Why Are Comments Turned Off on YouTube? 2026 Causes and Fixes

Quick Answer

The single most common reason is "Made for Kids." By far the most frequent cause of "Comments are turned off" is that the video is set as Made for Kids. YouTube disables comments on that content automatically to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and this lock cannot be overridden, even if you select "Allow all comments." The only way to get comments back is to change the audience setting to "Not made for kids," and only if the video genuinely is not directed at children.

Other real reasons, in rough order of how often they happen:

• The creator turned comments off manually on that video or as a channel default.
• Comments are set to Pause, so old comments show but no new ones are accepted.
• All comments are held for review, so the section looks empty until the creator approves them.
• A Community Guidelines strike temporarily restricts the channel's ability to post, which can include comments.
• A temporary YouTube-side hold on a video getting a sudden traffic spike, while automated systems review the comment section.

Fastest creator fix (not Made for Kids): YouTube Studio > Content > click the video > Show more > Comments and ratings > set to On > choose a moderation level > Save.

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Jump to:

• Why YouTube Comments Get Turned Off
• Which Reason Is It
• How to Turn Comments Back On
• Comments Still Will Not Turn On
• Viewers Who Cannot Comment
• Frequently Asked Questions

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Why YouTube Comments Get Turned Off

1. Made for Kids (COPPA) turns comments off automatically

This is the big one, and it is the reason most creators land on this page. When a video's audience is set to Made for Kids, YouTube automatically disables comments, and you cannot switch them back on while that setting is in place. It applies whether you marked the video as made for kids or YouTube's automated classifier did.

The reason is legal, not a bug. Under COPPA and YouTube's 2019 settlement with the FTC, YouTube restricts data collection on content directed at children under 13. To comply, it strips features that rely on that data, including comments, personalized ads, notification bell, saving to playlists, and Stories.

What tends to trigger a Made for Kids classification:

• Content whose subject matter is aimed at children (nursery rhymes, kids' songs, cartoons).
• Toy play, unboxing, and other kid-focused formats.
• Simple educational content designed for young children.
• Child actors or characters as the main focus in a child-directed setting.

If a video was auto-flagged and you believe it is genuinely not for kids, you can change the audience setting yourself, and you can appeal if you think YouTube's classifier got it wrong. Only do this if the content really is not directed at children, because misclassifying can carry consequences under the FTC rules.

2. The creator turned comments off

The most common non-COPPA reason is simply that the creator chose to disable comments. Common motivations:

• Avoiding spam, harassment, or off-topic pile-ons.
• Brand safety on business or client channels.
• Not having time to moderate a section actively.
• Sensitive or breaking-news topics likely to attract heated replies.

This can be set per video or as a channel default that applies to every new upload.

3. Comments are Paused, not off

YouTube has a Pause state that is easy to mistake for "off." With comments paused, existing comments stay visible but no new ones are accepted. Viewers see that they cannot add a comment even though older ones are still there.

4. Comments are held for review

If a creator uses Hold all comments or a strict filter, new comments do not appear publicly until the creator approves them. To a viewer the section can look empty or broken, but comments are being submitted, they are just sitting in the "Held for review" queue in YouTube Studio. Held comments stay there for up to 60 days.

5. A Community Guidelines strike or removed content

A Community Guidelines strike comes with temporary restrictions on posting, which can include leaving comments, for a set period (typically one week for a first strike, longer for repeats). Separately, if a specific video violates the guidelines it is usually removed outright rather than kept up with comments disabled.

6. A temporary automated hold

When a video suddenly spikes in traffic, YouTube's systems sometimes place a short-term hold on the comment section while automated review runs, especially if the content or the incoming comments look risky. This usually resolves on its own and is not a permanent setting.

A note on age restriction: an 18+ age restriction by itself does not turn comments off. Age-restricted videos can still have working comment sections. If an age-restricted video has no comments, it is almost always because the creator disabled or heavily filtered them, not because of the age gate.

Which Reason Is It

Work through this quickly to identify the cause before you try to fix anything.

If you are a viewer:

• The video shows "Comments are turned off." > The creator (or the Made for Kids rule) disabled them. There is nothing you can do on that video.
• You see old comments but cannot add one > Comments are paused, or your own account has a restriction. Try commenting on a different channel's video. If that works, the issue is this creator's settings, not you.
• Comments look empty and you get no error when posting > They may be held for review. Your comment can be pending approval.
• You cannot comment anywhere > The problem is your account. See Viewers Who Cannot Comment below.

If you are the creator:

• Open the video in YouTube Studio and check the audience setting first. If it says Made for Kids, that is your answer, and comments will stay off until you change it (only if the content is not actually for kids).
• If audience is fine, check the Comments and ratings setting on that video: it may be set to Off, Pause, or Hold all.
• If the per-video setting looks correct but comments are still off, check whether a channel default or a Community Guidelines strike is overriding it.

How to Turn Comments Back On

Per video (one video)

1. Open YouTube Studio and select Content in the left menu.
2. Click the thumbnail of the video.
3. Scroll down and click Show more on the details page.
4. Find the Comments and ratings section.
5. Set comments to On.
6. Choose a moderation level (explained below).
7. Click Save.

On the mobile YouTube Studio app: open the video, tap the comment settings, and adjust for that video.

If comments are set to On and still do not appear, confirm the audience is not Made for Kids, since that setting silently overrides everything here.

