How to sign out of your YouTube account on desktop or mobile, and protect your account
- You should always sign out of YouTube if you've logged in on a shared device, like a computer at work, or in a school or library.
- When you log out of YouTube, you'll still be able to search and view videos, but you won't be able to comment or add them to playlists.
- Logging out of YouTube on desktop or on mobile (using either an iPhone or Android) only takes a few seconds, and getting back into your account is just as easy.
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The more you use YouTube, the more important it is that you have an account. A YouTube account lets you "Like" and comment on videos, subscribe to channels, upload your own content, and enjoy a YouTube experience that is custom-catered to your interests.
However, it's a good idea to keep your YouTube account a private affair, and that's true even if you haven't been viewing any questionable material.
Leaving yourself logged in on public computers can allow strangers to access your account, which is never good. If you know you won't be YouTubing again for a while, go ahead and sign out when you're done.
It's likewise a good idea to sign out of YouTube on mobile if your iPhone or Android phone is going to be lying around where another pair of hands might pick it up.
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iPhone Xs (From $999 at Best Buy)
Google Pixel 3 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)
How to sign out of YouTube on desktop
1. Click the icon in the top right corner of the screen that depicts your image or avatar, or has a letter in a circle.
Steven John/Business InsiderClick your account icon.
2. Click the words "Sign out" in the dropdown menu.
Steven John/Business InsiderClick "Sign Out."
If there is now a box reading "SIGN IN" at the top right corner, you did it, you're out.
How to sign out of YouTube on mobile
1. Tap your icon image at the top right corner of the screen.
Steven John/Business InsiderAgain, tap your account icon in the top-right corner.
2. Under "Account," tap your name or email.
3. Tap the words "Use YouTube signed out."
Steven John/Business InsiderSelect "Use YouTube signed out," under your accounts.
And… you're out.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
How to delete your own YouTube videos on a computer or mobile device
How to upload a video to YouTube and customize its settings on desktop and mobile
How to make the most out of the YouTube app on your Roku device
How to play YouTube videos in the background on your iPhone without having to keep the app open