Help Center – General Questions

YouTube is a free online video streaming service that allows users to view and share videos that have been uploaded by our members.

Is YouTube really free?

Yes. Anyone can view and share videos, and members can upload videos and use other features, free of charge.

How do I watch and save videos?

Watching videos on YouTube couldn't be easier—just come to the site and browse around, or search for subjects that interest you. To save your favorites for later, you need to sign up as a member, and then click the 'Add to Favorites' link underneath the videos you want to watch later. You can also create playlists to group favorite videos together into your own personal categories.

What are tags?

Tags are keywords that describe videos. For example, a surfing video might be tagged with "surfing," "water," and "waves." Users who enjoy watching surfing videos can then search for any of those terms and that video will show up in their search results. Tags help you find new videos you might like to watch, and also help you label videos you upload so that other people can find them more easily. The larger the tag appears in the list, the more videos use that tag.

How do I remove a video?

To remove one of your videos, simply log in, go to http://www.youtube.com/my_videos and click on the 'Remove Video' button next to the video you'd like to remove. You are only able to remove videos that you have uploaded.

How do I change my password?

To change your password:

Login to your YouTube account.
Click on the 'My Profile' link under the 'Home' tab.
Click on the 'Edit' link in the colored box that shows your video graphic.
Change the two password fields on this page under 'Account Information'.
Click the 'Update Profile' button at the bottom of the page.

How do I clear my search history on YouTube?

YouTube doesn't save your searches, but your browser probably does. If you don't want to see your previous search terms displayed in the search field, you need to clear the search history in your browser.

Can I change my username?

No. Your username is your permanent identity in the YouTube community.

How do I edit or delete a comment I made on some one else's video?

You can't edit or delete comments you make on other people's videos. Once you've made a comment, it can only be removed or moderated by the video owner.

How do videos get featured?

YouTube's members flag videos they like, using the 'Feature This!' link underneath every video. We review all of the flagged videos for consideration in 'Today's Featured Videos'.