YouTube is a wonderful adventure, but it attracts its fair share of 

. But you don’t have to put up with that. It’s easy to cut that negativity out of your life and ban that spammy user for good. 

Whether you're dealing with harassment or just want to curate your comment section, YouTube makes it easy to block unwanted users across desktop and mobile.

What Does Blocking Someone on YouTube Actually Do?

Before going over how to block someone, it’s helpful to know what blocking can do and what its limitations are.

They can still watch your videos and see your public content.

They can’t comment on your videos or live chats.

Their previous comments won’t be deleted, but new ones won’t show up to others.

They are muted from your perspective, helping you manage your mental bandwidth.

Blocking is a creator-side moderation tool, not a full ban. So, if you’re worried about comments a now-banned user may have left in the past, blocking them isn’t going to magically make them disappear, nor will it help keep trolls from viewing your content.

What’s the Difference Between Blocking and Reporting?

While blocking a user can be a helpful tactic, it’s only good for curing the symptoms, not the disease. When dealing with particularly nasty users, you may have to resort to something more proactive, such as reporting them.

 may seem similar, there are some key differences:

 a user hides their comments and stops them from engaging

 a user flags abuse or spam for YouTube to investigate and take further actions, if needed


In other words, if someone is harassing you or violating YouTube's community guidelines, 

We’re going to walk you through how to block someone from your YouTube channel, how to block users from commenting, and what happens when you do.


When it comes to blocking someone on YouTube, content creators have a few different options available to them:


Go to YouTube Studio → Click “Content” in the left menu.

Open the video with the offending comment.

Hover over the comment, click the three dots (⋯), and select “Hide user from channel.”

Done! That user can no longer comment on your videos or live chats.

Option 2: Block Directly from the User’s Channel

Click the three-dot menu (⋯) on their profile banner.

Choose “Block user” from the dropdown.

In a live stream, click on the username in the chat.

Click the three dots, then choose “Block” or “Hide from channel.”

If you’re looking to block a user from the iOS or Android apps:

Tap the profile photo of the user in a comment or live chat.

Tap “Block user” or “Hide user from channel.”

Auto-Moderation Settings for Filtering Out Comments

In recent years, YouTube has improved comment filtering in YouTube Studio, allowing you to reduce the amount of spam and negativity your channel can potentially receive without lifting a finger!

Go to YouTube Studio → Settings → Community.

Under “Automated Filters,” add users to your Hidden Users list.

Use the Blocked Words feature to automatically hold toxic comments for review.

Toggle on “Hold potentially inappropriate comments” for extra protection.

People can be pretty nasty, and that’s not changing any time soon. That makes managing your YouTube community not just about growing your audience, but about protecting your peace and maintaining control over your channel.


Blocking someone is no longer a last resort; it’s a smart, proactive move to shape the kind of environment you want to foster. Don’t hesitate to use this tool to defend your content, uphold your standards, and keep the focus where it belongs: 

YouTube comment from Internet Troll 42 asking Sub4Sub with vidIQ logo and prohibition symbols

Tired of Sub4Sub or other spammy comments on your YouTube videos? Find out how to block those annoying users for good.

How to Block Someone From Your YouTube Channel [Updated for 2025]

It couldn’t be easier to delete a video from your mobile device, you just need to make sure you have the YouTube app installed and you are signed in to your account.

From the main screen tap your profile image in the top right-hand corner and go to ‘Your Channel’

Click on ‘Videos’ in the top hand navigation bar to bring up a list of your content

Tap the three dots to the right of the thumbnail and title to see the ‘Delete’ option.

You can also delete videos via the official 

Tap the ‘Option’ button in the top left and go to ‘Videos’

Find the video you want to delete and then tap on it

This will take you to the videos edit page - there is a pencil icon at the top, tap on that

Then swipe to the advanced tab and then scroll all the way to the bottom of this screen and you should find the ‘Delete’ option.

Do You Really Need to Delete That YouTube Video?

