Learn about comment settings

YouTube Comments: Replying, filtering, & moderating

You can choose to hold some comments for review before they’re shown on your video or channel. Learn how to change your comment settings.

Comment settings for videos

The following comment settings can be used for individual videos.

Allow all comments

All comments left on your video are immediately visible. You can view these comments on your Comments page, under the “Published” tab.

Viewers can still report inappropriate comments and spam. Comments that violate our Community Guidelines may be removed. Comments that are likely spam may be automatically held for review in YouTube Studio for up to 60 days.

Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review

Potentially inappropriate comments are held for review on your Comments page in YouTube Studio, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days. You can view these comments from YouTube Studio, not the watch page.

• These comments are not publicly visible, unless you approve them to be shown.
• YouTube can hold potentially inappropriate comments for review in over 100 languages.

If you want an even higher level of protection, turn on Increase strictness to hold more potentially inappropriate comments under the “Held for review” tab. To increase strictness of potentially inappropriate comment moderation across your channel:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Settings.
3. Select Community Defaults.
4. Choose Hold Potentially Inappropriate Comments for Review select Increase strictness.
5. Select Save.

Choosing to turn on this setting will use a stricter threshold when detecting potentially inappropriate content in comments across your channel.

Tip: If there are more words or phrases you want to hold for review, add them to your blocked words list.

Hold all comments for review

All comments must be manually approved before they can show. Comments can be reviewed on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.

Learn how to review held comments.

Disable comments

If you turn off comments for your video, viewers can’t comment. “Comments are disabled for this video. Learn more.” will show beneath your video.

Channel level comment settings

Hidden users

You can choose to hide comments from specific commenters across all videos on your channel.

Learn how to hide comments from a specific channel.

Note: Hidden users also cannot create clips of your videos and live streams. Learn more.

Blocked words

You can add a list of words and phrases that you don’t want to show in comments to your blocked words lists.

Comments containing or closely matching these terms may be held for review for up to 60 days, unless they’re from someone on your approved user list. Live chat messages containing or closely matching these terms will also be blocked.

Comments with blocked words can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab.

To add to your blocked words lists:

1. Open YouTube Studio.
2. From the left, click Settings Community.
3. Under the "Automated Filters" tab, scroll to "Blocked words."
4. Add words and phrases separated by commas.
5. Select SAVE.

Note: Blocked words also cannot be used when creating clips of your videos and live streams. Learn more.

Block comments with links

You can hold comments that contain URLs for review. Here's how:

1. Open YouTube Studio.
2. From the left, click Settings Community.
3. Under the "Automated Filters" tab, select Block links.

Comments with links aren't blocked if they're posted by you, moderators, or approved users.

Live chat messages with URLs are also blocked.

Comments with hashtags and links can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.

Default comment settings

You can apply the same comment setting to all new video uploads. Changing your default settings for new video uploads will not impact existing videos.

You can choose different comment settings for individual videos after upload. Learn how to change your default comment settings for new videos.

Channel homepage comment settings

You can change your setting for new comments on the Community tab of your channel. Learn how to change your comment settings.

FAQ about comment settings

Can I block certain words, links, or users from one specific video?

No. Hidden users, blocked words, and link blocking automatically apply to all videos and to your channel homepage. Changes to your settings may also apply to new and existing videos.

Note: Changes to your comment settings only apply to new videos.

Can I review comments from hidden users?

No. Comments from hidden users don’t show in YouTube Studio.

Can I review comments that are blocked for specific words or links?

Yes. Comments with blocked words or links can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.

If I turn comments off and back on again, do my old comments come back?

Yes. If you turn comments off and back on again, existing comments will reappear.

If you turn off comments, existing comments can’t be seen on the watch page or in YouTube Studio.

If I change my settings, are existing comments impacted?

Existing comments may be affected by changes you make to your comment settings. For example, adding new terms to your blocked words list will hold all existing and future comments containing or closely matching these words for review.