How to Find and Watch Deleted YouTube Videos in 2026
Have you ever tried to play a video on YouTube but found that the video is no longer available? Either taken down or the whole channel disappeared. So annoying, right? This happens all the time. Sometimes it’s a copyright thing, sometimes the creator just wipes their account, or maybe it’s just a slip-up. But don’t worry, not all is lost. There are ways to track down these deleted YouTube videos, watch them again, or even save them before they vanish. In this article, we will explore how you can find and watch deleted YouTube videos easily in 2026.
Why Do YouTube Videos Get Deleted?
YouTube videos don’t vanish randomly. There’s usually a clear reason behind it. Knowing what causes videos to get deleted can help you understand why something you liked suddenly disappeared. Here are the most common reasons:
- Copyright Violations: YouTube takes down videos that infringe on copyrighted content, like music, movies, or clips from other creators. Even short clips can trigger removal if the original owner reports it.
- Community Guideline Strikes: Videos that break YouTube’s rules, such as hate speech, violence, adult content, or harmful behavior, can be removed. Repeated violations can even lead to the channel being terminated.
- Uploader or Account Deletions: Sometimes creators remove videos themselves, either to rebrand, update content, or protect their privacy. In other cases, if a YouTube account is deleted or suspended, all the videos from that account disappear too. Personal reasons or copyright concerns can also lead to videos being taken down.
- Privacy Concerns: Some videos are taken down if they contain personal information, sensitive content, or if someone requests removal under privacy rights.
- Technical or Upload Issues: Occasionally, videos are removed due to errors during upload, corruption, or issues with YouTube’s systems.
Knowing why videos disappear is the first step in figuring out how to recover or find them elsewhere.
How to Find Deleted YouTube Videos Link?
Looking for a deleted YouTube video can feel tricky, but it’s not impossible. With the right approach and tools, you might be able to track it down. The first step is getting the video’s URL. This is key for most recovery methods. Here is how to find Deleted YouTube Videos Link?
Check Your Browser History: Open your browser history and search for the video title. In Chrome, go to Menu → History. If you find it, click it or copy the link from the address bar.
Look in YouTube Playlists: If the video was part of a playlist, open that playlist. Click the three-dot menu and select “Show unavailable videos.” The deleted video should appear, usually labeled “Deleted video.” Copy its URL.
Once you have the link, you can try tools like the Wayback Machine, Google Cache, or Filmot to see if a snapshot or reupload exists.
How to Find Deleted YouTube Videos
Deleted YouTube videos can be frustrating, but there are multiple ways to try to recover them. The first thing you need is the video’s URL; it’s key for most tools. Once you have it, you can explore archives, caches, alternative platforms, or even contact creators. Each method works differently, and some are better for popular videos, while others are for niche content. Below are 10 methods explained in a simple, step-by-step way, so even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can follow along and hopefully recover your lost videos.
Method 1: Watch Deleted YouTube Videos with Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine is like a time machine for the internet. It stores snapshots of web pages, so even if a YouTube video is deleted, the page might still exist there. While it doesn’t always save the actual video file, it often keeps the page layout, title, description, and comments. This can help you figure out details or find a reupload. It’s completely free and easy to use, and even if the video doesn’t play, you’ll often find clues about it. Popular videos have a higher chance of being archived. Here is how to do it;
-
Step 1: Visit
archive.org/web
(Wayback Machine).
- Step 2: Paste the deleted video’s URL into the search box.
- Step 3: Browse the calendar and choose a date when the video was online.
- Step 4: Click the date to view the archived page.
Method 2: View Deleted YouTube Videos with Google Cache
Google sometimes keeps cached copies of pages it indexes. It’s hit-or-miss, but for popular or recently uploaded videos, this can work. Cached pages may show the video’s title, description, and other details, which can help you find a reupload elsewhere. Even if the video doesn’t play, Google Cache is a quick and easy way to check if the page was saved. It’s simple to try, and you don’t need any special tools or accounts. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Go to Google.com.
- Step 2: Type cache:youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID (replace VIDEO_ID with the video’s code).
- Step 3: Press Enter to view the cached page if available.
- Step 4: If that doesn’t work, search the video title or ID in quotes to see related pages or posts.
Method 3: Find Deleted YouTube Videos with Filmot
Filmot is a search engine that specializes in YouTube content. It indexes video metadata, subtitles, and even some unlisted videos. While it won’t play the video directly, it helps you track down video listings that other search engines might miss. You can often discover video details like the title, description, or channel, which can lead you to a reupload. Filmot is especially helpful for moderately popular videos that might not appear in archives or caches. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Go to the Filmot website.
-
Step 2: Enter keywords, video titles, or subtitles related to the missing video.
- Step 3: Browse the results to see if the video or channel appears.
- Step 4: Use the information you find to search further or find a reupload.
Method 4: Find Deleted YouTube Videos with RemovedEDM
RemovedEDM is a community archive for deleted videos from electronic dance music channels. It’s limited in scope but can be very effective if the video fits the supported channels. Even if it doesn’t help for other types of content, it’s a simple and free option for EDM enthusiasts. You can check archived uploads and see if the video you want is saved there. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Go to removededm.com.
-
Step 2: Browse the list of supported channels or use the search icon.
- Step 3: Select the channel that uploaded the deleted video.
- Step 4: Look through archived uploads to find your video.