YouTube clearly states that there is no way to undo this permanent action. So think very carefully about deleting any video as not only will you lose all of the comments and engagement from that video, but you will also lose all of the views and Watch Time too.

 because you want to monetize your content, really think about what effect deleting a video might have if it has contributed in any way towards that goal.

Also, if you’re thinking of deleting a video just because it has a copyright or community strike against it, know that it won't get rid of that strike. If you have a 

, you're much better off using one of YouTube's official tools. There's a full tutorial on how to use it here (only via desktop though):

And finally, if you are embarrassed by your older videos, then watch the videos we first published on the 

. They're not fantastic, but we're proud of them because they're all part of our YouTube journey to where we are now.

Now, if you're much more interested in creating new content and growing your channel, then make sure to grab vidIQ for either your iPhone or Android device. It is free so just search for “vidIQ” on the Apple app and Google Play store.

If you want more insights into YouTube then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

YouTube video deletion confirmation prompt with cancel and delete options on screen.

Have you ever wanted to delete a YouTube video quickly but only have access to a mobile device? If the answer is yes, we show you how!

How To Delete a YouTube Video On a Mobile Device (Android or iOS)

There is so much information about YouTube and its algorithms. But what info is correct and what is false?

, one of the very first SEO industry leaders to go all-in on digital video and the first to coin the phrase “social video marketing.”

With over 2 decades of experience in digital media, Mark is a pioneer, and a digital marketing expert who really understands that ins and out of the YouTube system.

Does changing the video metadata after a video is published good or bad?

Do descriptions, tags, and titles matter, or is YouTube AI smart enough?

Do likes, dislikes, and comment help or hinder your video?

Should you or should you not link to external websites off YouTube?

If you finally want know what is FACT and what is FICTION and how it impacts your video performance, THIS is the episode for you!

TubeTalk has been informing video creators and marketers since 2014, and is one of the most respected and listened to podcasts in the online video industry. Don't foprget to 

 on your favorite podcast application so you never miss an episode!

You can also find the complete list of all the 

Man with beard and short hair next to blue background with "TubeTalk" text logo

Let's BUST some YouTube Algorithm misconceptions!

5 YouTube Algorithm Myths YouTubers NEED to Know With Mark Robertson

YouTube Stories are an incredible way to connect with your community, but did you also know the feature can be absolutely invaluable when it comes to managing any kind of negative feedback?

As a YouTuber, creating content that is authentic to your brand can feel not only stressful but precarious. The task of being true to yourself and original while constantly watching everything you say is a difficult one.

Many YouTubers have had unintentional PR blunders, but successful creators take proper and prompt action to mitigate them. Accidents happen, but here’s how YouTube’s Story feature can help with audience retention after social backlash from viewers.

How YouTube Stories Help You Connect to Your Community

YouTube stories are clips that last for 15 seconds and expire after 7 days. It is a mobile-only feature which is beneficial since 

70% of YouTube views come from mobile devices

. As soon as a subscriber accesses your channel or opens the YouTube app, they can immediately see your Story, which makes the feature a casual and quick way for content creators to connect to their audiences without taking the time to create a video.

YouTube Stories is such a powerful tool for building community engagement that vidIQ highlighted the feature earlier this year:

Between scripting, editing, filming, audio mixing, and more, 

the average time it takes to make a video is 7 hours

. This may seem like a short period of time, but the social backlash ball rolls quickly, and therefore, it is very important to act quickly. Typically, the best apologies are those that are 

short, sweet, unscripted, and offer no excuses

 for public speaking expert, Jahan Kalantar’s, steps to making an authentic apology.

YouTube’s Story feature can be used to speedily aid in the process of re-establishing trust while reducing time spent on the issue.

Typically, the longer you wait to respond, the more tarnished your public image as a YouTuber can become. YouTube’s story feature is a quick way to ease tensions before they gain momentum or possibly even result in the loss of viewership.

Because viewers can see your Story on their home feed, they may even see your Story before they see any content that is causing a fuss.

Although YouTube has removed its direct messaging feature, you can still reconnect with your viewers in a personal way by posting an impromptu Story. While fans and viewers can comment on your Story through the feature, you can also respond directly to fans with a photo or video that will be viewable by the entire community.

