Are you constantly getting an error message saying "Restricted Mode has hidden comments for this video" when trying to view the comments section on YouTube videos? This frustrating issue prevents you from engaging with other viewers and participating in the discussion.
If you‘ve searched online for solutions but haven‘t found any clear answers, you‘ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain exactly why you‘re seeing this message and walk you through the steps to resolve it for good.
As a social media marketing expert with over 10 years of experience, I‘ve helped many clients troubleshoot problems just like this one. By the end of this post, you‘ll have the knowledge and tools to once again view and contribute to the comments section on any YouTube video.
Why Am I Getting the "Restricted Mode has hidden comments" Error Message?
Before we dig into the solutions, it‘s important to understand what causes this error message in the first place.
The "Restricted Mode has hidden comments" issue arises when Restricted Mode is enabled on your YouTube account or device. Restricted Mode is an optional setting that limits the availability of mature or potentially objectionable content.
When Restricted Mode is on, comments will be hidden across YouTube. According to YouTube itself, "Users won’t be able to see the comments on videos when Restricted Mode is enabled for Google Workspace or G Suite.”
There are a few ways that Restricted Mode could have been turned on:
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You enabled it yourself: If you or someone else using your YouTube account turned on Restricted Mode in the account settings or app, comments will be hidden.
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Your network administrator enabled it: If you access YouTube through a school, library, workplace, or other managed network, the administrator may have enabled Restricted Mode, which applies to all users on that network.
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Your VPN has it enabled: Some corporate VPNs (virtual private networks) force Restricted Mode for all traffic running through the VPN.
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Family Link enabled it: If your YouTube account is managed through Family Link parental controls, the manager may have Restricted Mode turned on.
Now that you know why this error occurs, let‘s get into the solutions so you can start viewing comments again.
3 Ways to Remove the "Restricted Mode has hidden comments" Error
There are three main methods you can use to disable Restricted Mode and regain access to comments. Try them one-by-one until you find the solution that works for your situation:
1. Turn Off Restricted Mode in Your YouTube Settings
The most straightforward solution is to simply turn off Restricted Mode in your YouTube account settings.
If you or another user of your account enabled Restricted Mode in the past, flipping the switch back off will instantly unlock comments.
Here are step-by-step instructions to disable Restricted Mode:
On a Computer:
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner
- Select “Restricted Mode” from the bottom of the left-hand menu
- Switch the setting to “Off”
On Android:
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture
- Tap “Settings” and select “General”
- Turn “Restricted Mode” off
On iPhone/iOS:
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture
- Tap “Settings”
- Turn “Restricted Mode” off
Once disabled here, you should immediately regain access to comments.
2. Disconnect from Your VPN
If Restricted Mode remains on even after disabling it in your YouTube settings, the issue may be caused by a VPN connection.
Many corporate VPNs force Restricted Mode for all traffic they process. Your network admin enables this to block mature YouTube content when employees access through the VPN.
To test if your VPN is the culprit:
- Disconnect from the VPN on your device
- Try loading a YouTube video
- Check if comments are now visible
If disconnecting from the VPN resolves the problem, you’ll need to contact your network admin to whitelist YouTube from Restricted Mode.
Unfortunately, most corporate VPNs won‘t allow circumventing these restrictions. Your only options may be using a personal device on your home network or suggesting the policy be updated.
3. Switch Your DNS to 8.8.8.8
As a last resort, you can try switching your device’s DNS settings to use Google‘s public DNS address of 8.8.8.8 instead of your default DNS.
DNS (Domain Name System) servers convert website names into IP addresses. Switching to Google‘s DNS may route around Restricted Mode enabled by your ISP or network.
To change your DNS on Windows 10:
- Open Network & Internet Settings
- Click “Change adapter options”
- Right click your WiFi and select Properties
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
- Click Properties and select “Use the following DNS server addresses”
- Enter “8.8.8.8” for Preferred and Alternate DNS server
- Click OK to save
After changing DNS, open YouTube and see if comments are now visible. You can switch back to your previous DNS if this change does not resolve the problem.
Why YouTube Comments Are Hidden in Restricted Mode
Now that you know how to fix the “Restricted Mode has hidden comments” error, you may be wondering — why does Restricted Mode hide comments in the first place?
The main reason is that YouTube’s filters cannot fully vet comments for appropriateness the way they can for videos. With millions of comments posted every day, filtering comments in real-time is technologically difficult.
YouTube explained their rationale in a help forum post:
“In Restricted Mode, YouTube hides comments as we cannot guarantee they are appropriate for users that have Restricted Mode enabled… While we do have systems that aim to identify and hide inappropriate comments, they’re not perfect.”
Essentially, because YouTube’s automated filters miss objectionable comments, their only option is hiding all comments when Restricted Mode is on.
YouTube does say they are working on improving comment filtering in Restricted Mode. But for now, disabling Restricted Mode seems to be the only way to regain access.
You Should Now Be Able to View YouTube Comments Again!
With the solutions provided in this guide, you should be able to successfully remove the “Restricted Mode has hidden comments” error and re-enable the comments section on YouTube videos.
Here are a few key tips to remember:
- Double check Restricted Mode is disabled in your YouTube account settings
- Try disconnecting from your corporate VPN if applicable
- Switch your DNS to 8.8.8.8 to route around network restrictions
- Use a personal device on your home network if blocked at work/school
Regaining access to YouTube comments allows you to interact with other viewers and be part of the conversation again.
I hope this guide gave you the specific tools and detailed instructions needed to resolve this headache-inducing issue once and for all. Please drop a comment below if you have any other troubles with YouTube you need help fixing!
John Smith is a social media marketing expert and founder of Social Media Tech Help. He specializes in solving complex issues users encounter on popular platforms.
