How to change notification settings on YouTube

Updated: 09/12/2023 by Computer Hope
YouTube logo

YouTube offers many customization options to its users. They can adjust privacy settings, change profile pictures, or add a custom channel description or banner image. While many users like alerts from their subscribed channel, others prefer to keep notifications to a minimum.

To adjust general and channel notification settings on your YouTube account, select from the list below and follow the instructions.

Change general notification settings

This section contains instructions on adjusting the general (desktop, channel activity, mentions, etc.) and e-mail notification settings on the YouTube website or through the mobile app.

Change general notifications on the YouTube website

Here are steps to changing general YouTube notification settings if you're accessing the website on a desktop or laptop computer.

  1. Go to the YouTube website and click YouTube sign in in the upper-right corner (if you're not already signed in to your YouTube account).
  2. In the upper-right corner of the screen, click the Notifications icon.

YouTube notifications icon

  1. In the top-right corner of the window, click the icon.

Notifications settings gear on YouTube.

  1. You should now see a list of toggle switches for your notifications preferences. Make your selections for the General notifications settings.

YouTube general notification settings.

  1. Scroll down and adjust the toggle switches for e-mail notifications.

YouTube e-mail notifications settings.

  1. When finished, click the YouTube logo button in the upper-left corner of the browser window to return to the home page.

Change general notifications on the YouTube mobile app

Here are steps to change general YouTube notification settings if you're accessing through the mobile app on a smartphone or tablet.

  1. Open the YouTube app and sign in, if necessary.
  2. Tap the Notifications icon near the top of the screen.

Notifications icon on YouTube mobile.

  1. Tap the kebab menu in the upper-right corner.

Notifications kebab on YouTube mobile.

  1. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Settings selector on YouTube mobile.

  1. On the next screen, tap the Notifications selector.

Notifications selector on YouTube mobile.

  1. Tap the toggle switches next to each entry to enable and disable notifications.

Toggling notifications on YouTube mobile.

Change channel notification settings

This section contains instructions on adjusting the notifications you receive from the specific channels you're subscribed to, either on the YouTube website or through the mobile app.

Change channel notifications on the YouTube website

Below are steps for changing channel-specific YouTube notification settings if you're accessing the website on a desktop or laptop computer.

  1. Go to the YouTube website and click the YouTube sign in button in the upper-right corner (if you're not already signed in to your YouTube account).
  2. Navigate to the channel of interest.
  3. Next to the channel name, click the Unsubscribe from a YouTube channel button. button.
  4. Select All, Personalized, or None from the drop-down menu.

Channel notification options on YouTube.

Change channel notifications on the YouTube mobile app

Below are the steps to change channel-specific YouTube notification settings if you're accessing through the mobile app on a smartphone or tablet.

  1. Open the YouTube app and sign in, if necessary.
  2. Navigate to or search for the channel with notifications you want to adjust.

Search button on YouTube mobile.

  1. Once you've located the channel, tap the Notifications button next to the channel name (it may be a few different "bell" shapes).

YouTube Android notifications button.

  1. Select All, Personalized, or None from the drop-down menu.

Notification options on YouTube mobile.