While it’s a reality that not everyone will like you, you shouldn’t have to deal with potential harassment. Luckily, YouTube has several tools to help you control who can comment on your videos.
Here, we show you how to enable and disable comments on YouTube.
Why Turn Off Your Comments on YouTube?
Setting up a YouTube channel for the first time is daunting, and you’ll need to consider several things before jumping in. It’s easy to think your channel is small and nobody will discover you, but you must remember that you’ve got a potential audience of over two billion people.
If you’re posting a video about a controversial topic, but you don’t want to receive backlash, turning off your YouTube comments might be a wise idea.
Similarly, you might have posted a video for a specific purpose—such as teaching new employees how to use particular company software. In such instances, allowing comments from random people will needlessly fill your notification inbox.
Can You Turn Your Comments Back On After Disabling Them?
Yes—regardless of whether you turn your YouTube comments off or on, neither decision has to be permanent.
Switching your comments off and on takes roughly the same amount of time, so you don’t need to worry about a complicated process for either.
Can You Hide Comments on All YouTube Videos?
At the time of writing, YouTube doesn’t have an option to hide comments on all videos. So, you’ll need to select this option individually for each of your uploads.
How to Enable and Disable YouTube Comments From Your Computer
When you start a YouTube channel, your comments are turned on by default. But if you’ve previously switched them off for a specific video, putting them back on is simple.
First, sign in to the Google account associated with your YouTube channel. Then, select your icon in the upper right and hit the YouTube Studio option.
On the next screen, click on Content.
If you hover over a video, you’ll see a pencil icon called Details. Select this option for a video where the comments are disabled.
At the bottom of the page is a blue Show More option. Click on this; on the next screen, scroll down again.
If you’ve disabled comments, hit Allow all comments to turn them back on again. Alternatively, you can select Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review—or Hold all comments for review—if you want to maintain some control.
If you want to turn comments off, hit Disable comments instead. Once you’ve made your selection, click on the Save button at the top, and your changes will take effect.
How to Enable and Disable YouTube Comments From Your Smartphone
Knowing how to enable and disable comments on YouTube from your smartphone is a little more complex. You’ve got two options; download the YouTube Studio app or go to your web browser. YouTube Studio is the easiest option, and that’s what we’ll walk you through.
Open the app; on your dashboard, click on the three dots next to the video you’d like to edit. Then, select Edit video.
On the next tab, select the More options arrow at the bottom. Under Comments, you’ll see a dropdown menu; choose Disable comments if you don’t want anyone to interact with your videos in this manner.
If you want to enable comments, select Allow all comments or use one of the more restricted versions. Your changes should take effect once you leave the screen.
Download: YouTube Studio for iOS | Android (Free)
How to Enable and Disable YouTube Comments From Your Tablet
iPads can form a crucial part of your creative workflow, and the same is true if you use a tablet with a different operating system. Like when using your smartphone, you can use your web browser or the YouTube Studio app to enable and disable comments on videos. Again, using the app is your most convenient choice.
Sign in to your account and go to the Dashboard tab. You’ll see a list of your videos here; click the three vertical dots next to the one you’d like to edit and select Edit video.
Go to the More options arrow at the bottom. Under Comments, expand the Comment visibility dropdown menu and make your preferred choice.
Take Control of Your YouTube Channel by Enabling or Disabling Comments
Knowing how to allow comments on YouTube is just as essential as understanding how to disable them. Regardless of the device you use, the process is relatively straightforward—but you’ll need to make alterations on a video-by-video basis.
Now that you’re aware of how to enable comments on YouTube and switch them off, you’ll have more and better control of your accounts.