How to See YouTube Wrapped: A Complete Guide
Have you ever wondered how much time you’ve spent watching YouTube this year? Or who your most-watched creator is? If you’re like many fans of YouTube, you might be curious about your personal YouTube Wrapped. It’s a fun way to look back at your viewing habits!
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
YouTube itself doesn’t offer an official “Wrapped” feature like Spotify, but you can still see your annual stats. Use YouTube’s Watch History and third-party tools like Spotify-style Wrapped generators. You need to have your watch history turned on. Looking back at your year on YouTube is both fun and a little eye-opening!
What Is YouTube Wrapped?
YouTube Wrapped is like a highlight reel of your year on YouTube. It can include:
- Most-watched channels
- Top videos
- Total watch time
- Your favorite topics
While YouTube doesn’t officially offer a Wrapped feature (yet), there are workarounds to see your stats.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Watch History Is Turned On
This is important! YouTube needs to know what you’ve been watching to give you your stats. If your Watch History is off, you won’t be able to access your detailed records.
To check:
- Go to YouTube.com and log in to your account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select “Your data in YouTube”.
- Scroll to “YouTube Watch History”.
- Make sure it’s turned ON.
If it’s not on, you can turn it on, but keep in mind that stats from when it was off won’t be included.
Step 2: Use YouTube’s Built-in Tools
While there’s no “Wrapped” per se, you can get a lot of info directly from YouTube. Here’s what to do:
Your Watch Time Stats
Go to your account dashboard:
- Click your profile picture.
- Click “Time watched”.
This page shows:
- Daily and weekly watch time
- Average daily time
- Time spent watching from mobile and desktop
Not quite a “Wrapped,” but still cool, right?
Step 3: Try a YouTube Wrapped Generator
This is the fun part. Several websites let you connect your YouTube account (or upload your data) to create a visual, Spotify-wrapped-style summary.
Popular tools include:
- Vizzu – For interactive data visualizations
- YouTube Rewind Generator – Fan-made but very fun
- Stats for Nerds – More detailed, less visual
Keep in mind: Some of these tools ask you to upload your YouTube data. That leads us to the next step!
Step 4: Download Your YouTube Data
If you want to go deep, you can request a copy of all your YouTube data from Google. Here’s how:
- Go to Google Takeout.
- Deselect all, then scroll and select only YouTube and YouTube Music.
- Click Next Step.
- Choose your download format and method (email, drive, etc.).
- Export! It may take a while.
Once you have the file, upload it to one of the Wrapped apps or sort through it yourself if you’re tech-savvy.
Step 5: Create Your Own “YouTube Wrapped”
If you want full control, get creative! You can make your own Wrapped by collecting stats manually or using spreadsheet templates.
Some ideas:
- Top 10 creators you watched
- Total minutes watched
- Favorite video genre
- Date you watched the most videos
Put your stats into a slideshow, graphic, or even make a video about it!
Bonus: Mobile vs Desktop Stats
YouTube separates some stats between mobile and desktop. This can help you see how your watching habits differ depending on the device. You might be surprised to find you’re a nighttime phone scroller or a lunch-break video binger!
Can You Share Your YouTube Wrapped?
Absolutely! That’s half the fun. Once you’ve got your stats, take a screenshot or download the Wrapped to share on social media. Tag your favorite creators while you’re at it!
Other Tips and Tricks
Here are a few extra things to keep in mind:
- Clear history? No Wrapped for you! If you frequently clear your watch history, stats from deleted data won’t be available.
- Use YouTube Music? You can get a music Wrapped from there too!
- Got multiple accounts? You’ll have to repeat the process for each one.
Will YouTube Ever Make an Official Wrapped?
We hope so! Spotify Wrapped is a huge hit, and YouTube creators and viewers often ask for something similar. Maybe someday soon we’ll get a beautiful, personalized Wrapped straight from YouTube.
Until then, the DIY route is pretty fun too.
Final Thoughts
Looking back at your YouTube habits is a cool way to reflect on what made you laugh, learn, cry, or cringe this year. Whether you use a tool, dive into Google Takeout, or craft your own infographic, your YouTube Wrapped can show you just how far down the rabbit hole you went.
So go ahead—dig in, get curious, and enjoy your year in review. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even surprise yourself!
