How to Block YouTube Channels in 2026 (All Devices + Screenshots)

Method 1: YouTube's Built-in "Don't Recommend Channel" Feature

YouTube offers a basic way to hide channels from recommendations. Here's how:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Find a video from the channel you want to block
2. Click the three vertical dots next to the video title
3. Select "Don't recommend channel"
4. The channel will no longer appear in your recommendations

Limitations of This Method:

• Not a true block — Your child can still search for and find the channel
• Easy to undo — The setting can be reversed in YouTube settings ([learn how kids bypass parental controls](/blog/can-kids-bypass-youtube-parental-controls))
• Device-specific — Only applies to the device/browser you're using
• Requires a Google account — Anonymous users can't use this feature

Verdict: Good for mild annoyances, insufficient for serious content concerns. For comparison with other methods, see our [best YouTube parental control apps](/blog/best-youtube-parental-control-apps) guide.

Method 2: Block User Feature (Channel Page)

YouTube also has a "Block user" option on channel pages:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Go to the channel's YouTube page
2. Click the three dots next to the Subscribe button
3. Select "Block user"
4. Confirm by clicking "Block"

What This Actually Does:

• Prevents the blocked channel from commenting on your videos
• Hides their content from your homepage (sometimes)
• Does NOT prevent your child from searching for the channel
• Does NOT block the channel on other devices

Verdict: Designed for creator-to-creator blocking, not parental controls.

Method 3: Browser Extensions (Desktop Only)

For desktop computers, browser extensions provide more robust channel blocking:

Recommended Extensions:

BlockTube

• Right-click any video to block the channel
• Blocked channels disappear from search and recommendations
• Free, open-source
• Works on Chrome and Firefox

Video Blocker

• Block channels by name or keyword
• Wildcard support for pattern blocking
• Export/import blocklists

Unhook

• Removes recommendations entirely
• Hides Shorts, comments, and distracting elements
• Focuses YouTube on search-only use

How to Install:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store (or Firefox Add-ons)
2. Search for "BlockTube" or your preferred extension
3. Click "Add to Chrome"
4. Right-click any video and select "Block this channel"

Limitations:

• Desktop only — Won't work on phones, tablets, or smart TVs
• Browser-specific — Must install on each browser
• Bypassable — Kids can use incognito mode or uninstall the extension
• Reactive approach — You have to find and block each bad channel manually

Verdict: Effective for desktop-only households with tech-unsavvy children.

Method 4: Router-Level Blocking

Tech-savvy parents can block specific YouTube channels at the network level:

Limitations:

Unfortunately, you cannot block individual YouTube channels via router settings. YouTube serves all video content from the same domains. Router-level solutions can only:

• Block YouTube entirely
• Block access during certain hours
• Force SafeSearch on search engines

For channel-specific blocking, you need application-level solutions.

Method 5: YouTube Kids (For Younger Children)

For children under 8, YouTube Kids offers a more curated experience:

Features:

• Content filtered for age-appropriateness
• Parents can block specific channels and videos
• Timer functionality for screen time limits
• Approved Content Only mode (parent selects every channel)

Limitations:

• Inappropriate content still occasionally appears
• Older kids find it "babyish" and demand regular YouTube
• Limited content library compared to main YouTube

Verdict: Good for children under 8; older kids typically resist it.

Method 6: Whitelist-Based Parental Controls (Most Effective)

The methods above all share a fundamental problem: they try to block bad content while allowing everything else. With 800+ million videos, this is an endless game of whack-a-mole.

The whitelist approach flips the model:

• Block ALL YouTube channels by default
• Only allow channels you've explicitly approved
• No need to discover and block bad channels one by one

How WhitelistVideo Works:

1. Install the browser extension on your child's devices
2. Download the parent app on your phone
3. Create your whitelist of approved channels (educational content, vetted creators)
4. Your child can only watch videos from approved channels

Why This Is Most Effective:

• Complete protection — Unknown channels are blocked by default ([learn how whitelist controls work](/blog/what-is-whitelist-parental-controls))
• Works across devices — Desktop, mobile, tablet
• Cannot be bypassed — No incognito workarounds
• Proactive, not reactive — You approve safe content instead of chasing bad content
• Blocks recommendations and search — Child can't discover unapproved channels
• Blocks YouTube Shorts — Addictive short-form content disabled by default ([see guide](/blog/how-to-block-youtube-shorts-kids-2026))

Comparison: Channel Blocking Methods

How to Block YouTube Channels on Different Devices

Desktop/Laptop (Windows/Mac)

1. Install WhitelistVideo browser extension from Chrome Web Store
2. Connect to your parent dashboard
3. Any channel not on your whitelist is automatically blocked

Android Phone/Tablet

1. Download WhitelistVideo from Google Play
2. Set up supervised browsing through the parent app
3. Whitelist settings sync automatically

iPhone/iPad

1. Download WhitelistVideo from the App Store
2. Enable content restrictions in iOS Settings
3. Configure through parent dashboard

Smart TV

Smart TV apps have limited blocking capabilities. Options include:

• Use a supervised Google account with restricted access
• Disable the YouTube app and use browser-based YouTube only
• Use your router to block YouTube on the TV entirely

Why Blocking Specific Channels Matters

Some parents wonder if blocking individual channels is necessary when YouTube has content guidelines. The reality is that YouTube's automated systems are imperfect, and the consequences of exposure to inappropriate content can be significant.

Types of Problematic Channels:

• Hidden inappropriate content: Channels that start with kid-friendly thumbnails but contain mature themes
• Clickbait and sensationalism: Exaggerated, fear-inducing, or misleading content designed for maximum engagement
• Unvetted "educators": Channels presenting misinformation as facts
• Parasocial manipulation: Creators who build unhealthy emotional dependencies with young viewers
• Consumerism-focused content: Channels that are essentially ads disguised as entertainment

The Algorithm Problem:

YouTube's algorithm is optimized for engagement, not child safety. It recommends content that keeps viewers watching longer, which often means:

• Increasingly sensational or emotional content
• Content that triggers curiosity about mature topics
• Videos that lead to "rabbit holes" of increasingly extreme content

By controlling which channels your child can access, you remove the algorithm's ability to lead them toward content you haven't vetted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you block YouTube channels permanently?

Yes. Browser extensions like BlockTube maintain permanent blocklists. Whitelist-based solutions like WhitelistVideo are even more permanent — channels remain blocked until you explicitly add them to your approved list.

Why can my child still find blocked channels?

YouTube's native "Don't recommend channel" feature only hides channels from recommendations — it doesn't block search access. For complete blocking, use browser extensions or whitelist-based parental controls.

How many channels can I block?

There's no limit with browser extensions or WhitelistVideo. However, the whitelist approach is more practical: instead of blocking millions of channels, you approve dozens of safe ones.

Do blocked channels know they're blocked?

No. Blocking is invisible to the channel owner. They won't receive any notification that you've blocked their content from your child.

Take Action: Protect Your Child Today

Every day your child uses YouTube without proper channel controls is a day they might encounter inappropriate content. Here's your action plan:

1. Immediate: Enable YouTube's "Don't recommend channel" for obvious problem channels
2. This week: Install a browser extension on desktop computers
3. Long-term: Implement whitelist-based controls for comprehensive protection

WhitelistVideo offers a free tier so you can test the whitelist approach. See how your child responds to a curated, safe YouTube experience.