How YouTube Search works YouTube Help

To estimate relevance, we look into many factors, such as how well the title, tags, description and video content match your search query. We look at overall user engagement, such as the watch time of a particular video for a particular query to determine if the video is considered relevant to the query by other users. When your search query is identified as seeking this type of content, search result thumbnails will be blurred by default. This gives you a moment to review the results before deciding to view the video.

Managing potentially sensitive search results

You’ll still see the video title, channel name and details, helping you to decide if it’s what you’re looking for. If you prefer to view the thumbnails as usual, you’ll always have the option to turn off blurring. In addition to the three key elements, we strive to deliver personally relevant search results.

This gives you a moment to review the results before deciding to view the video.
Without a robust search function, finding what you need would be nearly impossible.
YouTube has a tremendous amount of video content – over 500 hours are uploaded every minute!

Managing potentially sensitive search results

That’s why your search results might differ from another user’s search results for the same query.
We look at overall user engagement, such as the watch time of a particular video for a particular query to determine if the video is considered relevant to the query by other users.
When your search query is identified as seeking this type of content, search result thumbnails will be blurred by default.
To help you discover content safely, we’ve implemented measures for search queries that might lead to potentially sensitive or graphic content.
You’ll still see the video title, channel name and details, helping you to decide if it’s what you’re looking for.
If you prefer to view the thumbnails as usual, you’ll always have the option to turn off blurring.

Without a robust search function, finding what you need would be nearly impossible. That’s why YouTube’s search ranking system is designed to help you quickly find what you’re looking for. To help you discover content safely, we’ve implemented measures for search queries that might lead to potentially sensitive or graphic content.