How to Enable Comments on YouTube and Engage Viewers

Ready to transform your YouTube channel from a simple broadcast into a thriving community hub? The comment section is your most powerful tool for building that connection, gathering feedback, and signaling to the YouTube algorithm that your content is sparking conversation. If you've found your comments are disabled and you're missing out on that vital interaction, you're in the right place.

Activating comments is a straightforward process, whether you want to set it as a default for all new videos or enable it for specific existing content. This guide will walk you through every step on both desktop and mobile, explain the different settings you can choose, and provide tips for managing your community effectively.

Why Enabling YouTube Comments is a Game-Changer for Your Channel

Before diving into the "how," it's crucial to understand the "why." A lively comment section is more than just a collection of messages; it's the heart of your channel's community and a key driver of growth. When you allow comments, you unlock several powerful benefits that can significantly boost your channel's performance and your connection with your audience.

Firstly, comments provide direct, unfiltered feedback. Viewers will tell you what they loved, what confused them, and what they want to see next. This is invaluable market research that can guide your future content strategy. For a business, this is essential. Imagine a company specializing in home energy solutions, such as installing smart solar panels. By enabling comments on their installation showcase videos, they can directly answer questions about the process, financing, or the benefits of a EV charger, building trust and generating leads.

Secondly, engagement is a critical signal to the YouTube algorithm. Videos with high levels of interaction—likes, shares, and especially comments—are seen as more valuable and are more likely to be recommended to new viewers. Every comment tells YouTube that people are actively engaged with your content, which can increase your video's reach exponentially. Finally, it's about building a community. When you reply to comments, and viewers reply to each other, you foster a sense of belonging that turns casual viewers into loyal subscribers.

Understanding YouTube's Comment Settings Before You Begin

YouTube gives you granular control over your comment section. It's not just a simple on/off switch. Before you enable them, it's wise to understand the four main options available. This allows you to choose the level of moderation that best suits your channel and audience.

Choosing the right setting from the start can save you a lot of moderation headaches later. For most, starting with "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review" is the safest and most efficient choice.

How to Enable Comments for All Future Videos (Default Setting)

If you want comments to be enabled by default on every new video you upload, the most efficient way is to change your channel's upload default settings. This saves you from having to manually enable them every time.

Here is the step-by-step process on a computer:

1. Navigate to YouTube Studio: Open your web browser and go to studio.youtube.com. If you're not already signed in, you will be prompted to enter your Google account credentials.

2. Open Settings: In the left-hand navigation menu, look towards the bottom and click on Settings. It's accompanied by a gear icon.

3. Go to Upload defaults: A pop-up window will appear. In the menu on the left side of this window, select Upload defaults.

4. Select Advanced settings: At the top of the Upload defaults section, you'll see two tabs: "Basic info" and "Advanced settings". Click on Advanced settings.

5. Find the Comments Section: Scroll down until you see the header labeled "Comments". Underneath this, you'll find a dropdown menu, likely labeled "Comment Visibility".

6. Choose Your Comment Setting: Click on the dropdown menu. You will see the four options discussed earlier. Select Allow all comments or, more advisedly, Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review.

7. Save Your Changes: Click the blue Save button in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window.

Image: Screenshot of the Upload Defaults section in YouTube Studio settings, with the comment visibility dropdown highlighted.

From this point forward, any new video you upload will automatically use the comment setting you just selected.

An Important Note on Default Settings

Changing your upload defaults will only affect videos you upload in the future. It will not retroactively change the comment settings for any videos that are already published on your channel. You'll need to edit those individually.

Activating Comments on a Single, Existing Video

Perhaps you have older videos where comments were disabled, or you want to change the moderation level for a specific piece of content. You can easily adjust settings on a video-by-video basis.

Follow these steps on your computer:

1. Go to YouTube Studio: As before, head to studio.youtube.com.

2. Click on Content: In the left-hand navigation menu, click on Content. This will bring up a list of all your uploaded videos.

3. Select the Video: Find the video you want to edit in the list and click on its thumbnail or title to open the "Video details" page.

4. Reveal More Options: On the "Video details" page, scroll down past the description and thumbnail sections. You will see blue text that says SHOW MORE. Click on it.

5. Locate "Comments and ratings": Continue scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page. You'll find a section titled "Comments and ratings".

6. Adjust Comment Visibility: Here, you'll see the same Comment Visibility dropdown menu. Click on it and select Allow all comments or another preferred setting.

7. Save Your Work: After making your selection, scroll back to the top-right corner of the page and click the blue Save button. The change will take effect immediately.

This method is perfect for updating your back catalog of videos or for customizing the settings for a video that you anticipate will generate a lot of discussion.

Enabling Comments on the Go: The YouTube Studio Mobile App

Managing your channel doesn't have to be done from a desk. The YouTube Studio mobile app is a powerful tool that lets you enable and manage comments directly from your phone or tablet.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the App: Tap the YouTube Studio app icon on your device.

