Turn On and Manage Comments on YouTube

Struggling to figure out why your audience can't leave feedback on your videos? An active comment section is more than just a place for discussion; it's the heart of your channel's community, a direct line to your viewers, and a powerful signal to the YouTube algorithm that your content is engaging. Learning how to turn on comments on YouTube is a fundamental step toward fostering growth and building a loyal subscriber base.

Whether you want to enable commenting across your entire channel or just for a specific video, the process is straightforward once you know where to look. Both the desktop YouTube Studio and the mobile app provide the tools you need to manage your community's interactions effectively. This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you have full control over your channel's conversations.

Why Enabling Comments is a Game-Changer

Before diving into the "how," it's crucial to understand the "why." The comment section is one of the most valuable assets a creator has. It transforms passive viewing into an active, participatory experience, which is a key metric for channel success.

Firstly, it’s a goldmine for audience feedback. Viewers will tell you what they love, what confuses them, and what they want to see next. As specialists in renewable energy solutions, from smart solar panels to EV chargers installations, we've found that an active comment section is essential. When we post a video explaining the intricacies of a heat pump, viewer questions help us identify areas that need more clarification and inspire ideas for future content. This direct feedback loop is invaluable for refining your content strategy.

Secondly, comments fuel the YouTube algorithm. Engagement signals—likes, shares, and especially comments—tell YouTube that your video is resonating with viewers. The more interaction a video gets, the more likely the algorithm is to recommend it to a wider audience. A lively discussion below your video can significantly boost its visibility and reach.

Finally, it’s where community is built. When you reply to comments, and viewers reply to each other, you foster a sense of belonging. People return to channels where they feel seen and heard. This community aspect turns casual viewers into dedicated fans who are more likely to support your channel in the long run.

How to Enable YouTube Comments by Default (Desktop)

Setting your comments to be "on" by default is the most efficient way to manage a channel with frequent uploads. This ensures that every new video you publish will automatically have comments enabled, saving you the hassle of changing the setting for each one individually.

Follow these simple steps in the YouTube Studio on your computer:

1. Access YouTube Studio: Open your web browser and navigate to studio.youtube.com. If you're not already logged in, you'll need to sign in to your Google account associated with your YouTube channel.

2. Open Settings: Look for the left-hand navigation menu. Near the bottom, you'll find a Settings option, usually accompanied by a gear icon. Click on it.

3. Navigate to Upload Defaults: A pop-up window will appear. In the menu on the left side of this window, click on Upload defaults. This section allows you to pre-configure settings for all your future videos.

4. Go to Advanced Settings: Within the "Upload defaults" section, you'll see a few tabs at the top. Click on the Advanced settings tab to access more detailed options.

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

6. Choose Your Setting: Click the dropdown menu and select Allow all comments. You can also choose "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review," which is a highly recommended setting for most creators.

7. Save Your Changes: Once you've selected your preferred option, don't forget to click the blue Save button in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window.

A Note on Default Settings

Remember, changing this setting only applies to future videos. Any videos you've already uploaded will retain their existing comment settings. You will need to change them individually if you want to enable comments on older content.

Now, every video you upload will automatically adopt this comment setting, streamlining your workflow and ensuring your community can engage from the moment a video goes live.

Activating Comments for a Single Video (Desktop)

Sometimes you may need to enable comments on a specific video that had them turned off previously. This could be an older video you want to revive discussion on or a video where comments were accidentally disabled. The process is just as simple but is done on a per-video basis.

Here's how to turn on comments for an individual video using your computer:

1. Go to Your Content Library: From the main YouTube Studio dashboard, click on the Content tab in the left-hand navigation menu. This will display a list of all your uploaded videos.

2. Select the Video: Find the video you want to edit in the list. You can either click on its thumbnail or hover over the video title and click the pencil icon that appears to open the Video details page.

3. Reveal More Options: On the "Video details" page, scroll down to the very bottom. You'll see blue text that says SHOW MORE. Click this to expand the full list of advanced settings for that video.

4. Find "Comments and ratings": Scroll down through the newly revealed options until you find the section titled Comments and ratings.

5. Adjust Comment Visibility: Here, you'll see the "Comment visibility" dropdown menu. Click on it and select Allow all comments or another preferred moderation level from the list.

6. Save Your Work: After making the change, scroll back to the top of the page. The Save button in the upper-right corner will have turned blue. Click it to apply your changes.

The comments section for that specific video will now be active, allowing viewers to share their thoughts immediately. This method gives you granular control, perfect for managing your back catalog of content.

Enabling Comments On the Go (YouTube Studio Mobile App)

Managing your channel doesn't have to stop when you're away from your desk. The YouTube Studio mobile app is a powerful tool that lets you moderate and adjust settings on the fly, including enabling comments.

Steps for the Mobile App

If you need to quickly turn on comments for a video from your phone or tablet, follow this process:

1. Open the YouTube Studio App: Tap the YouTube Studio icon on your mobile device to launch the application.

2. Access Your Content: At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a menu bar. Tap on the Content icon (it looks like a play button symbol inside a rectangle).

3. Choose a Video: A list of your videos will appear. Scroll through and tap on the thumbnail of the video you wish to edit.

4. Enter Edit Mode: On the video's performance page, look to the top-right corner. You'll see a set of icons. Tap the pencil icon to edit the video's metadata and settings.

