The fastest way to search YouTube

The search bar at the top of YouTube is the quickest way to find what you want. Type a word or phrase into the white search box at the very top of the page or app, then press Enter or tap the magnifying glass icon. YouTube shows results ranked by relevance, upload date, view count, and rating — you can change the sort order using the "Filter" button on the left side of the results page.

If you are searching on a phone or tablet, tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom right of the screen, type your search term, and tap the keyboard's search button. The results appear in the same format as on a computer, and you can scroll through them to find what matches your needs.

YouTube remembers your recent searches. If you start typing in the search box, a dropdown list shows searches you have done before — tap one to search again without retyping. You can also clear your search history by going to your account settings under "Manage all your data" and selecting "YouTube Search History."

Key Takeaways

  • The search bar at the top of the page is the main tool; type a word or phrase and press Enter to see results ranked by relevance.
  • Use the Filter button on the results page to sort by upload date, view count, rating, or video length to narrow down what you see.
  • YouTube suggests videos based on your watch history and subscriptions on your Home page, so you may find content without searching.
  • The search bar remembers your recent searches, and you can clear that history anytime in your account settings.
  • Channels, playlists, and creator names can all be searched the same way as video titles — type the name and YouTube shows matching results.

Refining your search with filters

After you search, the results page shows videos, channels, playlists, and sometimes live streams. Click or tap the "Filter" button on the left side to narrow the results. You can filter by upload date (last hour, last day, last week, last month, last year), video length (under 4 minutes, 4 to 20 minutes, over 20 minutes), and features like closed captions or videos marked for kids.

The "Sort by" dropdown at the top right of results lets you change the order. "Relevance" is the default and ranks results by how closely they match your search. "Upload date" shows the newest videos first, "View count" shows the most-watched videos first, and "Rating" shows videos with the highest viewer ratings first. Choose the sort that matches what you are looking for — if you want recent uploads, switch to "Upload date."

You can also search within a specific channel. Go to that channel's page, look for the search box near the top, and type your search term. YouTube then shows only videos from that channel that match your search.

Finding videos through your Home page and subscriptions

YouTube's Home page shows videos based on what you have watched before and which channels you subscribe to. When you sign in to your account, the Home page displays recommended videos in rows — these are personalized to your viewing history. Scroll down to see more recommendations, or click on a video thumbnail to watch it.

If you subscribe to channels, YouTube puts new uploads from those channels in a "Subscriptions" feed. Click the "Subscriptions" tab on the left side of the page (on a phone, tap the icon that looks like a play button with a plus sign). This feed shows recent uploads from channels you follow, sorted by upload date with the newest first. You do not have to search — just browse the list and tap a video to watch.

You can also turn on notifications for specific channels so YouTube alerts you when they upload new videos. Go to the channel page, click the bell icon next to the "Subscribe" button, and choose how often you want notifications. This way you see new uploads without having to check the Subscriptions feed.

Searching for channels and playlists

If you are looking for a specific creator or channel rather than a single video, type the channel name into the search bar just as you would for a video. The results page shows matching channels at the top, with the channel name, number of subscribers, and a preview of recent uploads. Click on the channel name or thumbnail to go to that channel's page.

Playlists are collections of videos grouped by topic or creator. You can search for playlists by typing a topic followed by the word "playlist" — for example, "guitar tutorials playlist." The results show matching playlists, and you can click one to see all the videos in it. Many creators organize their uploads into playlists by topic, so searching this way can help you find all videos on a subject from one creator.

Once you find a channel or playlist you like, you can subscribe to the channel or save the playlist to your library. Subscriptions appear in your Subscriptions feed, and saved playlists appear in your library under "Your playlists" so you can return to them anytime.

Using YouTube's advanced search options

YouTube has a dedicated advanced search page that lets you search by more specific details. Go to youtube.com/results and look for the "Filter" button, or visit youtube.com/advanced_search to fill in fields for title, description, channel name, and more. You can search for videos uploaded on a specific date range, in a specific language, or with specific features like subtitles or creative commons licensing.

The advanced search page is most useful when you remember part of a video's title or the creator's name but not the exact wording. You can also use it to find videos licensed under creative commons, which means you may be able to use them in your own projects with proper credit. Fill in the fields that match what you remember, then click "Search" to see results that match those details.

Finding videos by creator name or URL

If you know the creator's name but not the video title, search for the creator's name in the search bar. YouTube shows their channel at the top of the results, along with their subscriber count and a sample of recent uploads. Click the channel to see all their videos, then browse or search within that channel for the specific video you want.

If you have a link to a video but it is not loading, or you want to find similar videos, copy the video URL and paste it into the search bar. YouTube recognizes the URL and may show you that video or suggest related content. You can also share a video link directly with someone by clicking the "Share" button below the video player and copying the link that appears.

Troubleshooting common search problems

If your search returns no results, try a shorter or simpler search term. Instead of searching for a long phrase, search for one or two key words. For example, instead of "how to fix a leaky kitchen faucet," try "fix leaky faucet." YouTube's search works best with specific nouns and verbs rather than full sentences.

If you see results but they do not match what you are looking for, use the Filter button to narrow by date, length, or other features. You can also try different keywords — if searching "workout" does not show what you want, try "exercise" or "fitness." YouTube's search algorithm ranks results by relevance, but relevance depends on how closely your search term matches the video's title, description, and tags.

If you cannot find a video you watched before, check your watch history. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, select "History," and scroll through your recent watches. Your watch history shows videos you have viewed, sorted by most recent first, and you can search within it or clear it anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for videos from a specific date?

Use the Filter button on the results page and select "Upload date," then choose "Last hour," "Last day," "Last week," "Last month," or "Last year." For a specific date range outside these options, use the advanced search page at youtube.com/advanced_search and enter the date range you want.

Can I search for videos with subtitles or closed captions?

Yes. After you search, click the Filter button and look for "Features." Check the box for "Subtitles/CC" to see only videos that have closed captions or subtitles available. This is useful if you are deaf or hard of hearing, or if you want to watch videos in a language you are learning.

What does the bell icon next to Subscribe do?

The bell icon turns on notifications for that channel. Click it and choose how often you want alerts — "All," "Personalized," or "None." YouTube then sends you notifications when the channel uploads new videos, so you do not have to check manually.

How do I find videos I watched before but cannot remember the title?

Click your profile picture in the top right, select "History," and scroll through your watch history. Videos appear in order from most recent to oldest. You can also search within your history by typing a keyword into the search box on the History page.

Can I search for videos in a language other than English?

Yes. Use the advanced search page at youtube.com/advanced_search and select your language from the "Language" dropdown. You can also search in any language by typing in that language's characters — YouTube recognizes most languages and shows results in that language.