Search in YouTube Kids

How to use the Search feature

When the Search feature is turned on, your child can search for new videos that interest them on YouTube Kids.

On a computer:

  • Enter a search term in the search bar and click Search to find videos.

In the YouTube Kids mobile app:

  • Tap Search to enter a search term
  • Tap Search and then Mic to do a Voice Search

In YouTube Kids on TV:

  • Tap Search to enter a search term
  • Tap Search and then Press to talk to do a Voice Search

Note: Voice Search is only available in the YouTube Kids mobile app and YouTube Kids on TV when you enter through the YouTube app.

Voice Search uses visual feedback by displaying waves created by the sound of your voice to indicate that the device can hear you. Audio files are only kept long enough to transcribe the search query before the file is deleted.

Search results

The videos displayed in search results are selected by our algorithm without human review. Search results may also include recommended videos based on what your kid has previously watched and terms they’ve searched for.

We’ve taken various precautions to make sure that families searching for content will get results that are appropriate for younger audiences. We screen content available through Search using a mix of automated analysis and user input. We’re also continuously making improvements based on new technology, research, and user feedback. If you want to restrict your child to a more limited set of videos, you can turn off the Search feature.

Note: YouTube handles tremendous breadth, depth, and scale of content. So while we work hard to get it right, there’s always a chance your child will find content you don’t want them to watch. If this happens, you can report the video. We use this info to improve YouTube Kids for everyone.

Turn off the Search feature

With Search turned off, your child can’t search for videos. Your child will also be limited to videos and channels verified by YouTube Kids. With the Search feature turned on, your child can search for new videos that interest them from the millions available in YouTube Kids.

Note: Keep in mind that there’s a chance your child may find something you don't want them to watch. You can report this content for our quick review.

To turn off Search from YouTube Kids on your computer:

  1. Select the Lock in the corner of your screen.
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child’s profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Switch “Search” to off.

To turn off Search from the YouTube Kids app: 

  1. Tap Settings  in the corner of your screen.
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child's profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Switch “Search”  off.

To turn off Search from YouTube on a computer:

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your computer.
  2. Click your profile picture .
  3. Click Settings .
  4. Scroll down to Family Center and click Manage kids profiles and features for teens.
  5. Select your child’s profile or account.
  6. Switch “Search” to off.

To turn off Search from the YouTube app:

  1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
  2. Tap You in the bottom right-hand corner.
  3. Tap Settings .
  4. Tap Family Center.
  5. Select your child’s profile or account.
  6. Switch “Search” to off

If you turn off Search, the watch and search history for your kid’s YouTube Kids profile will be cleared. Recommended videos and Watch it again will also be reset.

Pause search history

When search history is paused, YouTube Kids won’t use terms searched for as signals for:

  • Recommendations on the homepage,
  • Recommendations in search results, and
  • Watch it again videos.

To pause your child’s search history from YouTube Kids:

  1. Select the Lock in the corner of your screen.
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child’s profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Switch “Pause search history” on.

To pause your child's search history from the YouTube Kids app: 

  1.  Tap Settings  in the corner of the screen. 
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child's profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Switch Pause search history on.

To pause your child’s search history from YouTube on a computer:

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your computer.
  2. Click your profile picture .
  3. Click Settings .
  4. Scroll down to Family Center and click Manage kids profiles and features for teens.
  5. Select your child’s profile or account.
  6. Switch “Pause search history” on.

To pause your child's search history from the YouTube app:

  1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
  2. Tap You in the bottom right-hand corner.
  3. Tap Settings .
  4. Tap Family Center.
  5. Select your child’s profile or account.
  6. Switch “Pause search history” on.

Clear history

When you clear history, the app will reset Recommended and Watch it again.

To clear history from YouTube Kids on your computer:

  1. Select the Lock in the corner of your screen.
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child’s profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Select CLEAR HISTORY.
  5. To save your changes, select OK.

To clear history from the YouTube Kids app: 

  1.  Tap Settings  in the corner of the screen. 
  2. Complete the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
  3. Select your child's profile and enter your parent account password.
  4. Tap CLEAR HISTORY.

To clear history from YouTube on a computer:

  1. Sign in to YouTube on your computer.
  2. Click your profile picture .
  3. Click Settings .
  4. Scroll down to Family Center and click Manage kids profiles and features for teens.
  5. Select your child’s profile or account.
  6. Select Clear history.
  7. To save your changes, select CLEAR.

To clear history from the YouTube app:

  1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
  2. Tap You in the bottom right-hand corner.
  3. Tap Settings .
  4. Tap Family Center.
  5. Select your child's profile or account.
  6. Select Clear history.
  7. To save your changes, select CLEAR.

Blocked search results

When searching on YouTube Kids, you may get this error message: “Try searching for something else!”

To make YouTube Kids a family-friendly environment, we may block results for search terms that are vulnerable to returning mature results. Occasionally search terms may be blocked that aren’t necessarily inappropriate for younger audiences. If this happens, send us feedback.

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