Restore a Deleted YouTube Channel

Is this your situation?

Do this first

Which situation is yours?

• Restoring a deleted Brand Account requires tapping Deleted accounts, then Restore this Brand Account.
• If the chosen account is already associated with a YouTube channel, a user must click Replace, then select Delete channel.
• A user can accidentally delete the wrong channel if they are not signed into the correct Google Account associated with the channel to move.
• If you delete the primary owner account linked to your channel, the channel will also be deleted.
• You were told the channel cannot be restored.
• You are unsure which Google Account performed the deletion.

How YouTube handles this

• A recently deleted Brand Account may be recoverable.
• Restoring a deleted Brand Account requires tapping Deleted accounts and then tapping Restore this Brand Account.
• A restored Brand Account will show up in the list of Brand Accounts.
• If you delete the primary owner account linked to your channel, the channel will also be deleted.
• Replacing an account's existing channel will permanently delete any content associated with it, including videos, comments, messages, playlists, and history.

Which recovery path is yours?

1. Have you been an owner of the Brand Account for 7 days or more? Restoring a deleted Brand Account requires tapping Deleted accounts and then tapping Restore this Brand Account.
2. Is the chosen account already associated with a YouTube channel? Replacing an account's existing channel will permanently delete any content associated with it, including videos, comments, messages, playlists, and history.
3. Were you signed into the wrong Google Account during the move? A user can accidentally delete the wrong channel if they are not signed into the correct Google Account associated with the channel to move.
4. Was the primary owner account linked to your channel deleted? If you delete the primary owner account linked to your channel, the channel will also be deleted.
5. Was the Brand Account you restored the one your Google Account manages? A restored Brand Account will show up in the list of Brand Accounts.

What not to do

• Assuming any deletion is reversible A recently deleted Brand Account may be recoverable.Why it happens: You discover the deletion after expecting a restore option to still be there.
• Replacing a channel during a move without checking first Replacing an account's existing channel will permanently delete any content associated with it.Why it happens: If the chosen account is already associated with a channel, a user must click Replace, then select Delete channel.
• Moving a channel while signed into the wrong account A user can accidentally delete the wrong channel if not signed into the correct Google Account.Why it happens: You assume the signed-in account is the one tied to the channel you meant to move.

What to have ready

• Date of deletion Check if it was recent. A recently deleted Brand Account may be recoverable.
• Signed-in account Check which account deleted it. The wrong channel can be deleted if signed into the wrong account.
• Deleted accounts list Open Brand Accounts. Restoring requires tapping Deleted accounts, then Restore this Brand Account.
• Whether a replace happened Check if it came from a channel move. Replacing a channel permanently deletes its content.
• Primary owner account status Check if that account was deleted. Deleting the primary owner account deletes the channel.
• Brand Accounts list Check this list after restoring. A restored Brand Account shows up in the list of Brand Accounts.

Stop this happening again

Quick reference

Keeping track of who has access