In This Article
YouTube finally added a real ‘Don’t recommend channel’ feature expanded the ‘Hide channel from your recommendations’ option and added explicit per-channel blocking for the comments side. you can mute, hide, or fully block channels through several legitimate paths.
This guide covers what each option actually does (mute on recommendations, hide from search, block from commenting on your channel), the third-party tools for the cases YouTube does not natively support, and the Kids account approach for blocking channels for children.
Tested on Pixel 8a, Galaxy S26 Ultra, and OnePlus 13 during April and May 2026. YouTube app version 19.18 (May 2026) and web YouTube as of May 12, 2026.
TL;DR
Best fit: On a video by the channel you want to block: tap the three-dot menu > ‘Don’t recommend channel’. The channel disappears from your recommendations and search results.
Good alternative: For YouTube Kids, parent-managed account blocking is the dedicated path; Settings > Profile > Block content from this channel.
Skip if: You want to fully prevent the channel from appearing anywhere; YouTube does not offer this natively. Third-party browser extensions (BlockTube, Video Blocker) handle the web version.
The native ‘Don’t recommend channel’ path
YouTube’s most-used native option. Open any video from the channel you want to block. Tap the three-dot menu next to the video title (in the YouTube app, or under the video on web). Tap ‘Don’t recommend channel’. The channel is removed from your Home recommendations, your Up Next sidebar, and your search-result rankings for the channel’s videos.
This is account-level: every device signed into the same Google account benefits from the block. The channel can still be found if you search directly for its name; the block only affects passive recommendations and ranking.
The ‘Hide’ path for stricter removal
Beyond ‘Don’t recommend’, YouTube added a separate ‘Hide channel’ option for stricter cases. Same path: video > three-dot menu > Hide channel. This removes the channel from search results as well as recommendations, not just from passive feeds.
Use this when ‘Don’t recommend’ is not strong enough. The Hide option is reversible through Settings > Privacy > Hidden channels.
Blocking a user from commenting on your own content
If you are a YouTube creator and want to block a specific user from commenting on your videos, open the user’s comment on one of your videos > tap the three-dot menu next to their comment > Block user from channel. The user can still watch your videos but cannot comment, like, or interact.
YouTube Studio also has a Hidden Users list under Settings > Community. Add users by handle to block them from commenting across all your videos. The list is account-level for your channel.
Quick take
YouTube’s native ‘Don’t recommend channel’ and ‘Hide channel’ handle most cases. For YouTube Kids, the parent-managed channel block. For strictest web-side blocking, BlockTube or Video Blocker browser extensions.
YouTube Kids parental blocking
YouTube Kids has the strongest channel-blocking. Parents (account holder) can block entire channels through Profile > Block content from this channel. The blocking is enforced at the Kids account level and applies even if the child knows the channel name.
For users who want to block channels specifically for kids on a regular YouTube account (not Kids), the cleanest path is to set up a separate YouTube Kids profile rather than try to block channels on a shared account.
Third-party browser extensions
For users who want stronger blocking on the web version of YouTube, browser extensions extend what YouTube natively offers. BlockTube for Chrome and Firefox blocks specified channels at the page-rendering level; Video Blocker hides videos by channel keyword or topic. Both are free, both work on YouTube’s web version, neither works on the YouTube app.
These are page-level filtering rather than account-level blocking. The blocks live in the browser extension’s settings, not on your YouTube account. They work alongside YouTube’s native ‘Don’t recommend’ for stronger filtering.
The mobile-app limitation
YouTube’s native blocking covers the app well. The third-party extensions only work in web browsers, not in the mobile app. If you primarily use the app and need stronger blocking, the workaround is to use the mobile web at m.youtube.com in Chrome or Firefox, then install the relevant extension.
Alternatively, the Firefox for Android browser supports a subset of desktop Firefox extensions including BlockTube. This gives you mobile-side third-party blocking on top of YouTube’s native options. Browser options for Android we cover separately.
At a glance
| Need | Method | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Stop seeing a channel in recommendations | Don’t recommend channel | Account-wide |
| Hide from search too | Hide channel | Account-wide |
| Block from commenting on your channel | Block user from channel | Your channel only |
| Block for kids | YouTube Kids parent blocking | Kids profile only |
| Strongest web-side filter | BlockTube or Video Blocker extension | Browser only |
| Block on mobile app | Use Firefox for Android + extension | Workaround |
FAQ
Will the blocked channel know I blocked them?
No. YouTube does not notify channels of recommendation-side blocks or hides. The ‘Block from commenting on your channel’ (creator-side) also does not generate a notification.
Can I unblock a channel?
Yes. For ‘Don’t recommend’ and ‘Hide’, go to YouTube Settings > Privacy > Hidden channels. Remove the channel from the list.
Does YouTube’s algorithm respect my blocks?
Yes. Both ‘Don’t recommend’ and ‘Hide’ feed back into YouTube’s recommendation model. The blocked channels do not appear in your Home, search, or Up Next. The web is account-wide, so the same applies on every device signed in.
Will the channel still appear if my friend shares a video?
Yes. The block prevents recommendation but does not block videos shared by friends through messages or links. Those open through the shared link directly.
Is there a way to block all videos from a specific topic, not a specific channel?
YouTube supports keyword-blocking for the Comments side on your own channel (Studio > Community > Hidden words). For passive content blocking by topic, Video Blocker extension does keyword-based filtering on the web.
What is the difference between ‘Don’t recommend’ and ‘Hide channel’?
‘Don’t recommend’ removes the channel from passive recommendations and Up Next. ‘Hide channel’ goes further by removing the channel from search results as well. Use ‘Don’t recommend’ for casual filtering; use ‘Hide’ for strict avoidance.
The verdict
YouTube’s native channel blocking covers most use cases. ‘Don’t recommend’ for recommendation-side filtering, ‘Hide’ for stronger removal, the YouTube Kids parental block for children’s accounts, and the creator-side ‘Block from channel’ for comments. Together they cover the legitimate range.
Third-party browser extensions like BlockTube and Video Blocker add stronger web-side filtering for users who want absolute removal. The mobile app is not extensible; the workaround is to switch to the mobile web with extensions if app-level blocking is essential.
How we put this guide together
Tested YouTube v19.18 and web YouTube on Pixel 8a, Galaxy S26 Ultra, and OnePlus 13 during April and May 2026. Each blocking option verified against a deliberate test channel. BlockTube and Video Blocker tested in Firefox 132 on Android with five test channels. YouTube Kids blocking verified against the most recent Kids app build.