2. Go to Content: In the bottom navigation bar, tap on the Content tab.

3. Filter for Videos: At the top of the Content screen, ensure you have the "Videos" filter selected.

4. Choose a Video: Scroll through your list of videos and tap on the one you wish to edit.

5. Tap the Edit Icon: In the top-right corner of the screen, you'll see a pencil icon. Tap it to edit the video's details.

6. Access More Settings: On the "Edit video" screen, look for the last option at the bottom: Tags, category, comments, and more. Tap on it.

7. Change Comment Settings: Scroll down to the "Comments" section. Tap on the current comment setting (e.g., "Comments disabled"). A menu will pop up allowing you to select Allow all comments or another option.

8. Save the Changes: Tap the back arrow in the top-left corner to return to the "Edit video" screen. Then, tap the blue Save button in the top-right corner to apply your changes.

Expert Tip: Manage Your Community Anywhere

The YouTube Studio mobile app is not just for enabling comments; it's also your best tool for moderating on the fly. You can review held comments, reply to new ones, and pin important messages, all from your phone. This makes it much easier to stay engaged with your audience, even when you're away from your computer.

Troubleshooting Common Comment-Related Issues

Sometimes, even after following the steps, you might run into issues. The most common problem creators face is a message stating, "Comments are turned off," which can't be changed through the methods above.

The "Made for Kids" Setting
The most frequent reason for comments being permanently disabled on a video is that it has been designated as "Made for Kids." To comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), YouTube automatically disables comments, personalized ads, and other features on any content identified as being directed at children.

If you find comments are locked, you need to check this setting:

• Go to the "Video details" page for the specific video.

• Scroll down to the Audience section.

• Ensure that "No, it's not made for kids" is selected.

• If you change this setting, remember to Save your changes.

Once the video is no longer designated as "Made for Kids," you should be able to go back to the comment settings (under "SHOW MORE") and enable them as described in the previous section. Be honest in your assessment; miscategorizing content to enable comments can lead to issues with YouTube's policies.

Beyond 'On': Best Practices for Managing Your Comment Section

Simply turning on comments is just the beginning. To truly build a healthy and engaging community, you need to actively manage your comment section. A well-tended comment section encourages positive interaction and can become a valuable asset for your channel.

Here are some best practices to adopt:

• Pin a Comment: Use the pin feature to stick a relevant and helpful comment to the top of the feed. This could be a question to kickstart discussion, a correction to a mistake in the video, or an answer to a frequently asked question. For a channel demonstrating how to install a heat pump or explaining how a virtual battery works, pinning a comment that clarifies a key technical point can be incredibly helpful for viewers.

• Heart and Reply: When you "heart" a comment, the author gets a notification, making them feel seen and appreciated. Replying, even with a short "Thanks!" or a thoughtful answer, shows that you are present and value your audience's input.

• Use Keyword Filters: In your YouTube Studio settings (under Settings > Community > Automated Filters), you can add a list of "Blocked words." Comments containing these words will be automatically held for review. This is an excellent way to preemptively catch common spam or abusive language.

• Appoint Moderators: If your channel grows large, managing comments can become a full-time job. You can appoint trusted viewers as moderators who can help review and remove inappropriate comments, keeping the conversation clean and constructive.

A Word of Caution on "Allow all comments"

While "Allow all comments" seems like the most open and free option, it can be risky. Without any filtering, your comment section can quickly become filled with spam, scams (especially cryptocurrency scams), and hateful comments. This can create a negative environment for your genuine viewers. It's almost always better to use YouTube's automated filtering by selecting "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review."

Enabling and managing comments is an essential skill for any YouTube creator looking to grow their channel. It's the bridge between you and your audience, a source of invaluable feedback, and a powerful signal to the YouTube algorithm. By following these steps and adopting good management practices, you can turn your comment section into one of your channel's greatest strengths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my YouTube comments automatically disabled on some videos?

The most common reason for comments being automatically and permanently disabled is that the video is set as "Made for Kids." Due to privacy regulations like COPPA, YouTube disables comments and other features on content intended for children. To fix this, you must go into that video's settings, navigate to the "Audience" tab, and select "No, it's not made for kids," assuming this accurately describes your content.

Can I enable comments after a video has already been published?

Yes, absolutely. You can change the comment settings for any video at any time, regardless of when it was published. Simply navigate to the YouTube Studio, click on "Content," select the video you want to edit, and follow the steps for enabling comments on an individual video. The change will take effect as soon as you save it.

What's the difference between "Hold potentially inappropriate comments" and "Hold all comments"?

"Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review" uses YouTube's smart system to automatically filter out comments that are likely spam, self-promotion, or abusive. This lets most normal comments through instantly while catching the most obvious problems. "Hold all comments for review" is much stricter; it stops every single comment from being published until you manually approve it. The first is great for general moderation, while the second is best for when you need complete control over every message that appears.