- What YouTube Restricted Mode is and what it filters
- Turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube on a computer
- Switching Restricted Mode off in the YouTube app on Android, iPhone and iPad
- Restricted Mode on Google smart speakers and smart displays
- Why YouTube Restricted Mode is locked and won't switch off
- Restricted Mode for families, schools and business networks
- Still stuck with YouTube Restricted Mode on? Run through this list
- Frequently asked questions
To turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube on a computer, click your profile photo, choose Restricted Mode and switch off Activate Restricted Mode. In the app, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then General, and turn Restricted Mode off. If it won't budge, a network, school, workplace or Family Link administrator has probably locked it.
Restricted Mode is one of those YouTube settings people switch on once, forget about, and then can't work out why some of their search results have disappeared. Sometimes you didn't switch it on at all: a school, an employer, a library or a parent did it for you. I'll show you how to switch it off on each device, and then how to tell who's locked it if the switch won't move. If you run a business and your team uses YouTube for research or marketing, this one's worth knowing, because a filter on the office network can quietly hide videos you need.
The steps follow YouTube's help article on turning Restricted Mode on or off. Menus vary by app version, so if a label looks a little different on your screen, go for the nearest match.
What YouTube Restricted Mode is and what it filters
According to YouTube's help centre, Restricted Mode is an optional setting that can help screen out potentially mature content. It isn't the same thing as an age restriction on a single video, which is something creators and YouTube apply to individual uploads. Restricted Mode is a filter on what you see.
The detail that trips people up is that it works at the browser or device level. YouTube says you need to set it for each browser and each profile you use. So switching it off on your laptop won't switch it off on your phone, and turning it off in Chrome won't touch Safari on the same computer.
Turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube on a computer
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- At the top right, click your profile photo.
- At the bottom of the menu, click Restricted Mode.
- In the box that opens at the top right, switch off Activate Restricted Mode.
Reload the page and search again. Videos that were hidden should now appear.
Switching Restricted Mode off in the YouTube app on Android, iPhone and iPad
- Open the YouTube app and make sure you're signed in.
- Tap your profile picture at the top right.
- Tap Settings (the gear icon), then tap General.
- Turn Restricted Mode off.
The steps are the same on Android and on iPhone or iPad, according to YouTube's help pages. Remember that each device keeps its own setting, so repeat this on every phone or tablet you use.
Restricted Mode on Google smart speakers and smart displays
If YouTube on a smart display won't play certain videos, the setting lives in the Google Home app, not the YouTube app.
- Open the Home app on your phone.
- Tap the speaker or smart display you want to change.
- Tap Settings, then Notifications and digital wellbeing.
- Tap YouTube Settings.
- Turn Restricted Mode off for yourself or, if you manage the device, for other users.
Why YouTube Restricted Mode is locked and won't switch off
If the switch is greyed out or flips back on, someone other than you has probably set it. YouTube's help centre lists these causes:
- A network administrator. Computers in libraries, universities and other public places may have Restricted Mode switched on by whoever manages the network. Schools and workplaces often do the same.
- Your account or network. If it stays on after you sign in, YouTube points you to its content restrictions page, which shows whether the restriction comes from an administrator or from your own account.
- Your mobile provider. Some mobile networks filter content. YouTube says that if DNS restrictions are set to moderate or strict, you'll need to contact your provider to change it.
- Family Link. A parent can switch on Restricted Mode for a child's account, and the child can't change it on any device they're signed in to.
- A smart display's device manager. Because the setting's applied at device level, the person who manages the device may have set it for everyone.
| Who switched it on | How you'd know | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| You | The switch moves freely | Turn it off in settings |
| School, library or employer | It's locked on that network only | Ask the network administrator |
| Mobile provider | It's on over mobile data but not Wi-Fi | Contact your provider about content filters |
| Parent through Family Link | It's locked on every device for that account | Talk to the parent who manages the account |
Restricted Mode for families, schools and business networks
If you're the parent, YouTube's help page explains a few limits on Family Link. Parents can't set this up for a child over 13 (or the relevant age in their country) unless the supervised account was created before then. It also doesn't apply once the child has taken over managing their own account.
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If you're the business owner, the question flips around. A content filter on your office Wi-Fi might be switching on Restricted Mode for everyone, which can hide legitimate videos your staff need for research, training or competitor checks. Ask whoever set up your network which filter level they chose. It's a small check that saves a lot of confusion.
Still stuck with YouTube Restricted Mode on? Run through this list
- Check you're signed in to the account you think you're using, since a work or family account may carry its own rules.
- Try a different browser or browser profile, because the setting's stored separately for each one.
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or the other way round, to see whether the network's forcing it on.
- Visit YouTube's content restrictions page to see who set the restriction.
- If YouTube itself seems broken rather than filtered, work through my checklist for when YouTube is not working instead.
Once Restricted Mode is off, it's worth tidying up the rest of your viewing settings too. My guide to switching off autoplay on YouTube covers the next most common annoyance, and you'll find more small settings that make a big difference in my YouTube tips and tricks.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube?
Usually because someone else set it: a network administrator at a school, library or workplace, your mobile provider's content filter, or a parent through Family Link. YouTube's content restrictions page shows who set it.
Does turning off Restricted Mode on my phone turn it off everywhere?
No. YouTube says Restricted Mode works at the browser or device level, so you need to change it on each browser and each device you use.
Is Restricted Mode the same as age-restricted videos?
No. YouTube's help centre says Restricted Mode is an optional filter for what you see, and it isn't the same as age restrictions placed on individual videos.
Can my child switch off Restricted Mode if I set it with Family Link?
No. When a parent turns it on through Family Link, the child can't change it on any device they're signed in to, according to YouTube's help page.
Why is Restricted Mode only on when I use mobile data?
Some mobile providers filter content. YouTube says that if DNS restrictions are set to moderate or strict, you'll need to ask your provider to change the setting.
