Learn How to Log Out of YouTube on Any Device

Understanding YouTube Account Logout Basics

Logging out of YouTube means ending your signed-in session on a device. When you log out, your account information is no longer stored on that particular device, and YouTube will no longer remember your personalized recommendations, watch history, or subscriptions on that device. This is different from deleting your YouTube account, which permanently removes your entire account and all associated data from Google's servers.

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YouTube is owned by Google, and your YouTube account is connected to your Google account. When you log out of YouTube on a device, you're signing out of that specific device's connection to your Google account. However, if you're logged into other Google services like Gmail or Google Drive on the same device, those remain active unless you separately log out of them.

Understanding the logout process matters for several reasons. If you share a device with family members or roommates, logging out ensures your personal recommendations and watch history aren't visible to others. If you're using a public computer at a library or internet café, logging out protects your account from unauthorized access. Similarly, when you sell or give away a device, logging out prevents the new owner from accessing your account.

YouTube's logout feature works consistently across all devices—phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. The basic principle remains the same: you're removing your account credentials from that device. Each device stores a separate session, so logging out on your phone doesn't affect your laptop, and vice versa.

Practical Takeaway: Before you log out, consider whether you want to keep your YouTube preferences on this device. If you log out, YouTube will stop showing personalized recommendations based on your history on this specific device.

How to Log Out on Windows and Mac Computers

On desktop and laptop computers running Windows or Mac, logging out of YouTube is straightforward. First, open YouTube in your web browser by going to YouTube.com. Look for your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner of the screen. This circular icon is your account menu button. Click on it to open a dropdown menu with several options.

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In the dropdown menu, you'll see your email address or name at the top, followed by several options including "Create a channel," "Settings," "Help," and others. At the bottom of this menu, you'll find the "Sign out" option. Click on "Sign out" to end your session. YouTube will redirect you to the YouTube homepage, and you'll notice that your profile picture is no longer visible in the top-right corner. Instead, you'll see a "Sign in" button.

If you're using multiple tabs or windows with YouTube open, signing out in one tab will sign you out across all tabs and windows. YouTube uses a single session across your browser, so you only need to log out once to end your session on that computer.

Some browsers store passwords and auto-fill login credentials. If you want to prevent automatic login the next time you visit YouTube, you should clear your browser's cached data or disable auto-fill for YouTube specifically. You can do this through your browser settings. For Chrome, go to Settings > Autofill and Passwords > Passwords, find YouTube.com, and delete the saved password. For Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Preferences > Passwords, find YouTube, and delete it.

If you're on a shared computer, you might also consider logging out of your entire Google account rather than just YouTube. To do this, click your profile picture, select "Sign out," and choose to sign out of all Google services. This ensures that Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services are also logged out.

Practical Takeaway: After clicking "Sign out," clear your browser's saved passwords for YouTube if you're using a shared computer to prevent someone else from logging back in automatically.

Logging Out on iPhone and iPad Devices

On Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, you can access YouTube through the official YouTube app or through a web browser like Safari. The logout process differs slightly depending on which method you're using. If you're using the YouTube app, open it and look for your profile picture, which typically appears in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen, depending on your app version.

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Tap on your profile picture to open your account menu. You'll see options like "Settings," "Purchases and memberships," "Create a channel," and others. Scroll down until you see "Sign out" or "Sign out [your email]" and tap on it. The app will confirm that you want to sign out, and your session will end. The YouTube app will return to showing the home feed without your account information.

If you prefer using Safari or another web browser on your iPhone or iPad, navigate to YouTube.com. Tap the profile picture icon in the top-right corner to open the account menu. Look for "Sign out" at the bottom of the menu and tap it. Your session will end, and you'll be returned to the YouTube homepage.

On iOS devices, the YouTube app and Safari maintain separate sessions. Logging out of the app doesn't log you out of the website, and vice versa. If you want to be logged out everywhere, you'll need to log out of both the app and the browser.

One important consideration for iOS users: if you're using YouTube Music or YouTube Premium, logging out of the YouTube app may also affect those services. Before logging out, consider whether you have active subscriptions that you'll want to maintain on this device.

Practical Takeaway: If you use both the YouTube app and Safari on your iPhone, remember to log out of both separately to fully disconnect your account from your device.

Signing Out on Android Phones and Tablets

Android devices offer similar logout options to iOS, with the ability to sign out either through the YouTube app or through a web browser. To log out using the YouTube app on Android, open the app and locate your profile picture, which appears in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap on it to open your account options menu.

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In the menu that appears, you'll see various options including "Settings," "Your channel," "Purchases and memberships," and "Help & feedback." Scroll down to find "Sign out" and tap on it. Android will ask you to confirm this action before proceeding. Once confirmed, your account will be removed from the YouTube app on that device.

If you're using YouTube through a mobile browser like Chrome or Firefox on Android, go to YouTube.com and tap your profile picture icon in the top-right corner. The account menu will appear with a "Sign out" option. Tap it to end your session.

Android users should note that logging out of the YouTube app doesn't automatically sign you out of your Google account on the device. Your Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services will remain active. If you want to sign out of your entire Google account, you'll need to go to your device's Settings, find "Accounts," select your Google account, and choose "Remove account" or "Sign out."

Android devices sometimes store login information in the system settings. If you want to completely disconnect your Google account from your Android device, you can remove it entirely through Settings > Accounts and Backup > Manage accounts. However, this will also remove access to Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services, so consider this carefully before proceeding.

Practical Takeaway: On Android, check whether other apps on your device rely on your Google account before removing it entirely; logging out of just the YouTube app may be sufficient for your needs.

How to Log Out on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

Logging out of YouTube on smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Chromecast follows a similar pattern but with interface adjustments for remote control navigation. Start by opening the YouTube app on your streaming device. Using your remote, navigate to the profile icon, which is typically located in the top-right or top-left corner of the screen depending on your device.

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Press the Select or OK button on your remote when highlighting the profile icon. This opens your account menu with options like "Settings," "Create a channel," and account information. Use the remote's directional buttons to navigate down to "Sign out" and press OK. The device will confirm the logout, and you'll return to the YouTube home screen.

For Roku devices specifically, open YouTube, navigate to your profile icon (usually in the corner), and select "Sign out" from the menu. For Amazon Fire Stick