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How to Turn Your Comments On On YouTube: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re ready to hear what the internet has to say? Excellent! Engaging with your audience is vital for a thriving YouTube channel. Here’s the straight dope on how to turn comments on for your YouTube videos, presented with the clarity and precision you’d expect from a seasoned digital strategist.

The process isn’t always intuitive, and YouTube’s ever-evolving interface can throw a curveball every now and then. But fear not! Whether you’re enabling comments on a single video, setting channel-wide defaults, or dealing with age restrictions that might be causing issues, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

Sign in to YouTube Studio: Go to studio.youtube.com and log in with your Google account associated with your YouTube channel.
Navigate to Content: In the left-hand menu, click on “Content.” This will display a list of all your uploaded videos.
Select the Video: Click on the thumbnail or title of the video you want to enable comments on. This will open the video details page.
Scroll Down to “Show More”: On the video details page, scroll down until you see the “Show More” option below the “Description” box. Click on it.
Find the “Comments and Ratings” Section: Scroll down further (sometimes quite a bit!) until you find the “Comments and Ratings” section.
Choose Your Comment Setting:
- If comments are completely disabled, the dropdown menu will likely say “Disable comments.” Click the dropdown menu and select your preferred option:
  - Allow all comments: This allows all comments to be published immediately (though YouTube’s algorithms might still filter some for review).
  - Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review: This is a good middle ground, allowing YouTube to flag comments that might violate community guidelines. You can then manually approve or reject these comments.
  - Hold all comments for review: This requires you to approve every single comment before it’s published. A good option if you’re starting out and want absolute control.
  - Disable comments: This keeps comments completely off.
Save Your Changes: Crucially, after selecting your comment setting, scroll back up to the top right corner of the page and click the “Save” button. This step is often missed!

That’s the basic process. But what if you want to set default comment settings for all future videos? Or what if you’re struggling with age restrictions? Read on!

Mastering YouTube Comments: Beyond the Basics

Turning comments on is just the starting point. To truly harness the power of audience interaction, you need to understand the nuances of YouTube’s comment system.

Setting Default Comment Settings

Save yourself time and hassle by setting default comment preferences for all your future uploads. This ensures consistency and aligns with your overall channel strategy.

Go to YouTube Studio: Again, start by logging into studio.youtube.com.
Navigate to Settings: In the left-hand menu, click on “Settings.”
Go to “Upload Defaults”: In the settings menu, click on “Upload defaults.”
Select the “Advanced settings” Tab: Click on the “Advanced settings” tab.
Configure Comments: Here you’ll find the same comment options as before: “Allow all comments,” “Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review,” “Hold all comments for review,” and “Disable comments.” Choose the setting that best suits your needs.
Save Your Changes: Click the “Save” button at the bottom of the page.

From now on, any new video you upload will automatically inherit these comment settings. You can still override these settings on a per-video basis, as described in the initial steps above.

Understanding Age Restrictions and Comments

A common issue is that comments are automatically disabled on videos marked as “made for kids” or those with age restrictions. This is due to COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) regulations.

YouTube takes children’s online safety very seriously. If your video is flagged as “made for kids” (either by you or by YouTube’s algorithms), comments will be automatically turned off, regardless of your desired settings. There’s no way around this.

Similarly, videos with age restrictions often have limited or disabled comment functionality to protect younger viewers.

To check if your video is flagged as “made for kids”:

Go to YouTube Studio: Log into studio.youtube.com.
Navigate to Content: Click on “Content” in the left-hand menu.
Select the Video: Click on the thumbnail or title of the video.
Check “Audience”: On the video details page, scroll down to the “Audience” section.
Review the “Is this video made for kids?” Setting: If it says “Yes, it’s made for kids,” comments will be disabled. If the video isn’t actually targeted at children, you can change this setting to “No, it’s not made for kids.” Remember to save your changes!

Be honest about your target audience. Misrepresenting your video’s content can lead to penalties from YouTube.

Troubleshooting Common Comment Issues

Even with the right settings, you might encounter problems. Here’s how to troubleshoot some common issues.

Comments Not Showing Up

Sometimes, you’ve enabled comments, but they’re still not visible on your video. This can be due to several reasons:

Comments Held for Review: Check your “Held for review” queue in YouTube Studio. You might need to approve comments manually.
YouTube’s Filtering: YouTube’s algorithms might be filtering comments that it deems spammy or inappropriate. There’s not much you can do about this except to monitor your comments regularly and report any violations.
Technical Glitches: Occasionally, there might be a temporary glitch on YouTube’s end. Try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache.

Comment Moderation Settings

YouTube offers powerful comment moderation tools. Learn to use them effectively to maintain a positive and engaging community.

Moderation Tools: Access these via YouTube Studio under “Comments.”
Approved Users: Designate specific users whose comments are automatically approved. This is great for trusted members of your community.
Hidden Users: Hide comments from specific users. Their comments will only be visible to them.
Blocked Words: Create a list of words that will automatically flag comments for review or remove them entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions, designed to tackle any lingering concerns.

Why are my comments automatically turned off?
- This is often due to the video being marked as “made for kids” or having an age restriction. Review these settings in YouTube Studio.
How do I approve comments held for review?
- In YouTube Studio, go to “Comments” in the left-hand menu. Then, click on the “Held for review” tab. You can approve or reject comments individually.
Can I block specific words from being used in comments?
- Yes! In YouTube Studio, go to “Settings” > “Community” > “Blocked words.” Enter the words you want to block, separated by commas.
How do I pin a comment to the top of the comment section?
- Find the comment you want to pin. Click the three vertical dots next to the comment, and select “Pin.” The comment will now be displayed at the top of the comment section.
Can I reply to comments on my videos?
- Absolutely! Simply click the “Reply” button under a comment and type your response. Engaging with commenters is crucial for building a community.
How do I report a comment that violates YouTube’s Community Guidelines?
- Click the three vertical dots next to the comment and select “Report.” Choose the appropriate reason for reporting the comment.
Can I see all the comments I’ve ever made on YouTube?
- Unfortunately, there’s no built-in feature to see a comprehensive list of all your comments across YouTube. You can try checking your Google Activity, but it might not be complete.
What happens if I get too many negative comments?
- Use the comment moderation tools to manage negative comments. You can hide users, block words, and report abusive comments. Consider addressing the negativity in a video or live stream to show that you’re listening.
How do I encourage more people to comment on my videos?
- Ask questions in your videos, run contests that require commenting, and actively engage with commenters. Respond to comments and acknowledge their contributions.
Is it possible to disable comments on a live stream?
- Yes, you can disable live chat during a live stream. In YouTube Studio, go to “Live” > “Edit” > “Customization” and turn off “Live chat.”
What is the difference between “Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review” and “Hold all comments for review?”
- “Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review” uses YouTube’s algorithms to flag comments that might violate community guidelines. “Hold all comments for review” requires you to manually approve every single comment.
If I change my default comment settings, will it affect my older videos?
- No, changing your default comment settings will only affect new videos that you upload. Your older videos will retain their existing comment settings unless you manually change them.

By understanding these settings and troubleshooting tips, you’ll be well-equipped to manage your YouTube comments effectively and foster a thriving community around your content. Now go forth and engage! The internet awaits your wisdom.