Although YouTube Stories are typically unprepared and spontaneous, the feature affords content creators an unscripted and immediate way to reconnect with viewers.

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

If you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

YouTube logo with red play button icon representing online video streaming platform

YouTube Stories is a fantastic tool for helping creators communicate directly to subscribers. Find out how it can be your greatest public relations asset too.

YouTube Stories: The Best Way to Quickly Engage With Your Subscribers

Going live on YouTube these days isn't as complicated as you would think. In this post, we'll discuss a few different things you need to know to make your live stream as professional as possible including:

The software/encoders you need to live stream

How to set up your live stream broadcast on YouTube

I’m a gamer so I like to give things a gaming focus, so I am going to be using video game live streaming as an example. But all of the following advice will apply to any type of YouTube channel looking to learn how to broadcast live.

How to Live Stream on YouTube: The Hardware You’ll Need

Streaming these days is a lot easier when it comes to the hardware you're going to need. I'll show you what I use to stream from my own computer when I play games, and hopefully, that will give you a good baseline for a guide.

First off, let’s talk about the Internet. This is going to be the biggest bottleneck you're going to face while live streaming. The Internet is such an important element in the mix because, in some areas of the world, you just can't control what kind of speed you're going to get when you sign up for your Internet plan.

The best speed I can recommend is no less than five megabits per second upload when you're trying to stream on YouTube. Personally, I have 10 megabits per second for my upload speed, and it allows me to push a better quality live stream. 5 is just my personal recommendation because I think any less, and you're going to struggle when it comes to quality.

Now for the type of computer you need to play a game, and live stream it at the same time, I have a GTX 1060, three gigabytes, with 16 gigabytes of RAM. I’m also using an older AMD Ryzen 7 processor. These items allow me to stream with 10 megabits per second upload. I can play Minecraft at 1080p with 30 frames a second, or I can play it at 720p with 60 frames a second.

If I try to push it any higher than that, the game performance and stream quality drops. The bottom line is that top-quality hardware is great, but with software advancing so much, not using the very latest state-of-the-art computer doesn't have to limit you.

Software: Encoding a Live Stream Broadcast on YouTube

When we talk about software for live streaming, we're actually talking about encoders. Anything you've used to live stream is an encoder, but I’m going to focus on 

YouTube actually has a list of recommendations

, some free, some not. Thanks to how powerful these encoders have become, using something like Streamlabs OBS allows you to stream a game on your computer at a much higher quality than ever before.

Before we dive in head first, I will warn you this set-up can get very technical, and I'm going to cover it very briefly, in the most basic way possible, just to get you started. All the things I'm showing you are going to depend on you at the end of the day. You need to run test streams on your own channel, and maybe even get feedback from viewers on different testing streams you try.

Let’s go through the Streamlabs OBS set up.

 First, you’ll need to connect to your YouTube channel by logging in - just follow all the prompts!

Next, go to ‘Sources’ and click ‘Add’

Let’s say you want to add a game capture, just click ‘game capture’, then ‘Add Source’

The software will now search for a game on your system to capture

If it has trouble doing this, click on the drop-down menu to capture a specific window

Adjust the screen size so it fits the window

Now let's tackle some of the more technical aspects of live streaming on Streamlabs OBS. If we visit the output section, we can choose our encoder. In the example I use in the video (above), it's set to software x264. This is going to use my CPU to do all of my encoding for me, but if you want, you can change it to NVENC or the new version of that.

This uses your graphics card to encode. Depending on what you're doing, the game you're playing, or the type of broadcast you're doing.

Personally, I prefer using NVENC when I'm streaming, so I'm going to go ahead and select that. And I'm going to do a bit rate of about 5,000 because I already know my system, and I know it can handle that. Like I said before, this is going to take testing on your part, so maybe 2,500 is a good place for you to start, and you can go from there.

Now on to the video tab. You'll notice the base canvas resolution is 1920 x 1080. I would leave it at that. In theory, I should probably raise the base canvas resolution, but that's okay. I just got my 4K monitor, and I don't feel like resizing all of the different elements that I have on my normal live stream, so I'm going to leave it at 1080.

