate the required playlist, tap on the three dots icon placed next to it and select “Edit” in the opened menu.
Then, open the Privacy menu, select the “Private” or “Unlisted”, according to your needs, and save the changes, by clicking on the paper airplane icon (top-right corner).