Learn how to see who you first subscribed to on YouTube in 2025. Step-by-step guide to find your oldest subscriptions and check exact subscription dates.
In 2025, YouTube has refined the ways users can track and manage their subscriptions, providing more tools to view historical activity and understand engagement trends. Knowing who you first subscribed to is useful for revisiting favorite creators, analyzing your content interests, and organizing your subscription history efficiently.
Curious about your first YouTube subscription? Maybe you’re reminiscing about that channel that started your YouTube journey, or you want to tidy up your YouTube subscription history. Whatever the reason, knowing how to see first subscribed to on YouTube can be surprisingly satisfying—and more straightforward than it seems.
Over the past few years, YouTube has grown exponentially, with over 2.6 billion logged-in monthly users as of 2025. That means your subscription list could be huge, and finding that very first channel can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But with the right steps and a bit of patience, you can uncover your earliest subscription and even see the exact date you joined that channel.
Why Your First Subscription Matters
Your first YouTube subscription isn’t just a trivial number—it tells a story. Perhaps it’s a creator who introduced you to gaming tutorials, DIY hacks, or educational content. Revisiting that subscription can help you:
- Track your content interests over time.
- Understand how your YouTube recommendations algorithm has evolved.
- Decide which channels are worth keeping or removing from your oldest YouTube subscriptions list.
Knowing the YouTube subscribe date is also useful if you’re managing multiple channels or analyzing how your account has grown.
Quick Insight: Can You See the Date Directly on YouTube?
Here’s the catch: YouTube’s platform, both web and mobile, doesn’t directly show the exact date you subscribed to a channel. The sorting options—Most Relevant, New Activity, A-Z—focus on the order of engagement, not the timestamp. That means to find your first subscription, you’ll need to rely on alternative methods, like Google My Activity or certain safe third-party tools.
Tip: Before diving in, make sure your Web & App Activity is enabled in your Google account. This setting ensures YouTube actions, like subscriptions, are recorded for you to access later.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
In the sections ahead, we’ll cover everything from viewing your first YouTube subscription on the web, to checking on mobile, to using tools like xxluke and even Google Takeout to export your subscription data. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to:
- Find your oldest YouTube subscriptions.
- See the exact subscription date for each channel.
- Make informed decisions about managing and cleaning up your YouTube subscription history.
You’re not just discovering a date—you’re uncovering the timeline of your YouTube journey, from the very first channel that caught your interest to the newest subscriptions shaping your feed today.
Why YouTube Doesn’t Show Exact Subscribe Dates
If you’ve ever tried scrolling through your YouTube subscription list to find your first subscribed channel, you’ve probably noticed a frustrating limitation: YouTube doesn’t display the exact date you subscribed directly on the platform. Even in 2025, with millions of creators and frequent interface updates, this is still true.
Understanding why can save you time and clarify why alternative methods are necessary.
YouTube’s Subscription Sorting Limitations
YouTube prioritizes content engagement over chronological records. On the platform, subscriptions can be sorted only by:
- Most Relevant – Based on your viewing behavior and engagement history.
- New Activity – Shows channels with recent uploads or activity.
- A-Z – Organizes channels alphabetically by name.
None of these options provide a chronological list of your subscriptions. So, if you want to find the first YouTube subscription or check your YouTube subscribe date, you can’t rely on YouTube’s native sorting tools.
Even with the 2025 YouTube interface updates, the sorting options remain the same. Users with thousands of subscriptions often feel lost when trying to track their earliest channels.
Why YouTube Chooses This Approach
YouTube focuses on viewer experience and recommendations, rather than acting as a historical archive. Their recommendation algorithm, which drives over 70% of watch time on the platform, benefits from showing active, relevant channels instead of old subscription timestamps.
This means that your oldest YouTube subscriptions might remain hidden in plain sight, and you’ll need to use Google My Activity, export tools, or trusted third-party solutions to uncover them.
Implications for Users
The lack of visible subscribe dates can affect you if you:
- Want to revisit your earliest subscriptions for nostalgia.
- Are trying to analyze your channel engagement history over years.
- Wish to clean up inactive channels to streamline your feed.