Method 5: Find Deleted YouTube Videos with Reddit
Reddit has communities that specialize in lost media, including deleted YouTube videos. Subreddits like r/LostMedia, r/DataHoarder, or r/TipOfMyTongue can be very helpful. Users often archive or download rare videos and can share information about where to find them. Reddit is especially useful for obscure or niche videos that may not appear in archives or search engines. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Post a request with the video’s details (title, channel, URL, deletion date).
- Step 2: Check existing posts in the subreddits for similar videos.
- Step 3: Engage respectfully with users and provide any additional details if requested.
- Step 4: Explore other communities like Discord or Telegram if Reddit doesn’t help.
Method 6: Find Deleted YouTube Videos on Alternative Platforms
Creators often mirror or re-upload content on other video platforms. Searching on sites like Vimeo, Dailymotion, BitChute, or Odysee can help you locate deleted YouTube videos. Even if the video was removed from YouTube, it might exist elsewhere, especially popular or educational content. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Open alternative platforms like Vimeo, Dailymotion, BitChute, or Odysee.
- Step 2: Search using the video title, channel name, or keywords.
- Step 3: Add terms like “reupload” or “mirror” to narrow results.
- Step 4: Check fan pages, social media, or community uploads for matches.
Method 7: Find Deleted YouTube Videos with YouTube Playlist Forensics
If the deleted video was in a playlist, YouTube lets you see unavailable videos. This method helps you retrieve the video’s URL even if the video itself won’t play. It’s useful for videos you’ve saved or followed in playlists. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Open the playlist containing the video.
- Step 2: Click the three-dot menu → “Show unavailable videos.”
- Step 3: Find the deleted video (grayed out or labeled “Deleted”).
- Step 4: Copy the URL from the address bar to use in other recovery methods.
Method 8: Find Deleted YouTube Videos by Contacting the Creator
Sometimes the simplest solution is to ask the creator. If they still have the original file, they might re-upload it or share it privately. Being polite and clear about your request increases your chances. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Find the creator’s contact info on YouTube or social media.
- Step 2: Politely request the video and explain why you want it.
- Step 3: Respect their privacy if they decline.
- Step 4: Check if they offer alternative uploads or links.
Method 9: Find Deleted YouTube Videos by Contacting YouTube Support Team
YouTube keeps some internal backups, mainly for partners. If you qualify, support might help retrieve deleted videos, though it’s rare and slow. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Be a YouTube Partner with 10,000+ subscribers.
-
Step 2: Go to Help → “Need more help?” → “Get creator support.”
- Step 3: Submit the deleted video URL and explain why you need it.
- Step 4: Wait for YouTube to check internal archives (no guarantee).
Method 10: Find Deleted YouTube Videos with Professional Data Recovery Services
If the video was once on your device, data recovery tools can help restore it. This works if you recorded, downloaded, or saved it previously. Here is how to do it;
- Step 1: Install a reliable recovery program like Wondershare Recoverit.
- Step 2: Scan the device where the video was saved.
- Step 3: Check scan results for lost video files.
- Step 4: Recover the file to a safe location.
How to Protect Your Favorite YouTube Videos from Being Deleted
It’s always annoying when a video you love disappears from YouTube. Sometimes it’s taken down by the creator, sometimes by YouTube, and other times you’re not even sure why. Once it’s gone, finding it again is tricky, so the easiest way to avoid that disappointment is to save the videos you like before they disappear.
One simple way to do this is by downloading them. YT Saver YouTube Downloader is a tool that makes this really easy. With it, you can save YouTube videos straight to your computer, keeping them safe and ready to watch anytime. It even lets you download videos in high quality, up to 8K, so you don’t lose any detail. YT Saver works on YouTube and 10,000+ other video and music websites. Just a few clicks and your favorite videos are backed up, letting you watch them offline without worrying about them disappearing.
- Easily download YouTube videos in high resolution up to 4K/8K
- Works with YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and 10,000+ other video and music websites
- Download entire playlists or multiple videos at once with a single click
- Extract audio up to 320kbps (MP3) or save videos in formats like MP4, MOV, MP3, and more, with support for 20+ output formats
- Features a built-in browser and turbo-fast mode for smooth, ad-free, and malware-free downloading
▼ Steps to Download YouTube Videos with YT Saver Downloader
Step 1 Download and install YT Saver on your computer.
Step 2 Open YouTube and go to the playlist you want to download. Copy the video’s URL from the browser’s address bar.
Step 3 Open YT Saver and click the “Settings” button in the top-right corner. Under the Download tab, choose whether you want to save video or audio, select the resolution or quality, and pick the folder where the file will be saved. The default format is MP4, but you can use the “Download and Convert to” option to choose another format.
Step 4 Click the “Paste URL” button in YT Saver. The program will automatically analyze the link, so you don’t need to paste anything manually.
Step 5 Once the analysis is complete, the download starts automatically. When finished, go to the “Downloaded” section to access your file, ready to watch offline.
Final Words
Finding deleted YouTube videos isn’t always easy, but it’s not impossible either. Tools like the Wayback Machine, Google Cache, video archives, and even online communities can sometimes help you track down missing content. Each method works differently, so trying more than one usually gives you better odds. Just make sure you stay on the right side of copyright and platform rules while doing it. That said, the safest option is still prevention. If a video actually matters to you, downloading it ahead of time saves a lot of frustration later. Once it’s on your device, it can’t suddenly disappear.
This is where YT Saver YouTube Downloader comes in. It’s a simple, reliable tool that lets you download your favorite videos and keep them forever. No guessing. No searching archives. Just save the video once and watch it anytime, even if YouTube removes it.