[FAQ]

Hey,

I’m trying to organize my YouTube channel and I have a few videos that I don’t want to be public, but I’m confused by the settings. What’s the real difference between “Private” and “Unlisted”?

They both sound like they hide the video, but it’s not clear. If I make a video “Unlisted,” can people still find it? If I make it “Private,” how do I share it with just one or two friends to get their feedback?

I just want to make sure I’m using the right setting so I don’t accidentally make something public that I’m not ready for.

Thanks.

[Jeff Bullas]

A fundamental setting to understand.

Short Answer: Private videos are invisible and can only be seen by specific Google accounts you invite. Unlisted videos are also hidden from search and your channel, but anyone with the link can watch them.

Choosing the right setting is about controlling who has access to your video format and its associated link.

A Private video format is completely locked down; it will not appear in YouTube search, on your channel page, or in subscriber feeds. The only way to grant access is to send an invitation via the text format of an email to a specific Google account, and there is a limit to how many you can invite. This setting is best for storing a personal video format or for sharing a draft with a very small, select group for review. An Unlisted video format is also hidden from search and your channel page. The key difference is that the link, which is a text format, acts as the key; anyone who has that link can view the video and even share that link with others. This makes the Unlisted format the ideal choice for sharing a video semi-publicly, such as a portfolio piece for a job application or as a replay for people who signed up for a webinar.

Cheers,

Jeff

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