But the output scale is what's going to directly impact your broadcast, and I'm broadcasting at 720. These days, when people watch live streams, they watch them on a variety of devices, including phones and laptops. So with this screen being a little more compact, and squashed down to 720, it is probably going to give you a higher quality live stream at little to no impact on the viewer.

If you lower that resolution, it's going to get you closer to being able to stream at 60 frames a second, which will impact everybody who's watching, regardless if it's a nice, big TV or a phone. So because I like high frame rates when I'm playing games, I'm going to leave it at 720, but if you have a super awesome computer, maybe you can try 1080 at 60 frames. That's all up to you.

The last recommended setting is under ‘Advanced’. You can scroll down and find “dynamically change bitrate when dropping frames while streaming”.

A dropped frame is basically when the stream can't keep up and starts skipping frames. You may have a nice 60 frame stream going, but now, those frames are being dropped little by little. If the software detects that, it will change your bitrate to keep up.

So this might take some of the sharpness away from the image, but the frame rate will stay high, which is what you want. To save your changes, go ahead and click ‘Done.'

Now you’re almost ready to click ‘Go Live’, but there's one more thing we need to do, and that's set it up on the YouTube end.

Setting up a live broadcast is a lot like setting up a regular video. You still need an engaging title, a great description, some keyword tags, and a powerful 

Head over to the YouTube Studio, click on ‘Create’, then in the drop-down menu hit ‘Go Live.’ If you've streamed before, you're going to get a prompt that tells you that you can copy all the settings, the thumbnail, the description, etc. from a previous stream, or you can go ahead and set up a new stream.

In my example, I’ve clicked on the ‘New Stream’ option so now I'm going to set up everything I need for the live stream, like the title and description.

You can also set your live stream to private, public, or unlisted, just like a normal video. If you want to make it private for a little while so you can tweak the description and other metadata, go ahead and do that. But if you want people to know that you're going to stream at some point, go ahead and make it public.

Now add a description, then add a title for your game, that's really important to help YouTube categorize you for that game.

Further down the Streamlabs OBS dashboard, there is an option to schedule for later. I would highly recommend doing this, as a live stream is an event, and you want people to know when it's going to happen. Scheduling for later will allow you to set the date and the time that you're going to go live, and everyone will know exactly when to come to your stream!

Next is the ability to upload your very own YouTube custom thumbnail. Having a great thumbnail is always crazy important, no matter whether it’s a video you’ve uploaded, or whether it’s a live stream. You want that thumbnail to be clickable because it’s an invitation to watch your content. If a viewer is intrigued, they will click through to your video.

Next on the dashboard is where you tell YouTube whether this live stream is ‘

’ or not. You also have the option to impose restrictions on viewers because of their age. If you choose to restrict it to viewers that are 18 or over, YouTube users will get a notice that this live stream may not be appropriate for younger viewers.

If you’re happy with your title, description and custom thumbnail, and have completed all the details YouTube needs you to then you are ready to hit ‘Create Stream.’

Once you've created the stream, a new dashboard pops up while you're broadcasting live. It shows you all kinds of data, but what you really need to pay attention to is the information in the bottom left of the Streamlabs dashboard which is all about stream latency.

Basically, normal latency takes the broadcast and renders it for the audience. They're going to get a higher quality broadcast, but they're also going to see a higher delay based on when their chat message goes out and the time you read it. Viewers may pick up on that.

Choosing low-latency or ultra low-latency will cut down on that buffering time, but you risk your stream being lower quality.

Because you've already logged into YouTube on Streamlabs, you shouldn't need to worry about this, but if you're using a different encoder, and not Streamlabs OBS, you will need to grab the stream key and paste it into your encoder on Streamlabs. (Of course, sharing your stream key will allow people to take over your channel and stream whatever they want on it, and you don't want that!)

After you’ve finished streaming, you can come back to the Streamlabs dashboard and check out the analytics, your viewer activity, and your stream health. You can basically check all the data insights that would you after uploading any video.

