What Does Unlisted Mean on YouTube

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Local SEO Services and explain what does unlisted mean on youtube, to help you manage privacy and audience strategy with each upload.

When you upload a video to YouTube, you can choose from three main privacy settings: Public, Private, and Unlisted. Each controls who can view your content and how it appears across the platform.

An unlisted video on YouTube is a video that does not appear in public areas of the platform, such as search results, channel pages, or subscriber feeds. However, anyone with the direct link can still watch it. This makes it a useful middle ground between private and public visibility.

In simple terms, an unlisted video is hidden from the general YouTube audience but accessible to anyone who has the link, even if they don’t have a YouTube account.

How Unlisted Videos Work

When you mark a video as unlisted, YouTube removes it from all searchable areas of the site. That means it won’t appear in your channel listings, recommendations, or public playlists.

The only way for someone to watch it is through a direct link you share. For example, you might send the link via email, embed it on your website, or share it privately with clients or colleagues.

This makes unlisted videos ideal for content that you want to control without fully restricting access.

How to Make a Video Unlisted

1. Log in to your YouTube account.

2. Click on your profile icon and select YouTube Studio.

3. From the left-hand menu, choose Content to view your uploads.

4. Find the video you want to edit and click Visibility next to it.

5. Select Unlisted from the dropdown menu and click Save.

Your video will now be hidden from search results and your public channel view, but anyone with the link will still be able to access it.

When to Use the Unlisted Setting

Unlisted videos can be helpful in several situations where you want control over who sees your content without making it fully private.

• Sharing with clients or partners: Businesses often upload unlisted videos to share presentations, drafts, or unapproved versions of campaigns for internal review.

• Training or educational materials: If your company provides video tutorials meant for staff or a specific group, unlisted videos keep them accessible without public exposure.

• Limited-release marketing content: You might use unlisted videos to share early access or promotional content with selected customers before a full public launch.

• Embedding on websites: Unlisted videos can be embedded on a company website without cluttering your YouTube channel.

Difference Between Unlisted, Public, and Private Videos

Understanding how unlisted videos differ from other privacy options helps you choose the right setting for your purpose.

• Public Videos: Visible to everyone, appear in search results, and can be shared freely. Ideal for marketing, tutorials, and brand visibility.

• Private Videos: Only accessible to specific users you invite by email. They cannot be shared or embedded. Best for confidential or personal content.

• Unlisted Videos: Hidden from search results but viewable by anyone with the link. Perfect for limited sharing or pre-release content.

Can Unlisted Videos Be Shared

Yes, but only through the link. Anyone with the URL can share it further, so if privacy is crucial, use the Private setting instead.

Unlisted videos do not provide the same level of control as private videos because you can’t restrict access once the link is distributed. If you share it with one person and they pass it along, others will also be able to watch it.

Can You Monetise Unlisted Videos

Yes, unlisted videos can still be monetised if they meet YouTube’s monetisation requirements. However, since they don’t appear in search results or recommendations, their reach and ad views may be limited compared to public videos.

Are Unlisted Videos Indexed by Google

No, unlisted YouTube videos are not indexed by Google or other search engines. This ensures that people can’t find them through standard search queries. However, if the video is embedded on a public webpage, it could still appear in search results via that page’s index.

How to Change an Unlisted Video Back to Public or Private

If you change your mind about visibility, you can easily adjust a video’s privacy settings.

1. Go to YouTube Studio.

2. Click Content in the left-hand menu.

3. Find your unlisted video.

4. Click Visibility and choose either Public or Private.

5. Save your changes.

This update takes effect immediately, and your video will move to the new visibility status.

When Not to Use Unlisted Videos

Unlisted videos are not suitable for sensitive or confidential information. Because anyone with the link can share it, they should not be used for private communications or company data.

Also, if your goal is to grow your channel and attract organic views, unlisted videos won’t help since they don’t appear in search results or recommendations.

Advantages of Using Unlisted Videos

• Easy to share with selected audiences.

• Keeps your channel organised by hiding non-promotional content.

• Works well for behind-the-scenes or temporary uploads.

• Allows embedding without affecting public SEO performance.

Disadvantages of Unlisted Videos

• No strict control once the link is shared.

• Limited reach and engagement.

• Not suitable for confidential or exclusive material.

Final Thoughts

Understanding what “unlisted” means on YouTube helps you manage your content more effectively. It’s a flexible privacy option that balances visibility and control, allowing you to share videos with specific audiences without making them fully public. Whether you’re testing new ideas, sharing private presentations, or embedding videos on your website, using the unlisted setting ensures your content reaches the right people while staying off the public feed.

We have also written in depth articles on what does subscribe mean on youtube and why can't i click on youtube videos as well as our YouTube Hub to give you further guidance.