Wednesday, October 5, 2016

How to upload videos and manage the YouTube app for Android

How do I upload to YouTube on Android?

Watching videos and subscribing to channels is what YouTube's all about, but there's so much more you can do, like uploading your own videos, messaging other YouTubers, and all those settings that'll help make your experience more enjoyable and help keep your data usage to a minimum.

Here's how to manage YouTube so that it works for you.

How to upload videos

You can upload video straight from your phone to the YouTube app.

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the account button. It looks like a person.

  3. Tap My Videos.

  4. Tap the upload button. It's an upward arrow with a line under it.
  5. Tap an existing video or tap the video button at the top of your screen to take video.

  6. Enter a title and description for your video.

  7. Tap the dropdown menu under Privacy.
  8. Tap a privacy option:
    • Public: Anyone can search for and view your video
    • Unlisted: Anyone with a link can view your video but won't find it in a search
    • Private: Only you can view your video

  9. Tap the next button on the top right of your screen. It's the arrow.

Depending on the length of your video and your internet connection, it could take anywhere from seconds to an hour to upload.

How to change upload network preferences

You can set whether or not you want to upload videos when not connected to Wi-Fi. If you don't want to eat up too much data, you'll want to upload only when connected to Wi-Fi.

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap General.
  5. Tap Uploads.

  6. Tap either Only when on Wi-Fi or On any network.

How to limit mobile data usage

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap General.

  5. Tap the switch next to Limit mobile data usage. When enabled, you'll only be able to stream in HD when connected to Wi-Fi.

How to manage notifications

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.
  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap Notifications.

  5. Tap the switch next to each notifications setting you'd like to disable.
  6. Tap Subscriptions: Notify me via.

  7. Tap Push and email, Push only, or Email only.

How to disable Autoplay

Do you find it ridiculously annoying when you've played a video and the next suggested video starts immediately after? You can turn that off.

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap General.

  5. Tap the switch next to Autoplay.

How to enable/disable Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode is a way to filter content that may be deemed inappropriate for children. It can get a little annoying, though, if you enjoy reading the comments, since it hides those by default (because YouTube comments).

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap General.

  5. Tap the switch next to Restricted Mode to enable/disable it.

How to change content location

You won't be able to view region-locked content, since that has more to do with your Google account and other factors, but you can change what videos might be suggested for you, as well as what ads you see.

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap General.
  5. Tap Content location.

  6. Tap a region.

How to clear your history

You can't really watch anything lewd on YouTube, but if you need to clear your search or watch history, you have the option.

  1. Launch YouTube from your home screen or the app drawer.
  2. Tap the more button on the top right of your screen. It's the three vertical dots.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap Privacy.
  5. Tap either Clear watch history or Clear search history (or both).

  6. Tap OK when prompted.

Questions?

Let us know in the comments below!