5. Find Comment Settings: On the "Edit video" screen, you'll see several options. Tap on the last one, usually labeled More options (Tags, category, comments & more).

6. Turn on Comments: Scroll down to the "Comments" section. Tap on the dropdown menu and select Allow all comments. In some versions of the app, this might be a simple toggle switch you need to turn on.

7. Save the Changes: Tap the back arrow in the top-left to return to the main "Edit video" screen. The Save button in the top-right corner will now be active. Tap it to confirm your changes.

This mobile-friendly method ensures you can keep your community engaged no matter where you are.

Understanding YouTube's Comment Moderation Levels

Simply enabling comments is just the first step. YouTube provides several levels of moderation to help you maintain a healthy and constructive environment. Choosing the right setting is crucial for managing your workload and protecting your community from spam and negativity.

The Four Main Options

• Allow all comments: This is the most open option. Every comment is published immediately without any filtering. While it maximizes engagement, it also leaves you vulnerable to spam, trolls, and inappropriate content. It's generally only recommended for smaller channels where you can manually review every comment.

• Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review: This is the most recommended setting for the majority of creators. YouTube's AI automatically scans incoming comments for spam, self-promotion, and potentially harmful language. These comments are placed in a "Held for review" queue in your YouTube Studio, where you can approve, delete, or report them. It strikes an excellent balance between fostering discussion and maintaining a safe environment.

• Hold all comments for review: With this setting, no comment goes public until you manually approve it. This offers maximum control and is ideal for channels that deal with sensitive or controversial topics, or for brands that need to ensure absolute brand safety. However, it can be very time-consuming and may slow down the conversation.

• Disable comments: This option turns the comment section off completely. It should be used sparingly, as it cuts off a vital line of communication with your audience. It might be appropriate for a video on a highly sensitive topic where a constructive discussion is unlikely, or for announcement videos that don't require feedback.

A Note on Feedback: Even negative comments can be useful. While you should always remove hateful or abusive content, constructive criticism, even when phrased poorly, can highlight areas for improvement in your content. Learning to separate genuine feedback from trolling is a key skill for any creator.

Expert Tip: Use Keyword Filters

Beyond these settings, you can create a list of "blocked words" in your Community settings. Any comment containing these words will automatically be held for review. This is perfect for filtering out common spam phrases, profanity, or the names of controversial figures to keep your comment section clean.

Best Practices for Fostering a Great Comment Section

Once your comments are enabled and your moderation settings are in place, the real work begins: building a positive and engaging community. How you interact with your comments sets the tone for your entire channel.

• Pin a Comment: YouTube allows you to "pin" one comment to the top of the feed. Use this strategically. You can pin a comment that asks a question to spark discussion, provides additional information or a correction related to the video, or highlights a particularly insightful or funny comment from a viewer.

• Heart and Like Comments: When you see a comment you appreciate, give it a "heart." The commenter receives a notification, making them feel acknowledged. Liking comments also signals to both the viewer and the algorithm that you are active and engaged.

• Reply, Reply, Reply: Try to reply to as many comments as you can, especially in the first few hours after a video is published. Answering questions, thanking viewers for their feedback, and engaging in conversation shows that you value your audience. These replies also count as engagement, which helps boost your video's performance.

• Ask Questions in Your Video: End your videos with a call to action that encourages comments. Ask a specific question related to your content, like "What's the biggest challenge you've faced with your own solar setup?" This gives viewers a clear prompt to engage with.

Troubleshooting: Why Are My Comments Still Off?

Sometimes, even after following the steps, you might find your comments are still disabled. This is almost always due to one critical setting: the audience designation.

The "Made for Kids" Setting is Key

If a video is designated as "Made for Kids," YouTube will automatically disable the comments section to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This setting also disables personalized ads and other features. If your comments are off and you can't turn them on, check this setting first. You can find it on the "Video details" page under the "Audience" section. Be sure to only mark content as "Made for Kids" if it is specifically targeted at children.

Another less common reason could be that you are in Restricted Mode, an optional setting that limits mature content. If this mode is enabled on your own browser, it can prevent you from seeing comment sections on many videos, including your own.

Enabling and managing your YouTube comments is a powerful way to accelerate your channel's growth. It opens the door to invaluable feedback, boosts your visibility through algorithmic engagement, and, most importantly, allows you to build a lasting community of viewers who feel connected to you and your content. By using the tools YouTube provides, you can create a safe, constructive, and thriving space for conversation.

FAQ

Why can't I enable comments on a video I've marked as "Made for Kids"?

Comments, along with other features like personalized ads and the notification bell, are automatically disabled on any content designated as "Made for Kids." This is a mandatory measure by YouTube to comply with child protection laws like COPPA. If your content is not intended for children, ensure you have selected "No, it's not made for kids" in the video's audience settings.

How do I handle spam or hateful comments effectively?

The best approach is a combination of YouTube's automated tools and your own moderation. Set your default comment setting to "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review." Additionally, go to YouTube Studio > Settings > Community and add common spam terms and abusive words to the "Blocked words" filter. For any hateful comments that slip through, report them, delete them, and consider blocking the user from your channel to prevent them from commenting again.

Will disabling comments on one video affect my whole channel?

No, disabling comments is a per-video setting. Turning them off for one controversial or sensitive video will not impact the comment sections on your other uploads. However, disabling comments frequently may be perceived by the algorithm as a sign of low engagement, so it's best to use this option only when absolutely necessary.