With approximately 2 billion people logging in per month, Youtube deserves to be top 1 social platform for video. By uploading videos on Youtube, you can share with people around the world many things such as your company, products, culture, and you even can earn money from it. Many people think that there is only a type of video on Youtube that allows everyone to search for and watch it. However, the fact is different; Youtube also has other settings for your videos that seem not as popular as the public but extremely useful – They are Private videos and Unlisted videos.

So, what are private videos and unlisted video? What are their pros, and when is the suitable condition to exploit them?

They will be all answered in this article. Don’t miss it!

Youtube Private and Unlisted Videos: Definitions

Before going deep about Youtube Private and Unlisted videos on Youtube, let’s briefly overview the types of videos on Youtube!

As mentioned above, Youtube offers users three settings for video, which are Public, Private, and Unlisted.

Public

As the name suggests, this setting allows people around the world to watch the video you upload easily. Whether you have Youtube accounts or not, you still access and watch video by searching it on Youtube or getting its link.

In fact, public is also the default setting of video on Youtube, and this type accounts for the majority of videos on this platform. By choosing this setting, you can maximize the number of views and the popularity of your videos. Thus, the public video will be your best option if you want to earn money from view on Youtube or spread your video content to everyone.

Private

In the Private setting, your video will not be public on Youtube. It means that people are unable to search for it on Youtube or Google. Only when the author invited you to watch the video, can you see it.

Unlisted

If you select the unlisted option, your video is invisible when people search for it on the Internet. Therefore, it is necessary to let others watch your video; let’s copy its link and share it with them. People with the link are allowed to see the video without signing up or logging in Youtube.

So, What is Different Between YouTube Private and Unlisted Videos?

A private YouTube video is only visible to people you invite. Even if someone has the link, they can’t watch it unless you give them access. This option is best for personal or confidential content. 

In contrast, an unlisted video is hidden from search results and your channel, but anyone with the link can view it. You don’t need to approve each viewer, making it easier to share. If you want strict control, choose private. If you need easy access without making it public, go with unlisted.

Let me know if you need more details!

Besides, the similarity between Private and Unlisted mode on Youtube is that your video can’t be seen in the video lists in your Youtube channel, search result, and your subscribers’ feed. To enhance your video’s quality, consider investing in a good microphone for YouTube to ensure clear audio.

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Private and Unlisted YouTube Videos: Benefits and Drawbacks

Private Videos

Advantages

• Improved privacy: This is the core benefit. Only those with the link you can watch the video, and you can’t share the link. Ideal for personal moments, sensitive content, or internal communications.
• Unlimited storage: YouTube provides unlimited storage for private videos. This can free up space on your devices and serve as a secure backup for important footage.
• Controlled sharing: You have complete control over who sees your video. This is great for sharing with family, friends, or select colleagues without worrying about broader exposure.
• Feedback gathering: Use private videos to get feedback on work-in-progress content from a select group before releasing it publicly.
• Internal collaboration: Perfect for businesses or organizations to share training videos, meeting recordings, or sensitive information with employees or stakeholders.

Drawbacks

• Limited reach: Private means having limited reach. If your goal is to grow your audience or get public views, this isn’t the right option.
• No public engagement: You can’t get public comments, likes, or shares on private videos.
• No monetization: Private videos can’t be monetized with ads.
• Requires Google Account: Viewers need a Google account to access private videos, which could be a barrier for some.

Unlisted Videos 

Advantages

• Easy sharing without public visibility: Your video won’t appear in search results or on your channel, but anyone with the link can watch it. This makes it a great option for controlled access.
• No limit on viewers: Unlike private videos, there is no restriction on the number of people who can watch an unlisted video as long as they have the link.
• Collect feedback before going public: You can share the video with a select group, gather opinions, and improve the content before publishing.
• Useful for business & internal communication: Companies can use unlisted videos to share updates, training materials, or confidential presentations with employees or clients.
• Showcase portfolio or client work: If you’re a freelancer, marketer, or content creator, you can use unlisted videos to share work with specific clients without displaying it to the public.
• Organize your YouTube channel: If you want to clean up your channel without deleting old videos, you can switch them to unlisted so they remain accessible but won’t clutter your public profile.
• “Hidden” content: Use unlisted videos to declutter your main YouTube channel while still keeping videos accessible to those who have the link. 

Drawbacks

• Anyone with the link can share It: Even though the video isn’t public, if someone shares the link, others can watch it. You lose some control over who views it.
• No Monetization: If you’re a YouTube creator looking to earn revenue, unlisted videos won’t generate ad revenue since they aren’t publicly discoverable.
• Does Not Boost Channel Growth: Since unlisted videos don’t appear in search results, recommendations, or on your channel, they won’t help you gain subscribers or increase engagement.
• Limited Privacy Control: Unlike private videos, where only invited users can access them, unlisted videos can be easily shared with unintended audiences.
• Not Secure for Confidential Information: If you’re sharing sensitive business or personal information, an unlisted video might not be the best option, as it can still be accessed if the link gets leaked.

When Should You Set Youtube Videos to Private?

In fact, the private mode is the setting with the highest privacy level on Youtube, and the followings are three popular cases that you are advised to set the video to private:

Your video is created for family only

When you live far from your family or have a holiday and want to share what you have experienced with your family, the private video will be your best option. You can share high-quality videos with them simply and rapidly, and no one else can see your clips. Also, it is unnecessary for your family members to download the video before seeing.