Luckily, the steps in the next sections provide practical, real-time methods to overcome this limitation, letting you see who you first subscribed to on YouTube, and even the exact subscription date for each channel.
What You’ll Need Before You Start Your YouTube Subscription Hunt
Before diving into the process of discovering who you first subscribed to on YouTube, it’s important to set up a few things. Taking a few preparatory steps ensures the process is smooth, accurate, and secure—especially if you plan to check your YouTube subscription history across web and mobile platforms.
1. A Google Account with Web & App Activity Enabled
The first and most critical requirement is having Web & App Activity enabled in your Google account. This setting allows Google to record your interactions with YouTube, including channel subscriptions.
- Without this enabled, your oldest subscriptions might not appear in your history.
- You can check this in Settings → Google Account → Data & Privacy → Web & App Activity.
- Real-time tip: In 2025, Google ensures this data syncs across devices almost instantly, so your mobile and web history should match if properly enabled.
Pro Tip: Keep this setting turned on if you want your subscription activity to be tracked for future reference.
2. Access to the Device You Prefer: Web or Mobile
Your next decision is where you want to perform the steps:
- Desktop/Browser: Ideal for scrolling through long lists of subscriptions or exporting data.
- Mobile (Android/iOS): Convenient for quick checks, especially when you’re on the go.
Both methods rely on your Google account history, but the interface and navigation differ slightly. Choosing your preferred device beforehand will save time.
3. Make Your Subscriptions Public (If Using Third-Party Tools)
Some third-party tools, like xxluke, require your channel subscriptions to be public to read your list. You can update this in YouTube’s Settings → Privacy → Keep my subscriptions private toggle.
YouTube’s 2025 interface makes this toggle accessible directly in the mobile app as well as on web.
Important: Making subscriptions public only exposes the list, not your personal data like passwords or watch history.
4. Optional: Have Google Takeout Ready for Data Export
If you prefer downloading a full archive of your YouTube data, Google Takeout allows you to export all interactions, including subscriptions.
- This is especially helpful if you have hundreds or thousands of channels and want to sort your oldest YouTube subscriptions offline.
- Real-time note: Takeout exports are available in CSV or JSON format, compatible with spreadsheets or simple scripts to sort by subscription date.
5. Patience and a Methodical Approach
Lastly, remember that uncovering your first YouTube subscription is like exploring a timeline of your online journey. Depending on how many channels you’ve subscribed to, scrolling through history or exporting data may take time.
Tip: Keep a notepad or spreadsheet handy if you want to record subscription dates for reference, organization, or content management purposes.
Method 1: Discover Your First YouTube Subscription Using Google My Activity (Web)
If you want the most direct way to find your first YouTube subscription, using Google My Activity on the web is your go-to method. This approach taps into your YouTube account history, letting you see subscription dates from the newest to the oldest—all without installing any third-party apps.
In 2025, Google’s My Activity page is highly responsive on both desktop and mobile browsers, making it easy to navigate through years of subscription data.
Step-by-Step Guide to Access Your Subscription History
1. Open Google My Activity
- Visit Google My Activity on your preferred browser.
- Make sure you’re logged into the Google account associated with your YouTube subscriptions.
Google now allows quick switching between multiple accounts, so if you have more than one account, double-check which one holds the subscriptions you’re looking for.
2. Navigate to Other Activity
- On the left-hand menu, click Other activity.
- This section stores your YouTube interactions beyond search and watch history, including channel subscriptions.
3. Find YouTube Channel Subscriptions
- Scroll to the YouTube channel subscriptions section.
- Click View Subscriptions. You’ll see a list of channels you’ve subscribed to along with the subscription date.
Pro tip: Google organizes this list from newest to oldest, so you’ll need to scroll down to locate your first YouTube subscription.
4. Scroll Through to Find Your Earliest Subscription
- Depending on the number of channels you’ve subscribed to, this may take some time.
- Use your browser’s search function (Ctrl + F / Cmd + F) to locate a specific channel if you have one in mind.
In 2025, Google My Activity pages load faster than before, even for accounts with thousands of subscriptions, reducing scrolling frustration.
Why Google My Activity Is the Best Option for Web Users
- No third-party apps required — Your subscription data remains private and secure.
