How to Turn Off Comments on YouTube (Per Video and by Default)

Switching comments off is one of those decisions that feels obvious until you've done it. Maybe a video has attracted pile-ons, maybe you're posting something where you simply don't want a discussion, or maybe you want to calm things down for a week. YouTube gives creators more than an on/off switch, and the middle options are often the better choice for a business channel. Here's what the help centre says, step by step, and what each setting does to the comments already there.

Turn off comments on one YouTube video in Studio

This is the main route, and it's done per video from a computer:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and select Content.
2. Click the thumbnail of the video you want to change.
3. Scroll down and click Show more.
4. Under Comments and ratings, choose your comment setting.
5. Click Save.

YouTube's help says you can also change several videos at once with bulk edits, which saves a lot of clicking if you're tidying a whole back catalogue.

Change YouTube comment settings from the app

If you're on your phone, the help centre gives a shorter path. Go to your video, tap Comments, tap the Settings icon, then tap Comments under the heading For this video. From there you'll see the same choices as in Studio. Menus vary by app version, so if yours looks different, look for the settings icon inside the comments panel.

The YouTube comment settings: On, Pause and Off

This is where it gets interesting. According to YouTube's page on comment settings, a video can be in one of three states:

Setting	What happens	Good for
On	Comments appear, with your choice of moderation	Normal videos where you want conversation
Pause	Existing comments stay visible, but no new ones arrive until you switch comments back on	A cooling-off period during a heated discussion
Off	Viewers can't comment and see a message saying comments are off	Videos where you don't want any discussion

One detail people worry about: according to the help centre, turning comments off and back on restores the existing comments. You're not wiping anything by flicking the switch.

Hold potentially inappropriate comments instead of turning them off

For many channels, switching everything off is overkill. With comments set to On, YouTube offers a comment moderation choice: None holds nothing, Basic holds potentially inappropriate comments, Strict holds a broader range, and Hold all holds every comment. Held comments aren't public until you approve them, and the help says they stay in YouTube Studio for up to 60 days.

Basic and Strict use automation, so YouTube warns they may not always be accurate. If you spot a mistake, use Send feedback on the review screen. And if the problem is a handful of nasty comments rather than the whole video, my guide to deleting YouTube comments covers removing, reporting and hiding people one by one.

Limit YouTube comments to subscribers and members

There's another middle path. With comments on, you can open the Who can comment drop-down and choose Subscribers and members. You can then set a minimum time someone has been subscribed before they can comment: any duration, 1 hour, 1 day or 1 week. It's a good filter against drive-by trolls, though it also keeps out friendly newcomers, so think about who you want to hear from.

Set the default for new YouTube uploads

Tired of switching comments off on every video? You can set a default comment setting in YouTube Studio. The catch, and it's an important one: the help centre says your default applies to new videos and posts only. Changing it doesn't touch videos you've already uploaded, so you'll need bulk edits for those.

Why you can't turn comments on or off for a YouTube video

A few situations lock the setting. The comment settings help lists them:

• Made for kids: comments are turned off on videos designated as made for kids, and you can't change that.
• Private videos: to allow comments, post an unlisted video instead. If you're not sure how that differs, my explainer on what unlisted means on YouTube sets out the three visibility options.
• Supervised accounts: you can't change comment settings if you're using YouTube through a supervised account.

Block words, links and people instead of switching comments off

Some channel-wide tools run alongside the per-video setting. Hidden users keeps a person's comments off all your videos. Approved users lets trusted people skip the filters. Blocked words and blocked links hold comments that match, for up to 60 days. YouTube says these apply to every video and your channel homepage, and you can't set them for just one video.

Should a business channel turn comments off? I'd say rarely. Comments are a free source of questions and ideas for your next video, and a reply from you shows prospects there's a real person behind the channel. I'd keep them on with Basic moderation, and only switch to Off for content that attracts abuse.

Turn comments back on later

It's the same screen in reverse: open the video's Comments and ratings settings, switch comments back to On and save. Setting changes apply to future comments, according to the help centre, and existing comments only change if you turn comments off for the video or hide a user.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off comments on a YouTube video?

In YouTube Studio, select Content, click the video, click Show more, and choose your setting under Comments and ratings, then Save. In the app, go to the video, tap Comments, then the Settings icon.

Do comments come back if I turn them on again?

According to YouTube's help, turning comments off and back on restores existing comments.

What's the difference between Pause and Off?

Pause keeps existing comments visible but stops new ones. Off stops viewers commenting and shows a message that comments are off.

Does changing my default comment setting affect old videos?

No. YouTube's help says changing your default for new uploads won't affect existing videos.

Why are comments off on my video and I can't change it?

The most common reason, per the help centre, is that the video is designated as made for kids. Supervised accounts also can't change comment settings.