We’ve all been there. You’re watching a video late at night, your emotions are running a bit high, and you type out a response that feels right in the moment. Then morning comes. You realize that maybe—just maybe—telling a stranger they’re wrong about the best way to season a cast-iron skillet wasn't the best use of your energy. Or maybe you just noticed an embarrassing typo in a comment that’s already getting likes. Whatever the reason, you need to know how to delete a YouTube comment before the internet archive gods make it a permanent part of your digital legacy.
It's actually easier than it looks. But there are a few quirks depending on whether you're using your phone or sitting at a desk.
The fast way to delete a YouTube comment on mobile
Most of us are doom-scrolling on our phones anyway. If you just posted the comment and it's right in front of you, the process is basically instantaneous. Look for the three vertical dots (the "meatball" menu) right next to your words. Tap that. A little menu pops up from the bottom of your screen. Hit delete. Confirm it. Boom. Gone.
But what if the video is old? What if you can't even remember which video it was?
This is where people usually get stuck. You don't have to go hunting through your watch history like a digital detective. Google actually keeps a very specific "Activity" log for you. If you go into the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, and head into "Settings," you'll find a section called "Manage all history." Inside there, there's a tab specifically for "Interactions." That is the "holy grail" for anyone who has ever left a cringey comment in 2014 that they now need to scrub.
It lists every single thing you’ve ever said. You can filter by date. You can see the exact text. And most importantly, there’s an 'X' next to each one. Tapping that 'X' deletes it from the platform entirely. It’s a bit of a trip down memory lane, honestly. You might see things you forgot you even cared about.
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Getting rid of comments from your own channel
If you're a creator, the stakes are a bit different. You aren't just deleting your own mistakes; you're likely trying to keep your comment section from turning into a dumpster fire. Dealing with trolls is part of the job, unfortunately.
When someone leaves a nasty comment on your video, you have a few levels of "deletion" power.
- The Straight Delete: Just like your own comments, hit those three dots and select delete. It vanishes.
- Hide User From Channel: This is the "shadowban" move. The person can still comment, and they can see their own comment, but nobody else can. They're basically screaming into a void, and they usually don't even realize it. It’s incredibly effective for persistent trolls who thrive on attention.
- Report: If the comment violates YouTube's Community Guidelines (harassment, hate speech, etc.), reporting it helps the platform's AI learn what to catch next time.
Interestingly, YouTube’s automated systems are getting much more aggressive. According to YouTube’s own Transparency Report, they remove millions of comments every quarter before a human even sees them. Most of these are spam or "scams" involving fake WhatsApp numbers. But sometimes, a perfectly normal comment gets caught in the crossfire. If your comment disappeared and you didn't do it, that's likely why.
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How to delete a YouTube comment using a desktop browser
Some people still prefer the big screen. If you're on a laptop, the interface is slightly more spread out. If you’re looking at your comment on a video page, hover your mouse over it. Those same three dots appear. Click them, select delete, and you're done.
If you need the full history on a PC, the URL myactivity.google.com is your best friend.
Once you’re there, click on "Other activity" in the left-hand sidebar. Scroll down until you see "YouTube comments." This opens a dedicated page that is much easier to navigate than the mobile version. You can see the thumbnail of the video you commented on, the date, and the exact text. It’s the most efficient way to do a "mass cleaning" if you’re trying to tidy up your online presence before a job interview or a date.
Why can't I find my comment to delete it?
Sometimes you go back to a video and your comment is just... missing. This happens for a few reasons that aren't always obvious. First, the creator might have "held" comments for review. If you used certain keywords—even accidentally—the comment might be sitting in a private queue waiting for the channel owner to click "approve."
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Second, if the creator deletes the entire video, every single comment attached to it dies with it. There’s no way to recover those.
Third, and this is the one that trips people up: you might be logged into the wrong account. Many of us have a "professional" Gmail and a "personal" one. If you commented while logged into your old high school account, you won't see the delete option while logged into your work email. It sounds silly, but it's the number one reason the "delete" button doesn't show up.
Actionable steps for a clean comment history
If you’re serious about managing your digital footprint, don't just delete one comment and call it a day.
- Audit your interactions annually. Use the Google Activity tool to see if your "vibe" from five years ago still matches who you are today.
- Use the "Hide" feature wisely. If you're a creator, don't engage with the trolls. Hiding them is faster and preserves your mental health.
- Check your comment settings. In the YouTube Studio, you can set up "Blocked words." If you hate a certain slang term or people keep spamming your link, add those words to the list. YouTube will automatically hold those comments for you.
- Think before you post. It sounds cliché, but the "24-hour rule" works. If you’re angry, write the comment in your Notes app first. If it still feels necessary tomorrow, then post it.
The internet is a permanent record, but it doesn't have to be an unchangeable one. Taking five minutes to prune your history keeps your profile looking professional and saves you from those "what was I thinking?" moments down the road.