- Exact subscription dates are visible, unlike YouTube’s native platform.
- Cross-device accessibility — You can use this method on desktop browsers, tablets, or even mobile browsers if needed.
By using Google My Activity, you can track your entire YouTube subscription history in reverse chronological order, making it the most reliable method to find who you first subscribed to on YouTube.
Tips for Managing Your Subscription Data
- Take notes or export data to a spreadsheet for easier sorting if you have hundreds of channels.
- Mark your first subscription for reference—it’s fun to see how your YouTube journey began.
- Combine this method with other approaches, like Google Takeout, for a comprehensive oldest YouTube subscriptions list.
Method 2: Check Your First YouTube Subscription on Mobile (Android & iOS)
In today’s fast-paced digital world, mobile access has become the preferred method for managing our YouTube subscription history. Whether you’re waiting in line, commuting, or simply prefer using a touchscreen, you can uncover your first YouTube subscription directly from your phone. With the 2025 Google ecosystem, your YouTube account history syncs across devices in real-time, ensuring that your data is both accurate and easily accessible.
By following a methodical approach, you can view subscription dates, scroll through your oldest YouTube subscriptions list, and even begin organizing channels for better content management.
Step-by-Step Guide for Android Users
1. Open Device Settings and Access Google
Start by tapping the Settings app on your Android device. Scroll to locate Google, which acts as the central hub for account management, privacy, and activity tracking. Google’s 2025 updates have made account settings more intuitive, so all major options, including YouTube history, are easily reachable.
2. Manage Your Google Account
Tap Manage your Google Account, then switch to the Data & Privacy tab. This section consolidates all recorded actions across Google services. Here, your YouTube interactions, including channel subscriptions, are stored securely.
Once you’ve accessed your account, it’s time to focus on the YouTube History section where your subscription data lives.
3. Navigate to YouTube History
Scroll down and tap YouTube History → Manage History. You’ll notice several tabs categorizing your activity—select INTERACTIONS to access actions like channel subscriptions. This organized layout ensures you can quickly differentiate between likes, comments, and subscriptions.
Google’s 2025 mobile interface updates now allow faster loading of activity lists, even for accounts with thousands of subscriptions, minimizing wait times.
4. View Channel Subscriptions
Within INTERACTIONS, tap Channel subscriptions under Other YouTube interactions. Your subscription list appears in reverse chronological order—newest to oldest. To locate your first YouTube subscription, scroll to the bottom of the list.
Tip: If you have a large number of subscriptions, use your browser’s search feature (Ctrl + F / Cmd + F) to quickly locate a specific channel by name.
Step-by-Step Guide for iOS Users
1. Open the Google App or Browser
iOS users can access their account through the Google app or a mobile browser like Safari or Chrome. Log in with the Google account tied to your YouTube subscriptions. Google ensures that your account activity is fully synchronized between iOS and Android devices in real-time as of 2025.
2. Follow the Same Navigation Path as Android
From there, follow the same steps as on Android:
Manage your Google Account → Data & Privacy → YouTube History → Manage History → INTERACTIONS → Channel Subscriptions. Despite slight interface differences, iOS users will have the same access to subscription timestamps and channel history.
Whether on Android or iOS, this approach gives you complete access to your YouTube subscription history, allowing for nostalgia, content analysis, or channel management.
Why Mobile Access Works So Well
Mobile access to subscription history offers several advantages:
- Convenience: Check your YouTube subscribe date anywhere without needing a desktop.
- Real-Time Updates: Changes in subscriptions sync immediately, reflecting your latest activity.
- Quick Reference: Easily identify inactive channels, revisit favorite creators, or spot trends in your subscriptions.
Moreover, mobile access complements other methods like Google My Activity on the web or Google Takeout exports, providing a seamless, cross-device way to explore your oldest YouTube subscriptions list.
Mobile Tips for Better Organization
- Document your first subscription: Screenshot or note the channel and subscription date to track your YouTube journey.
- Search and filter: For accounts with hundreds of subscriptions, leverage the search function to locate specific channels efficiently.
- Combine with exports: If you want a complete chronological record, consider using Google Takeout and sorting the data offline.
