How to Allow Comments on YouTube: Step-by-Step and Tips

Do you want to interact with your audience but the comments on your YouTube videos are disabled? Allowing viewers to share their thoughts is one of the best ways to build a community, get valuable feedback, and increase engagement on your channel. Enabling comments is a simple process, whether you want to make it a default setting for all new videos or enable it for specific ones.

This guide will explain how to enable comments on YouTube using your computer or mobile device. We will also cover reasons why your comments may be disabled and how to effectively manage your settings to foster a positive and engaging community.

Why Are Comments Disabled on My YouTube Video?

Before learning how to enable comments, it's useful to understand why comments might be disabled. Several reasons may explain this, and identifying the cause is the first step to fixing the issue.

The most common reason is that your video's or channel’s audience setting is set to "Made for Kids". To comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), YouTube automatically disables comments, notifications, and other features on content designated as made for kids. If you accidentally marked your video this way, changing it will allow you to re-enable comments.

Other reasons include:

• Channel default settings: You may have disabled comments by default for all new uploads at the channel level. This setting can be changed in your YouTube Studio settings.

• Individual video settings: Comments may be disabled on a specific video even if your default settings allow them. This may have been done manually during upload or afterward.

• Private videos: Comments are not available on private videos. To allow comments, you must set the video to public or unlisted.

• Supervised account: If you use a supervised Google account via Family Link, your parents or guardians might have restricted your ability to enable or view comments.

Comments lie at the heart of the YouTube community. They transform one-way broadcasting into a two-way conversation. For a business, this conversation is invaluable. It’s where you can answer questions, dispel doubts, and understand what your audience really appreciates—much like we do when discussing a solar panel installation project with a homeowner.

How to Enable Comments for All Future Videos (on Computer)

Setting your comments to be enabled by default saves you time for every new video you upload. This method ensures that all your future uploads will automatically allow comments, fostering immediate engagement.

Follow these steps to set your default comment settings in YouTube Studio:

1. Open YouTube Studio: Log into your YouTube account and go to studio.youtube.com.

2. Access Settings: In the left menu, click the Settings icon (gear icon) at the bottom.

3. Select Default Upload Settings: In the Settings popup, choose the Upload defaults tab.

4. Go to Advanced Settings: At the top window, click the Advanced settings tab.

5. Find the Comments Section: Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Comments" with a dropdown menu called Comment visibility.

6. Choose Your Setting: Click the dropdown and select the option that suits you best:

   • Allow all comments: All comments will be displayed without moderation.

   • Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review: YouTube’s algorithm will filter spam and potentially harmful comments, holding them in a "Held for review" queue. This is the most recommended setting.

   • Hold all comments for review: Every comment must be manually approved before appearing.

   • Disable comments: No comments will be allowed.

7. Save Your Changes: Click the Save button in the bottom right corner.

From now on, all videos you upload will automatically use this comment setting.

Recommended Setting

For most creators, "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review" offers the best balance. It allows most conversations to flow naturally while protecting you and your audience from spam and harmful content, saving you considerable moderation time.

Enable Comments for an Individual Video

Sometimes, you might need to enable comments for an existing video or change the settings on a specific upload. You can do this on both computer and mobile via the YouTube Studio app.

On a Computer

If you have an existing video with comments disabled, follow these steps to enable them:

1. Go to YouTube Studio: Open YouTube Studio and click Content in the left menu. This will show a list of all your videos.

2. Select the Video: Click the thumbnail or title of the video you want to edit. This will take you to the Video details page.

3. Show More Options: Scroll down on the Video details page and click SHOW MORE.

4. Locate the Comment Settings: Continue scrolling until you find the Comments and ratings section.

5. Enable Comments: Click the dropdown menu under "Comment visibility" and select Allow all comments or one of the other permission options.

6. Save Changes: Click the blue Save button at the top right of the page. Comments should now be enabled for this video.

On a Mobile Device (YouTube Studio App)

The YouTube Studio app makes managing your channel on the go easy. Here’s how to enable comments for a video using your phone:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app: If you don’t have it, download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

2. Access Content: Tap the Content tab at the bottom menu.

3. Select a Video: Tap the video you want to edit.

4. Tap the Edit Icon: Tap the pencil icon at the top of the screen.

5. Open Advanced Settings: At the bottom of the edit screen, tap More options (this includes tags, category, comments, etc.).