Stay tuned for more expert tips on live streaming on YouTube!

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

 and learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

YouTube live streaming icon with "Go Live" text on blue background

It's never been easier to live stream on YouTube - whatever type of content you create. In this beginner's guide, we take you through the how-to using Streamlabs OBS.

How to Live Stream on YouTube with Streamlabs OBS - Beginner's Setup Guide

We at vidIQ have been creating YouTube Stories alongside the regular content we upload 

, and you have been loving them. And you’ve been loving Stories from other creators too.

Now, YouTube has added a brand new call-to-action button to its YouTube Stories feature which allows viewers to subscribe directly to the channel that published that content. That’s fantastic news for creators who want to boost their subscriber count.

YouTube Stories: Boosting Subscribers & Your Community

 in that they work best on mobile devices, and are an amazing way of keeping in touch with your audience when you're not creating longer content. Most of us take a couple of days, even weeks, to push out new videos, but with these bite-size pieces of content, you can stay in touch with your audience every single day.

, the maximum video length is 15 seconds. __15 seconds for a subscriber? I think that sounds worth it, don't you? __

Built into this new feature is one massive plus and one huge negative. We'll start with the negative first. Unfortunately for many of you, this feature is not going to be available right unless you have 10,000 subscribers. But as with all YouTube features, Stories will be rolling out to more and more creators in the future, so do make sure to check on your mobile device to see if you have access.

On the flip side, here's a really interesting thing about that Stories subscribe button I don't think YouTube has considered.

When you're not subscribed to a channel and you watch one of their Stories, you’ll see a subscribe button which allows you to, well, subscribe. Right up until that Story finishes you still have the ability to unsubscribe using the same button.

However, once you're subscribed to a channel and you watch more Stories, there is no unsubscribe button. I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but ultimately you've got nothing to lose in pushing people to subscribe to your channel, right?

Tracking the Success of YouTube Stories in Analytics

And in more good news, you can actually track the success of your YouTube Stories in analytics. Just click on the ‘See More’ button on ‘Channel Analytics’ in YouTube Studio, then click on ‘Subscription Sources.’ YouTube Stories will be one of those sources and you can click the checkbox filter to see subscribers by YouTube stories only over the last 28 days.

Now, I am not for a second advocating that you should adopt a ‘subscribe to me’ mentality when it comes to YouTube Stories. What I am suggesting you do, as with all of your content, is provide value.

We've been experimenting with a YouTube story Q and A where people can ask us any question they like and I will respond with a YouTube story. We get tons of engagement, and whenever we run one of these mini YouTube clinics, we see a mini-surge in subscribers from YouTube stories.

Now, these are not channel-changing numbers, but I see this as another tool in your YouTube arsenal for growing your audience. Every subscriber helps.

Stopwatch showing 15 seconds next to YouTube icon with +1 subscriber notification.

How do you get more YouTube subscribers in just 15 seconds? We show you how.

How to Get More Subscribers On YouTube in 15 Seconds!

Ah, "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening", a blast from the past, one of the best games I've played all year, and a million times better than the rubbish that is "Breath of the Wild". Anyway, you're probably not interested in that. You want to know how I got this game into the video description. Let's find out.

5 Easy Steps to Add a Video Game in the YouTube Description Box

To do this for any video you have already uploaded to YouTube, on any YouTube page, click on your profile image in the top right-hand corner of the screen and go to the YouTube Studio.

From here, you want to go to the Video section from the navigation panel down the left-hand side.

Next, click on the video you want to edit, and then click on the Advanced tab at the top of the screen.

Halfway down this screen, you will see a ‘Categories’ option, click on this to list all of the available categories and select gaming.

When you do this, a new field will appear to the right and this is where you can type in your game title. The field will auto-complete if the game is in the database, so type it out, click on the correct title, and don't forget to save.

Anyway, if all things have gone right with your video description, it should look something like this.

The title and box artwork of the game will be displayed at the bottom of the viewable description. If you click it, you will be taken to the auto-generated YouTube channel where you can view more videos from channels who are making content on the game.