- Enable Web & App Activity: Ensure future subscriptions are recorded accurately, preventing gaps in your YouTube account history.
Highlight: Using mobile devices, you can effortlessly discover who you first subscribed to on YouTube, track the subscription date, and keep your channel list organized—without ever touching a desktop.
Method 3: Use Third-Party Tools to Find Your First YouTube Subscription
Sometimes, the built-in YouTube or Google My Activity methods may feel a little slow, especially if you have hundreds or thousands of subscriptions. This is where trusted third-party tools, like xxluke, come in handy. These platforms allow you to access a complete subscription history in a visual and organized format, making it easy to locate your first YouTube subscription quickly and accurately.
While the idea of using third-party tools may seem intimidating at first, xxluke is safe and widely used, offering a secure way to track your subscriptions without exposing personal data. It’s particularly useful if you want a chronological overview of your oldest YouTube subscriptions list and to analyze patterns in your content engagement over time.
Why Third-Party Tools Like xxluke Are Useful
- Quick Access to All Subscriptions: Unlike Google My Activity, which requires manual scrolling, xxluke lists all your subscriptions in reverse chronological order. This makes it much easier to pinpoint the very first channel you subscribed to.
- Exact Subscription Dates: You get clear information about the YouTube subscribe date for each channel, which YouTube itself doesn’t provide.
- Visual and User-Friendly Interface: In 2025, xxluke’s interface is optimized for both desktop and mobile browsers, making it a convenient option for users on any device.
For users seeking a fast and visual solution, third-party tools complement the Google My Activity and mobile methods, providing a more complete picture of your YouTube subscription history.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using xxluke
1. Make Your Subscriptions Public
Before using xxluke, ensure your subscriptions are visible publicly:
- Navigate to YouTube → Settings → Privacy → Keep my subscriptions private toggle.
- Turn the toggle off to allow the tool to access your subscription list.
Tip: Your subscriptions will only be visible for this purpose and will not expose sensitive information like passwords or watch history.
2. Copy Your Channel URL
- Open your YouTube profile and select Your Channel.
- Copy the URL from the address bar—this will be used by xxluke to retrieve your subscription data.
3. Paste the URL Into xxluke
- Visit xxluke.de in your browser.
- Paste your channel URL into the query box and click CONTINUE.
- Within seconds, the platform will display your subscription history in a clear chronological order, along with exact subscription dates.
4. Locate Your First Subscription
- Scroll to the bottom of the list to find your earliest subscription.
- You can now see both the channel name and the date you subscribed, giving you an accurate record of your YouTube journey.
In 2025, xxluke efficiently processes accounts with thousands of subscriptions, making it ideal for long-time YouTube users.
Benefits of Using Third-Party Tools
- Time-Saving: No need to scroll manually through Google My Activity.
- Accurate Historical Data: You can see the exact subscription date for all channels.
- Content Management: Quickly identify inactive channels or revisit forgotten creators to revamp your subscriptions.
Moreover, using third-party tools alongside Google My Activity or mobile methods provides a complete perspective on your YouTube subscription history, which is useful for content analysis, channel management, or simply exploring your first interactions on the platform.
Safety and Privacy Tips
- Only use trusted third-party tools like xxluke that support SSL encryption.
- Never share your passwords or sensitive credentials.
- After checking your subscriptions, you can toggle them back to private for peace of mind.
By combining trusted third-party tools with Google My Activity or mobile access, you can uncover who you first subscribed to on YouTube, see the exact subscription dates, and effectively manage your oldest YouTube subscriptions list, all while keeping your data secure.
Method 4: Export Your YouTube Subscription Data Using Google Takeout
For users who want a complete, long-term record of their YouTube subscriptions, exporting data via Google Takeout is the most comprehensive method. Unlike Google My Activity or mobile checks, Takeout allows you to download your entire YouTube subscription history, including timestamps, in a structured format that can be sorted, analyzed, or stored offline.
In 2025, Google has improved Takeout’s performance, making it faster and more reliable for accounts with thousands of subscriptions, ensuring even long-time users can trace back to their first YouTube subscription.
If you’re curious about your YouTube account history or want to create a detailed log of all subscriptions, this method provides unmatched clarity and control.
