TL;DR: YouTube’s "Don’t recommend channel" button hides content from your feed, but it isn't a real block—anyone can still find those videos via search. "Block user" is even more limited, as it only stops comments. Because 500 hours of video are uploaded every minute, manual blocking is a losing battle. A whitelist (approving only the good stuff) is the only way to actually control what gets watched.
YouTube's Built-in Channel Blocking (What It Actually Does)
YouTube has three main options that look like blocking tools, but they don't work the way most people assume they do.
"Don't Recommend Channel"
You’ll find this in the three-dot menu on any video. It tells the algorithm to stop putting that channel in your Home feed or the Up Next sidebar. The catch: The channel isn't gone. It still shows up in search results, subscription tabs, and direct links. If your kid knows the channel name, they can find it in two seconds.
"Block User"
This lives on a channel’s About page. It sounds definitive, but it only stops that user from commenting on your videos. The reality: It does nothing to hide their videos from your feed or search results. It’s a tool for creators to stop harassment, not a filter for viewers to hide content.
"Hide User From Channel"
This is a YouTube Studio setting for creators. It makes a specific person's comments invisible on your own videos. The result: It has zero impact on what you see in your own recommendations. It’s strictly for comment moderation.
Bottom line: YouTube doesn't actually have a "delete this channel from my existence" button.
How to Block a Channel on Desktop (Step by Step)
If you're on a computer, you have a few ways to clean up your feed, though they aren't foolproof.
Remove from recommendations:
- Find a video from the channel you want to get rid of.
- Hover over the thumbnail and click the three-dot menu (⋮).
- Select "Don't recommend channel."
- Those videos should stop appearing on your homepage.
Block the user:
- Go to the channel's main page.
- Click the flag icon or the three-dot menu on their About tab.
- Select "Block user" and confirm.
The problem: These settings are tied to your specific Google account. If your child logs out, uses Incognito mode, or switches accounts, the "blocked" content comes right back.
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How to Block a Channel on the Mobile App
The mobile app for iOS and Android uses the same basic logic as the desktop version.
Remove from recommendations:
- Find a video from the channel in your feed.
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the title.
- Tap "Don't recommend channel."
Block the user:
- Open the channel's page.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Tap "Block user."
The problem: You can't use browser extensions on the mobile app to force a harder block. Also, kids can easily reset these "Don't recommend" preferences just by clearing the watch history in settings.
How to Block a Channel on Smart TV
Streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV are the hardest to manage.
- "Don't recommend channel" exists on most TV interfaces, but you have to dig through the video menu to find it.
- "Block user" usually isn't an option on TV apps at all.
- No extensions: You can't install ad-blockers or content filters on a smart TV.
If you want real control on a TV, you’re stuck using Google’s supervised account settings or a dedicated tool like WhitelistVideo for Android TV that actually enforces a list of allowed videos.
Why Blocking Individual Channels Doesn't Scale
Trying to block bad channels one by one is like trying to empty the ocean with a spoon. Look at the numbers:
- 500 hours of video are uploaded every minute.
- That’s 720,000 hours a day from millions of different creators.
- New channels pop up every second, and the algorithm will test them out on your feed before you even know they exist.
Manual blocking is a game of whack-a-mole. For parents, it’s even riskier. A child only needs to see one disturbing video from a channel you haven't blocked yet for the damage to be done. Being reactive—waiting to see something bad before blocking it—means your child is the one doing the "testing" for you.
The Whitelist Alternative: Allow Only What You Want
The better way? Stop trying to block the "bad" and start only allowing the "good." This is the whitelist approach.
WhitelistVideo changes how YouTube works entirely:
- Everything is blocked by default. Nothing plays unless it's on your list.
- You pick the channels. You build a list of creators you actually trust.
- No surprises. If a new, weird channel starts trending, it won't show up for your kid because it isn't on your approved list.
- Syncs everywhere. Your whitelist works on desktop, Chromebooks, iPhones, and Android TV.
- Request system. If your child finds a new educational channel they like, they can send you a request to approve it.