When viewing a video through the mobile YouTube app, it does work a little differently in that you have to expand the description before you can see the game title and artwork.

Setting Up a Video Game Title When Uploading to YouTube

If you want to set the game title when you are uploading a video, in the new YouTube upload workflow, you will find YouTube categories on page two in the Advanced settings and it works in exactly the same way. Choose Gaming as your category and search for your video game.

With all that said and done, is this guaranteed to get you more views? Let's be clear about one thing, this is not a cheat or a hack or a game unlock, forgive the pun. It's not going to immediately give your video more exposure, more views, more subscribers, and that type of thing.

But it certainly is not going to harm your video. If you give YouTube as much SEO as possible, it will help identify your content and potentially serve it up to the right audience. The fact that it goes into the auto-generated YouTube channel is enough of a reason to do it, as it only takes a couple of seconds.

Oh, and if YouTube's biggest gaming channel does it, that would be PewDiePie, you should probably follow suit. And if you want a lot more help pointing you in the right YouTube direction when it comes to keyword research, video analytics and channel improvement tools, make sure to grab vidIQ. It is free to download (see link below).

PewDiePie YouTube channel with 101M subscribers featuring Minecraft game link

Want to add a video game title to your YouTube description? We show you how in 5 easy steps.

How to Add a Video Game Title to Your YouTube Description [2020 Method]

 which cover a multitude of sins video creators might break be it nudity, harmful, hateful, violent content, harassment and bullying, or spam. Creators can quickly find themselves in trouble if they cross the line on any of these topics.

There are many different Community Guidelines and also a number of places where creators can break them such as:

In the past, the punishment from YouTube differed depending on where the crime was committed. It might be that you lose livestream privileges or that you couldn't post videos for a certain length of time. The rules were somewhat chaotic, so YouTube have cleared up the confusion for creators and made it crystal clear what violates a Community Guideline (

 we’re covering Community Guidelines in the post and not copyright strikes which is a whole different topic and one we’ll be covering soon).

YouTube Community Guidelines February 2019

As of February 19th 2019, the new Community Guidelines are in place for all creators on the platform. YouTube are keen not to punish first time offenders who may not be up to speed with the rules, and as a result, all channels will receive a one-time warning the first time they post content that crosses the line with no penalties to their channel except for the removal of that content. The good news is that this one time warning applies to all channels so even if you do have an existing strike you still get this warning before further penalties. It doesn't matter where you break the Community Guideline whether it be on a thumbnail, video content, playlists, or via the comments - the penalty is always going to be the same.

 The second time you break Community Guidelines will be considered your first official strike. That will result in your content being removed as before. On top of this all your YouTube content posting privileges will be frozen for one week. This includes videos, live-streams, YouTube stories, and community posts. However, you’ll still be able to post comments. After a week you will get all of the posting features back but the strike remains on your account for 90 days in total.

 If you commit another Community Guideline violation within a 90 day period this is your second strike with the same penalties applied except that instead of a one week ban you get a two week ban on publishing content.

 If you fall foul of the Community Guidelines for a third time, YouTube isn’t here to play. Your channel will be terminated!

YouTube have just made some sweeping changes to their Community Guidelines which affect every creator. Find out how you can stay on the right side of the new rules.

YouTube Tips & Tricks

How to Block Someone From Your YouTube Channel [Updated for 2025]

How To Delete a YouTube Video On a Mobile Device (Android or iOS)

5 YouTube Algorithm Myths YouTubers NEED to Know With Mark Robertson

YouTube Stories: The Best Way to Quickly Engage With Your Subscribers

How to Live Stream on YouTube with Streamlabs OBS - Beginner's Setup Guide

How to Get More Subscribers On YouTube in 15 Seconds!

How to Add a Video Game Title to Your YouTube Description [2020 Method]

New Community Guidelines From YouTube: What Creators Need to Know Right Now

How to Switch Back To the Old YouTube Layout [Creator Studio]

How to Hide Your YouTube Subscriber Count [New Method!]

How to Hide Likes & Dislikes on YouTube Videos

YouTube Hashtags: What Are They and How to Use Them!