Why Google Takeout Is Perfect for Subscription Analysis
- Comprehensive Coverage: You get all subscription data across years, including those that may not appear in Google My Activity or mobile history.
- Offline Accessibility: Once exported, your data can be opened offline, allowing for detailed analysis, sorting by subscription date, and identifying your first subscribed channels.
- Cross-Platform Flexibility: The exported files are compatible with Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, letting you review your subscriptions wherever you prefer.
Transition: By leveraging Google Takeout, you’re not just seeing your subscriptions—you’re organizing and controlling them in a way that YouTube itself doesn’t allow.
Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting YouTube Subscription Data
1. Access Google Takeout
- Open Google Takeout in your web browser.
- Sign in with the Google account linked to your YouTube subscriptions.
- Tip: Make sure this is the same account you used to subscribe to the channels you want to track.
2. Select YouTube Data for Export
- Scroll through the list of services and locate YouTube and YouTube Music.
- Tick the checkbox to select it.
- You can customize the export to include only subscriptions, or select all YouTube data for a more detailed record.
Transition: Selecting only subscription data can streamline the process, but full data exports are useful if you also want to analyze watch history, likes, and other interactions.
3. Customize the Export
- Choose the file format (ZIP is most common) and size limit for each download file.
- For a one-time snapshot of your subscription history, select Export once.
- Real-time insight: In 2025, even users with thousands of subscriptions spanning many years can generate exports quickly, usually within minutes to a few hours depending on account size.
4. Download and Access Your Subscription Data
- After processing, Google Takeout sends a download link to your email.
- Download and open the file; it typically contains a CSV or JSON file with channel names and subscription timestamps.
- You can now sort by subscription date, filter by channel, and locate your first YouTube subscription easily.
Tip: Using spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Sheets allows advanced sorting, filtering, and even creating visual timelines of your subscriptions.
Benefits of Using Google Takeout
- Full Control Over Your Data: You can view, sort, and manage your subscriptions offline.
- Chronological Analysis: Quickly identify the earliest subscriptions and track trends in your content interests.
- Data Portability: Exported data can be stored for archival purposes or cross-referenced with tools like YouTube Analytics to study engagement and channel growth.
- Comprehensive Management: If your goal is to clean up inactive subscriptions or analyze patterns, Takeout gives you all the raw data needed.
Takeout not only shows historical data but also empowers you to manage subscriptions in a strategic and organized way, something not possible directly on YouTube.
Tips for Maximizing Google Takeout
- Open in a spreadsheet: Sorting by date makes finding your first subscription straightforward.
- Backup your data: Keep a copy on cloud storage or an external drive for easy access.
- Combine with other methods: Use mobile checks or xxluke to cross-verify the oldest subscriptions list.
- Regular exports: Periodically exporting keeps your historical record current, especially if you actively subscribe to new channels.
- Visual Analysis: Create charts or timelines to see subscription growth patterns over the years, helping you understand how your YouTube viewing habits have evolved.
With Google Takeout, you gain full visibility and control over your YouTube subscription history, making it simple to identify who you first subscribed to on YouTube, track the exact subscription date, and manage your channels effectively.
How to Find Your First YouTube Subscription Quickly
If you’re looking to identify your very first YouTube subscription without spending hours scrolling through years of activity, there are efficient strategies that combine the methods we’ve discussed. By understanding the right tools and techniques, you can quickly locate the exact channel you subscribed to first and even track its subscription date for your records.
In 2025, YouTube accounts often have hundreds or thousands of subscriptions, making manual searches time-consuming. Fortunately, leveraging a strategic approach can save you time while providing accurate insights into your subscription history.
Use Google My Activity for Precision
- Step 1: Access Google My Activity from your browser.
- Step 2: Navigate to Other activity → YouTube channel subscriptions → View subscriptions.
- Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the list to locate the oldest entries, which include the exact subscribe date.
While Google My Activity provides precision, the scrolling method may be slower for long-term YouTube users. To speed things up, consider using filters or date search functions within your browser.