Channel-wide default (all future uploads)

1. In YouTube Studio, go to Settings > Upload defaults.
2. Open the Advanced settings tab.
3. Set your default Comments option.
4. Save.

This applies to new uploads only. It does not retroactively change videos you already published.

Change many existing videos at once

1. In YouTube Studio, go to Content.
2. Select the checkboxes for the videos you want to change.
3. Click Edit in the header bar.
4. Choose Comments and pick your setting.
5. Apply.

The moderation levels (current labels)

When comments are On, you choose how strictly they are filtered:

• None > hold nothing, everything posts immediately.
• Basic > hold potentially inappropriate comments for your review (YouTube's default for many channels).
• Strict > hold a broader range of potentially inappropriate comments. Expect more false positives.
• Hold all > every comment waits for your manual approval.

Comments that get held sit in the Held for review tab in YouTube Studio for up to 60 days and are not publicly visible until you approve them. You can also add a blocked words list and block specific users, which are better middle-ground options than turning comments off entirely. For a deeper workflow, see our social media moderation tools guide and tips on handling negative comments.

Comments Still Will Not Turn On

If the setting is On but comments will not enable, check these in order:

1. Audience setting. Made for Kids is the number one reason the option looks stuck or greyed out. Fix this first.
2. Community Guidelines strikes. An active strike can block posting. Resolve or wait out the restriction, and appeal if it was a mistake.
3. Channel standing. Check the Overview under Settings for warnings or restrictions.
4. Give it time. Setting changes can take a little while to propagate. Refresh, or check again later, before assuming it failed.
5. Try another browser or the app, and clear cache, to rule out a display glitch rather than a real setting.

If none of that works and your channel is in good standing, contact YouTube creator support with the specific video link.

Viewers Who Cannot Comment

If you are trying to comment and cannot, the cause is usually one of these:

• The creator disabled or paused comments on that video. Nothing on your end will change it.
• Your comment is held for review and simply has not been approved yet.
• Your account is not verified. Verifying your account (including by phone) removes some limits.
• Your account has a restriction from a past Community Guidelines issue. Check your account standing.
• A regional or network restriction, for example commenting from certain managed or supervised accounts.

Quick test: try commenting on a completely different channel's video. If that works, the original video's settings are the problem, not your account. If it fails everywhere, the issue is your account.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are comments automatically turned off on my YouTube videos?

The most common reason is that the video is set as "Made for Kids." YouTube disables comments on that content automatically to comply with COPPA, and the setting cannot be overridden even if you select "Allow all comments." Check the audience setting in YouTube Studio. If it says Made for Kids and the content is genuinely not directed at children, change it to "Not made for kids" to restore comments. Comments can also be held automatically during a Community Guidelines restriction or a temporary review of a video getting sudden traffic.

How do I turn comments back on for my YouTube videos?

Go to YouTube Studio > Content > click the video > Show more > Comments and ratings > set comments to On > choose a moderation level (None, Basic, Strict, or Hold all) > Save. If the option is greyed out or comments still do not appear, the video is likely set as Made for Kids, or the channel has an active Community Guidelines strike, either of which overrides the per-video setting.

Why can't I comment on some YouTube videos even though comments appear enabled?

Your comment may be held for review and waiting on the creator's approval, or comments may be paused so only older ones show. It can also be your own account: an unverified account, a past Community Guidelines restriction, or a supervised or managed account can all block commenting. Test by commenting on a different channel's video. If that works, the issue is the original video's settings, not your account.

What happens to existing comments when I disable comments on a video?

When you turn comments off, existing comments are hidden from public view but are not deleted. If you turn comments back on later, the previous comments reappear. You can still see and manage them in YouTube Studio while they are hidden publicly. Using the Pause setting instead keeps existing comments visible while blocking new ones.

Should I disable comments on controversial or sensitive content?

Usually there is a better option than turning comments off. Set comments to Hold all for review, raise the filter to Strict, add a blocked words list, or pause comments temporarily during a spike. These keep the engagement and community while protecting you from a pile-on. Reserve a full disable for cases where you truly cannot moderate the section, such as content involving minors or legally sensitive topics.

Do disabled comments hurt my YouTube video's performance?

Not directly. YouTube ranks and recommends videos mainly on watch time, click-through rate, and viewer satisfaction, not on comment count, and there is no confirmed penalty for turning comments off. What you lose is indirect: comments are a useful engagement and feedback signal, a source of content ideas, and a way to build a returning community. Plenty of large channels run with comments off, so this is a strategy choice rather than a ranking issue.

Can I set different comment settings for different videos on my channel?

Yes. Comment settings are per video. Go to YouTube Studio > Content > click a specific video > Show more > Comments and ratings, and set that video independently. Your channel-wide default (Settings > Upload defaults) applies only to new uploads, so you can keep a default while overriding individual videos. To change many existing videos at once, select them in the Content tab and use the bulk Edit menu.

How do I moderate YouTube comments effectively without disabling them?

Use YouTube's built-in tools instead of a full disable: set the filter to Basic or Strict to hold potentially inappropriate comments, use Hold all for sensitive uploads, build a blocked words list, and block repeat offenders. Held comments wait in YouTube Studio for up to 60 days for your review. Pin helpful comments and reply early to steer the tone. Active moderation keeps the engagement that a full disable throws away.

Want more control over your channel? Learn how to see dislikes on YouTube to gauge sentiment, explore YouTube community posts as another way to talk with viewers, and try our YouTube Comment Generator for quick, engaging replies.