Categories: Youtube

YouTube Unlisted vs Private

When you are about to upload a video to YouTube, you will get three options, either to save or publish your video on YouTube. The privacy settings for that video are Public, Unlisted, and Private. In this article, we are going to look at Unlisted vs Private YouTube videos and see how each one can benefit your business differently.

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YouTube Unlisted vs Private

YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google, it is a great platform to showcase your video skills and post your favorite videos. However, oftentimes you don’t want the entire YouTube world to see them.

Do you ever wonder what is the actual difference between an unlisted video and the private one on YouTube? First of all, you should determine the level of security of your YouTube videos, and what is the purpose to upload them on YouTube? Whether you want to upload a video for your friends and family only or do you have a public channel and you often upload a video for everyone to see and get millions of views on your channel? Many questions come into your mind, so let’s try to have a closer look at this.

What is the difference between Unlisted and Private YouTube Videos?

Before we talk about the difference between unlisted and private videos, let me explain to you the third option that YouTube offers when it comes to uploading videos on YouTube. Apart from unlisted and private, there is a third option you have through which you can upload videos on YouTube, and that is “Public.”

Public YouTube Videos

Public video is the default setting and it means that anybody can see your video on YouTube. If you are comfortable uploading a video as Public and do not mind if it’s coming up in the Google search results, go with the public setting.

Most of the creators upload their videos as “Public” so they get some good advantages as mentioned herein below:

When you upload a video as Public, you will have a good chance to gain a subscribers count for your channel. Also, you will get more views, and more views mean more revenue.
Public videos can make a good impact on your brand awareness.
It can make you a popular and known face on YouTube.
You will be able to develop a huge fan base on YouTube.
It is profitable with the right company or creative strategy.

Apart from the above advantages, there are few disadvantages as well when you upload a video as “Public.”

Public video often attracts trolls.
If you upload a compromising video on YouTube, it may risk your future job prospects on the platform.
Anyone can find your YouTube videos.

Unlisted YouTube Videos

An unlisted video is neither public nor private, the setting of the unlisted video is somewhat of a cross between private and public. Viewers can’t find an unlisted video in the search results, subscriber feeds, suggestions videos, and browser tabs. However, unlisted videos can be seen and shared by anyone who is having a link to that video.

Advantages of Unlisted Video

If you want to share your videos with a specific person or a small group of people, but you don’t want the video to have appeared in the search results, then you can be unlisted that YouTube video.

You can share the video without appearing it in the search results.
If you want to share your portfolio with a specific group of people, then an unlisted video will be the best option for you.
You can get a review of a video by unlisted it, from a specific group of people before going to publish it publicly.

Disadvantages of Unlisted Video

The Unlisted videos sometimes end up shared on other websites.
Unlisted videos will appear publicly if they are on a playlist.

Private YouTube Videos

Private video is the most secure video on YouTube. It can only make visible to those whom you invited (maximum up to 50). Private videos don’t appear anywhere on YouTube, including YouTube recommendations, search results, and video tab sections.

Further, even invitees can’t share the video with other people, even they have the link to the video. No one can see the video unless you invite them.

Advantages of Private Video

This option is quite useful if you want to share a very personal video with anyone. For example, you have a secret project and you do not want to share it with anyone except your boss, then YouTube Private is ideal for you.

If you want to share the video only with your loved ones.
You can make your own private video library.
Private video is such an important option if you want to store some confidential strategies of yours and want to share with your company’s employees only.
You can save tons of videos as Private, without occupying the space of your mobile device.

Disadvantages of Unlisted Video

A private video cannot be seen by anyone until you invite them.
The video link alone is not enough at all.

How to change video Privacy Settings

You can change your video privacy settings anytime. Even after you published a video.

Below are the steps that you need to follow to set up or change your video privacy settings, while you upload the video on YouTube.

Step 1: Log in to your YouTube account, and click on the “Create” button which looks like a camera icon on the top right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Select the video that you want to upload. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the video file to upload.

Step 3: Lastly, under the visibility section, you can select the video to Save or Publish. You can simply make your video Public, Unlisted, or Private by select the option next to it.