Mobile Access for On-the-Go Users
For Android and iOS users, the INTERACTIONS tab in your YouTube History lets you quickly locate subscriptions:
- Step 1: Open your Google account on your mobile device and navigate to YouTube History → Manage history → INTERACTIONS → Channel subscriptions.
- Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom for your earliest subscriptions, or use search functions to locate a specific channel.
- Step 3: Take note of the subscription dates for your records.
Tip: Mobile access is particularly useful if you want to verify a specific subscription while away from your desktop, making the process seamless.
Third-Party Tools for Speed and Visualization
If you want the fastest method, third-party tools like xxluke can display your subscriptions in reverse chronological order instantly:
- Step 1: Make sure your subscriptions are public in YouTube settings.
- Step 2: Copy your channel URL and paste it into xxluke.
- Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the resulting list to find your first subscribed channel along with the exact date.
In 2025, xxluke can process thousands of subscriptions within seconds, making it ideal for long-time YouTube users with extensive subscription histories.
Using Google Takeout for Complete Records
For a comprehensive and permanent record, exporting your subscription data via Google Takeout is unmatched:
- Step 1: Visit Google Takeout and select YouTube subscriptions.
- Step 2: Export your data as a CSV or JSON file.
- Step 3: Open the file in a spreadsheet and sort by subscription date to find your first YouTube subscription.
This method not only identifies your first subscription but also provides a full historical timeline of your channel activity, making it useful for analytics, nostalgia, or content management.
Quick Tips to Accelerate the Search
- Combine Methods: Use xxluke for speed and Google Takeout for accuracy.
- Use Filters and Search Functions: In large accounts, browser search (Ctrl/Cmd + F) or spreadsheet sorting saves time.
- Document Your Findings: Take screenshots or create a simple record of your first subscribed channels for future reference.
- Keep Web & App Activity Enabled: This ensures all future subscriptions are automatically recorded and easily searchable.
By strategically using these methods, you can quickly uncover your first YouTube subscription, track exact dates, and manage your oldest YouTube subscriptions list without frustration or wasted time.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your YouTube Subscription History
Discovering who you first subscribed to on YouTube is more than just a nostalgic journey—it’s a practical way to understand your viewing habits, channel preferences, and content evolution over time. With multiple methods available in 2025, you can choose the approach that best fits your needs, whether you want quick access, detailed analysis, or a complete record of your subscriptions.
Key Takeaways
- Google My Activity: Ideal for users who want precise subscription dates on the web. It provides a reliable timeline of all your subscriptions but may require scrolling for large accounts.
- Mobile Access: Perfect for on-the-go checks via Android or iOS. By using the INTERACTIONS tab in YouTube History, you can locate your first subscription and manage your oldest YouTube subscriptions list from anywhere.
- Third-Party Tools: Tools like xxluke offer speed, visualization, and convenience, especially for accounts with thousands of subscriptions, letting you instantly identify your first subscribed channel and corresponding dates.
- Google Takeout: The most comprehensive method for exporting and organizing YouTube subscription history. With Takeout, you can sort, analyze, and archive all subscription data, ensuring nothing is lost over time.
By combining these methods strategically, you gain both accuracy and efficiency, making it easier to track, organize, and reflect on your YouTube journey.
Why Managing Your Subscription History Matters
Maintaining an organized subscription list isn’t just about curiosity—it helps:
- Revisit favorite creators from the start of your YouTube journey.
- Analyze your content interests and discover patterns in viewing habits.
- Remove inactive channels to streamline recommendations and declutter your feed.
- Keep track of engagement if you’re a creator studying trends in subscriptions.
In 2025, many users report that reviewing their oldest subscriptions inspires content discovery, helps optimize feeds, and even sparks nostalgia for channels they first loved years ago.
Final Thoughts
Finding your first YouTube subscription is easier than ever when you leverage the right combination of web tools, mobile access, third-party utilities, and data exports. Each method offers unique advantages: precision, speed, visualization, or complete historical records.
Whether you’re reminiscing about your first subscribed channel, managing your subscription list, or analyzing your YouTube account history, these methods empower you to take full control of your oldest YouTube subscriptions list and stay informed about your content preferences.
By following these steps, you can confidently track, organize, and manage your subscriptions—turning what once felt like a tedious task into a simple and insightful experience.’