6. Edit Comment Settings: Scroll to the Comments section. Tap the current setting (it likely says "Comments turned off").

7. Choose Your Setting: Select Allow all comments or another preferred option from the list.

8. Go Back and Save: Tap the back arrow in the top left to return to the main edit screen, then tap Save in the top right.

Manage Comments for a Healthy Community

Enabling comments is only the first step. Actively managing your comment section is crucial to creating a safe and engaging environment for your audience. Unmoderated comments can quickly become a breeding ground for spam, harassment, or misinformation, discouraging genuine interaction.

Think of your comment section as a public forum for your brand. It’s a space where you can interact directly with potential and existing customers. For example, if you post a video explaining how an electric vehicle charging station works, the comment section is the ideal place to answer specific questions about charging times, costs, and compatibility. Ignoring these questions would be a missed opportunity.

YouTube provides powerful tools to help you moderate effectively:

• Automated filters: The "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review" setting is your first line of defense. Let YouTube’s AI do most of the work.

• Blocked words: In Settings → Community, you can create a list of words and phrases you want to block. Any comment containing these words will be automatically held for review. This is useful for filtering profanity, spoilers, or mentions of competitors.

• Block links: You can choose to automatically block comments containing links to reduce spam.

• Approve or remove comments: In your "Held for review" queue, you can approve, delete, or report comments individually.

Engage With Your Audience

Don’t just moderate—engage! Responding to comments shows that you value your audience. Highlight the best comments by pinning them or giving them a heart. Positive engagement encourages more interaction and builds loyalty. This principle applies every day, whether online or when explaining the benefits of a smart heat pump to a client.

Managing comments effectively transforms a simple feature into a powerful community-building tool that strengthens your channel’s trust and credibility.

Special Case: "Made for Kids" Content

It’s essential to understand the "Made for Kids" designation, as it directly affects comments. Due to COPPA regulations, if a video is marked as "Made for Kids", comments are permanently disabled. There is no workaround.

If you accidentally set your video this way, you can change it:

1. Go to YouTube Studio → Content.

2. Click the video you need to edit.

3. In the Video details tab, scroll down to the Audience section.

4. Make sure "No, it’s not made for kids" is selected.

5. Save your changes.

After changing the audience setting, you should be able to return to the comment settings (by clicking SHOW MORE) and enable comments following the earlier steps.

Be Honest With Your Content Designation

It’s crucial to label your content correctly. Mislabeling content meant for children as not made for kids can lead to consequences from YouTube and even legal issues under COPPA. If your content is primarily aimed at viewers under 13, you must mark it as "Made for Kids," even if that means disabling comments.

Enabling comments on YouTube is a fundamental step to foster engagement and build a loyal community around your content. By setting up your default settings and knowing how to adjust them for individual videos, you ensure your audience has a voice. Remember that enabling comments comes with the responsibility to moderate them to maintain a positive environment. Using YouTube’s tools and actively engaging with your viewers can turn your comment section into a valuable asset for your channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I enable comments on my video?

The most likely reason is that your video is set to "Made for Kids." Due to children’s privacy laws (COPPA), YouTube automatically disables comments on such content. To enable comments, you must change your video’s audience setting to "No, it’s not made for kids" in YouTube Studio’s video details. If the video is private, comments will also be disabled.

Can I allow comments on someone else’s video?

No, only the video creator controls the comment settings on their own content. You cannot enable or disable comments on videos outside your channel. You can only leave a comment if the creator has enabled comments.

How can I control who can comment on my videos?

You cannot restrict comments to specific users (such as subscribers only), but you have powerful moderation tools. In YouTube Studio settings, you can:

• Hold all comments for manual review.

• Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review.

• Create a blocked words list.

• Block specific users from commenting on your channel.

Why are my comments held for review?

If your comments on someone else’s video do not appear immediately, it’s likely because the creator has their comment settings on "Hold all comments for review" or "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review." Your comment will be publicly visible once approved by the creator.