How to Fix the "Restricted Mode Has Hidden Comments" Error on YouTube Videos
If you‘ve ever tried to view the comments on a YouTube video only to be greeted with the message "Restricted Mode has hidden comments for this video", you know how frustrating it can be. Comments are a major part of what makes YouTube an engaging, interactive experience. They allow viewers to share their reactions, ask questions, give feedback, and connect with creators and fellow fans. So when you‘re suddenly blocked from seeing those discussions, it‘s understandably annoying.
The good news is that the "Restricted Mode has hidden comments" error is usually pretty easy to fix. In most cases, it simply means that YouTube‘s Restricted Mode feature has been enabled on your device or network, either by you or someone else. Once you know how to check and adjust this setting, you can get comments showing again in no time.
In this guide, we‘ll walk you through exactly what Restricted Mode is, reasons why it might be turned on, and step-by-step solutions for getting rid of that pesky hidden comments message on different devices. We‘ll also cover some alternative workarounds and important things to know about using Restricted Mode as a viewer or parent. By the end, you‘ll be equipped to troubleshoot this problem whenever it pops up.
What is Restricted Mode on YouTube?
YouTube‘s Restricted Mode is an optional setting that filters out potentially mature content that you may prefer not to see or don‘t want others using your device to see. When enabled, it limits the availability of certain videos, as well as video comments, on YouTube. The comments section on videos won‘t be visible at all.
According to YouTube, Restricted Mode "uses signals such as video title, description, metadata, Community Guidelines reviews, and age restrictions to identify and filter out potentially mature content." However, they acknowledge that "no filter is 100% accurate" and it may "filter out content that‘s not necessarily mature." Some creators and users have criticized it for being overzealous and wrongly hiding educational or innocuous videos.
While Restricted Mode can be a useful tool, especially for parents and schools looking to limit mature content, it‘s not always ideal to have it switched on. Many people prefer to have full access to engage with the YouTube community via comments. Fortunately, it‘s usually simple to disable Restricted Mode when you want a less limited experience.
Why Are Comments Hidden on YouTube?
There are a few different reasons why you might encounter the issue of comments being hidden by Restricted Mode on YouTube:
You enabled Restricted Mode yourself at some point and forgot that you turned it on. This could have happened if you were previously using YouTube in an environment where you wanted to filter content, like around kids.
Someone else who uses your device, like a family member or friend, turned on Restricted Mode. If you tend to share a computer, phone or tablet with other people, they may have changed the setting without you realizing it.
The device belongs to your workplace or school and has Restricted Mode locked on as part of the institution‘s policy. Organizations can use Google Workspace or G Suite to centrally control YouTube settings for their managed devices and networks.
You‘re connected to a VPN or network that automatically enables Restricted Mode. Some public WiFi networks or VPN services may have content filters in place.
Your device has some kind of parental control or screen time management system set up, like Google‘s Family Link, which enforces Restricted Mode.
So before you start troubleshooting, consider which of these situations might apply to you. That can give you a clue as to the best solution.
How to Turn Off Restricted Mode and See YouTube Comments Again
In most cases, getting rid of the "Restricted Mode has hidden comments" message is as simple as turning off Restricted Mode in your YouTube account settings. Here‘s how to do that on different types of devices:
On a Computer:
- Go to youtube.com and make sure you‘re signed into your Google account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select "Restricted Mode" at the bottom of the menu.
- Click the toggle to turn off Restricted Mode.
- Refresh the YouTube video page and comments should reappear.
On the YouTube Mobile App (Android & iOS):
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Go to "Settings".
- Select "General".
- Tap the toggle next to "Restricted Mode" to turn it off.
If you don‘t see a Restricted Mode option in the YouTube settings, that means your device is likely being controlled by a parent or organization that has it locked via Family Link, Google Workspace/G Suite, or another management system. In that case, you‘ll need to contact the account administrator to request that they disable Restricted Mode or lift the restriction on seeing comments.
Other Troubleshooting Tips
Restricted Mode settings aren‘t always the root cause of YouTube comments not showing up. If adjusting that doesn‘t solve the problem, here are a few other things to try:
Disable any VPN or proxy connections and see if that brings comments back. Some VPNs have content filters that hide comments.
Try changing your device‘s DNS settings to use Google‘s public DNS server (8.8.8.8). This can sometimes get around network-level restrictions.
Connect to a different WiFi network or switch to mobile data to rule out issues with the current network‘s content policies.
Check if you can view comments on the same video when signed into YouTube on another device. If so, the issue is specific to the original device‘s settings or network.
See if comments appear when viewing the video in an incognito/private browser window where extensions are disabled. A browser extension could be hiding comments.
Make sure you‘re running the latest version of the YouTube app and your device‘s operating system, as bugs in outdated software can sometimes cause display issues.
Still not having any luck? There may be a problem with YouTube itself. Check if YouTube is down in your area, or try again later in case there‘s a temporary glitch. You can also contact the YouTube support team to report the issue and get further assistance.
Things to Keep in Mind About Restricted Mode
While Restricted Mode can be inconvenient when it‘s not needed, it serves an important purpose in many contexts. For parents, teachers, and others who want a more limited YouTube experience, it‘s a valuable tool to filter out mature content.
If you‘re a parent setting up a device for your child, consider whether you want to use Restricted Mode in tandem with other parental control measures. YouTube offers informational guides on how to use Restricted Mode and supervise your child‘s watchtime. You can also use the Family Link app to set a variety of limits and restrictions across Google apps and services.
It‘s also good to recognize that Restricted Mode isn‘t a foolproof solution for avoiding all mature content. YouTube notes that it relies on a combination of machine learning and manual review to flag and hide videos. Some inappropriate videos may slip through the cracks, while benign videos get caught in the filter.
As an educator or manager of an organization, carefully consider how you want to implement Restricted Mode or other content blockers. Overly aggressive filters can prevent access to useful, educational content and limit freedom of discussion. If you use Google Workspace or similar system, communicate your settings and rationale clearly to your users. Have an appeals process ready too in case of mistaken blocks.
Restricted Mode and the YouTube Ecosystem
The importance of having easy access to video comments goes beyond casual discussion. For many YouTube creators, comments are a vital way to get feedback, ideas and engagement from their audience. Limited comments can negatively impact a video‘s performance in the algorithm and stifle community interaction. Viewers usually want to see comments to get different perspectives, find extra information and enjoy the reactions.
With this in mind, YouTube allows creators to disable comments on a per-video basis if they want to prevent certain types of discussion. But they can‘t override Restricted Mode – those settings are in the control of the viewer‘s device. To make sure your content is reaching all audiences, it‘s wise to keep your videos free from mature themes so they don‘t get automatically filtered out by Restricted Mode.
The availability of comments is just one small part of how the YouTube ecosystem works. But it‘s an important factor to consider, both as a viewer and creator. Knowing how to adjust Restricted Mode settings to your liking, and understanding how it can impact reach, is helpful for anyone who wants to participate fully on the platform.
Conclusion
YouTube comments being hidden due to Restricted Mode is a common annoyance, but one that‘s usually simple to fix. Whether you just need to toggle off the mode in your YouTube settings or find an alternative way to access the video, there‘s almost always a solution. Just remember to consider the reasons why Restricted Mode exists in the first place as you‘re adjusting the settings for your needs.
Hopefully this guide has given you all the information you need to troubleshoot the problem and understand how Restricted Mode works on a deeper level. Enjoy your unrestricted access to the wonderful world of YouTube comments!