You can also use Auto-pilot mode to filter by category, so you aren't stuck micromanaging every single video. It puts you back in charge of the algorithm instead of the other way around.
Cómo Bloquear Canales de YouTube
Si quieres bloquear canales de YouTube para no ver sus videos, puedes usar la opción "No recomendar canal" en el menú de tres puntos. Esto lo quita de tu vista principal, pero no es un bloqueo total; el canal sigue apareciendo en las búsquedas.
Para bloquear un canal de YouTube de verdad, lo más seguro es usar una lista blanca. WhitelistVideo bloquea todo por defecto y solo deja ver lo que tú apruebas. Es la única forma de estar tranquilo mientras tus hijos usan la computadora, el celular o la tele.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell YouTube to not recommend a channel?
Hit the three-dot menu (⋮) on any video and pick "Don't recommend channel." It clears them off your Home screen, but they'll still show up if you search for them directly.
Is there a way to only allow certain YouTube channels?
Yes, but not through YouTube's own settings. You'll need a tool like WhitelistVideo. It lets you create an "approved only" list, effectively blocking the rest of YouTube across all your devices.
What does "hide user from channel" do on YouTube?
It’s for creators. If someone is being a jerk in your comments, you "hide" them so their comments don't show up anymore. It doesn't hide their videos from your feed.
Can I block YouTube channels on a smart TV?
Only partially. You can select "Don't recommend channel" on most TVs, but you can't install blockers or extensions. For Android TV, your best bet is the WhitelistVideo TV app.
How to block a YouTube channel so you don't see their videos at all?
YouTube doesn't offer a way to completely scrub a channel from search and browse. To do that, you need a whitelist-based parental control that blocks everything by default and only opens the channels you've vetted.
Does blocking a channel on YouTube actually work?
It depends on what you mean by "work." "Block user" only stops comments. "Don't recommend channel" cleans up your homepage. Neither one actually prevents someone from searching for and watching those videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
On any video from the channel, click the three-dot menu and select 'Don't recommend channel.' This removes the channel from your Home and Up Next feeds. It does not block the channel — you can still find it via search. For a permanent solution, use a whitelist tool like WhitelistVideo that only allows pre-approved channels.
Use the three-dot menu on any video from the channel and choose 'Don't recommend channel' to remove it from your feed. To also block the user entirely, visit their channel page, click the flag icon, and select 'Block user.' Neither method prevents access via direct search — only a whitelist-based parental control blocks the channel completely.
In 2026, YouTube still offers only 'Don't recommend channel' via the three-dot menu. This hides the channel from recommendations but not from search results. For full blocking, use browser extensions on desktop or a parental control app like WhitelistVideo on all devices.
Yes. WhitelistVideo lets you create a list of approved channels. Any channel not on your whitelist is automatically blocked — on desktop, Chromebook, iPhone, Android, and Android TV. Instead of blocking channels one by one, you approve only the ones you trust.
Selecting 'Hide user from channel' removes that person's comments from your channel's comment section. It does not block their videos from appearing in your feed or search. It is a moderation tool for channel owners, not a content filter for viewers.
Use 'Don't recommend channel' to remove them from your feed, and 'Block user' on their channel page to prevent interaction. Neither fully prevents you from seeing their videos in search. The only way to completely prevent access is a whitelist-based tool like WhitelistVideo that blocks all channels except approved ones.
Published: April 29, 2026 • Last Updated: April 29, 2026
About Sarah Mitchell
Consumer Technology Analyst
Sarah Mitchell is an independent technology analyst specializing in family safety software evaluation. She holds a B.S. in Information Systems from MIT and spent seven years at Gartner as a research analyst covering enterprise endpoint security. Sarah has conducted hands-on testing of over 80 parental control applications, publishing methodology-driven reviews in The New York Times Wirecutter, CNET, and PCMag. She developed the "Bypass Resistance Index," an industry-cited framework for evaluating parental control robustness. As a mother of three, she brings personal experience to her professional analysis. She is a guest contributor at WhitelistVideo.
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