Your video is made for only members in your company or organization

Actually, video is an efficient tool to help viewers get the information in the shortest time so it is usually taken advantage of by plentiful companies and organizations. These videos can be about a guide of training new members, company’s policy, or any update in the company’s strategies. These content are for internal circulation only so that uploading video with the private mode is always considered the best resolution for this situation. By doing that, your content will never be leaked and can be put in a separate album.

Your video is used for applying jobs or attracting new clients

Several years ago, video resumes became the trend among candidates since it will make them outstanding in the list of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of applicants. By sending the recruitment team your CV in the form of videos, you will help them save lots of time for reading and they are also more likely to be impressed by your creativity and profession.

Moreover, this kind of video is only available if people receive the invitation of the uploader, so that there is no need for leaking personal information. The receiver, in this case, the HR, will simply click on the link and see your resume without downloading anything. Likewise, there will no longer be any error or problems in terms of formatting due to the differences among different devices.

If you are a videographer, making customers satisfied with your video is the keypoint, so sending them your video is unavoidable. Nevertheless, not all videos should be public, the issue related to copyright is also the concern of the author. Particularly in the sensitive topic, your video can cause dozens of negative feedback from strangers. In this case, private videos are exactly the perfect tool. After posting your own private video, you can send it to your potential clients directly and only they can see it.

When Should You Set Youtube Videos to Unlisted?

In some aspects, Unlisted video is the mixture of Public videos and private video since it can be seen in the search result, uploader’s channel or the subscriber newsfeed but anyone who has the link will have the right to watch it. Furthermore, unlisted videos are somehow treated like public ones. For example, your videos will be flagged if its content is inappropriate or violate the copyright audio, video policy.

This, hence, makes some people feel annoyed with it, so in this section, we will recommend several suitable situations for Unlisted videos.

Your video is posted on your website

If you are running a blog or website, this feature will be extremely useful when you want to make your content exclusive. By switching to the unlisted one, your videos will be invisible in Google and Youtube. Thus, the only way to watch your videos is to visit your web, which helps you increase your traffic driven to your page significantly.

You want to remove videos from your channel

Many people started using Youtube very early, so your channel sometimes includes several videos that you feel embarrassed when being mature. This, of course, makes you want to delete them immediately. However, what should you do if you still want people who have its links to watch it whenever you want? Let’s change it to the unlisted setting. Your unlisted videos will be invisible in your Youtube channels with visitors but visible with people having the link.

You want to do some surveys before publicizing

It is a helpful tip for the uploaders to increase the rate of positive feedback in your video’s comment. You can send to people you want in advance, and you will see how people will react to your video if you switch to the public one. Thus, when publicizing, you will know how to deal with the feedback from your viewers professionally, and your viewers will somehow have better impressions about your channel. It’s an effective way to share clips and music between fans and singers.

You have to publish your video in suitable time

If you are working as a social media marketer, publishing your post at a suitable time is crucial to obtain attention from the crowd. It can be a certain time in day or certain day in weeks. However, it is pretty confusing to wait for that time and publish. Instead, you can upload your video in unlisted mode and schedule time for publicizing.

Additionally, you have two options to schedule time for video which are directly from Youtube or on other platforms for social media distribution.

Perhaps all of you are familiar with it on such platforms as Faceook but not aware of this feature on Youtube. And now, you know that, so don’t waste it!

Conclusion

Overall, it can be said that each type of video setting: private or unlisted, all has its features and advantages. Thus, your mission is to analyze your case and decide which one is for you. We hope that this post will help you find suitable settings for specific situations. Whether it is private or unlisted, or even public, try to achieve the best result as you set before.

If you have any questions or advice on the cases and time for the unlisted and private video, don’t hesitate to share with us by leaving a comment below this post.

FAQs

Who can see a private YouTube video?

Only the people you specifically invite via their email can watch a private YouTube video. It does not appear in search results, your channel, or recommendations.

Can unlisted YouTube videos be seen by anyone?

No, only people with the link can watch an unlisted video. It does not appear in search results or on your channel, but anyone who gets the link can share it with others.

Do you lose views if you unlist a video?

No, unlisting a video does not reset the view count. The views remain, and if you make it public again, the previous views are still there.

What happens when you private a video on YouTube?

The video becomes invisible to everyone except you and those you’ve invited. It no longer appears in search results, on your channel, or in recommendations. If it was previously public or unlisted, any existing links will no longer work.

How to fix “This Video is Private” on YouTube?

If you or someone else is seeing the “This video is private” message, here’s how to fix it:

• Step 1: Change privacy settings – Go to YouTube Studio → Content → Edit video → Change Private to Unlisted or Public → Save.
• Step 2: Check access – If sharing privately, ensure the viewer’s email is added and they are logged into the correct Google account.
• Step 3: Resend the invitation – Remove and re-add the invited email if access issues persist.

How to share private YouTube videos?

To share a private YouTube video, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Go to YouTube Studio → Content → Select the private video.
• Step 2: Click “Edit Details” → Visibility → Private → Share Privately.
• Step 3: Enter email addresses of people you want to share with → Done → Save.

Note: Viewers must be logged into the invited Google account. Private videos cannot be shared via a link.