TL;DR
YouTube recommendations can be derailed by accidental views, brief binge sessions or other users using your device. The article lists seven practical steps—clearing watch history, removing likes, using 'Not interested' and 'Don't recommend channel', Incognito mode, separate accounts, the 'New to you' tab and unsubscribing—to restore relevant suggestions.
What happened
Many users rely on YouTube’s algorithm to surface videos without much searching, but the recommendation stream can be disrupted by a few unintended interactions: a child using your phone, mistaken taps, or several similar Shorts. The guide outlines seven tactics to help the platform relearn user preferences. Start by pruning watch history—delete individual videos, choose a custom range, delete today, or remove all time—to remove misleading signals. Clearing outdated likes and dislikes also helps; liked videos can be viewed and unliked from the Liked videos playlist. Home-screen controls such as Not interested and Don't recommend channel let users directly tell YouTube which clips or creators to avoid. Incognito mode provides a temporary session that won’t alter recommendations. Other suggestions include maintaining separate accounts for distinct interests, exploring YouTube’s New to you tab to broaden discovery, and unsubscribing from channels you no longer watch. The piece notes there’s no single reset button to clear recommendations completely.
Why it matters
- Accidental or brief viewing can skew recommendations, reducing relevance and discovery.
- Removing old signals (history, likes, subscriptions) helps the algorithm re-learn current interests.
- Incognito and separate accounts prevent cross-contamination between different viewing intents.
- Using explicit feedback tools like Not interested or Don't recommend channel yields faster adjustments than passive waiting.
Key facts
- YouTube uses watch history as a core signal to shape recommendations.
- You can delete individual watched videos or choose Delete today, Delete custom range, or Delete all time to clear history.
- Likes and dislikes influence what YouTube suggests; liked videos can be viewed from the Liked videos playlist and unliked.
- The Home page offers Not interested and Don't recommend channel options to actively remove recommendations.
- Incognito mode on the YouTube app prevents watched videos and searches from affecting recommendations or history.
- Some users create separate YouTube accounts to keep different interests from mixing in one feed.
- YouTube has introduced a New to you tab that surfaces videos on topics you like from channels you don't subscribe to.
- Unsubscribing from channels you no longer watch reduces their influence on your Home feed.
- The article notes there is no single, official button that fully resets a YouTube recommendations feed.
What to watch next
- The wider rollout and effects of the New to you tab as YouTube expands it.
- not confirmed in the source: Whether YouTube will add an official one‑click "reset recommendations" feature.
Quick glossary
- Watch history: A record of videos you’ve watched that platforms use to inform future recommendations.
- Likes / Dislikes: Simple feedback buttons that signal to the platform whether you enjoyed a video, affecting future suggestions.
- Incognito mode: A temporary browsing mode that does not save watch or search activity to your account history.
- Home feed: The main YouTube screen where the algorithm surfaces recommended videos tailored to your activity.
- New to you: A YouTube Home tab that highlights videos on topics you’re interested in from channels you don’t already follow.
Reader FAQ
How do I clear my YouTube watch history?
In the YouTube app tap your profile, open Settings then Manage all history; from there delete individual videos or choose Delete today, Delete custom range, or Delete all time.
Will Incognito stop videos from affecting my recommendations?
Yes. Content watched in Incognito mode doesn't alter your recommendations or your watch and search history.
Can I remove accidental likes?
Open the You tab, select Liked videos in Playlists, then open a video and remove the like; you can also view likes and dislikes via a direct link to remove them.
Is there a single button to completely reset YouTube recommendations?
not confirmed in the source
7 ways to get your YouTube recommendations back on track Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police By Sanuj Bhatia Published 4 minutes ago Sanuj is a tech enthusiast with a passion…
Sources
- 7 ways to get your YouTube recommendations back on track
- How to improve YouTube's recommendations
- 7 Ways to Get Your Videos into YouTube Recommendations
- 7 Rules to Help You Beat the YouTube Algorithm in 2025
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