What Restricted Mode Does and Why You Might Want to Disable It

Restricted Mode is a YouTube filter that hides videos YouTube's systems flag as potentially inappropriate — usually content with profanity, violence, or adult themes. When it is on, you will not see those videos in search results, recommendations, or playlists, even if you search for them directly. YouTube designed it mainly for shared devices or accounts used by children, but it applies to everyone using that account or device.

You might want to disable it because the filter sometimes hides videos that are not actually inappropriate — a music video with mild language, a documentary about a sensitive topic, or educational content about health. Once you turn it off, you regain access to the full YouTube catalog and your recommendations will include videos the filter was blocking.

Key Takeaways

  • Restricted Mode lives in YouTube settings on the web, but the mobile app does not have a toggle for it — you must use a browser instead.
  • On a computer, scroll to the bottom of any YouTube page, click your profile picture, and select "Restricted Mode: On" to switch it off.
  • Restricted Mode applies per account on the web, but per device on the YouTube app, so disabling it on one device does not affect others.
  • If you share a device with others, turning off Restricted Mode will affect what they see too — consider whether that is appropriate for your household.

Disabling Restricted Mode on a Computer or Tablet Browser

On any computer or tablet, open YouTube in a web browser and sign into your account. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. In the footer, you will see your profile picture on the right side. Click it to open a small menu.

Look for the option that says "Restricted Mode: On" (or "Restricted Mode: Off" if it is already disabled). Click that option to toggle it. The page will refresh, and Restricted Mode will be off. From that point forward, your account will show unrestricted content when you are signed in on any device using a web browser.

Why the YouTube App Does Not Have a Restricted Mode Toggle

The YouTube mobile app for iPhone and Android does not include a Restricted Mode on/off switch in its settings menu. Instead, the app inherits the setting from your device's system-level parental controls — on iPhone through Screen Time, on Android through Digital Wellbeing or Google Family Link.

If you want to disable Restricted Mode on a phone or tablet, the fastest route is to use a mobile web browser instead of the app. Open YouTube.com in Safari, Chrome, or your phone's default browser, sign in, and use the same footer method described above. That will disable it for your account when you use the web version on any device.

What Happens When You Share a Device

Restricted Mode behaves differently depending on how you are using YouTube. On the web, the setting is tied to your account — if you disable it on your account, only you see unrestricted content when signed in as you. Other people using the same computer with their own accounts will still have their own Restricted Mode settings.

On the YouTube app, Restricted Mode is tied to the device itself, not the account. If you disable it on a shared phone or tablet, everyone using the YouTube app on that device will see unrestricted content. If you live with children or others who should not see that material, disabling Restricted Mode on a shared device may not be the right choice — consider using a browser on your personal device instead, or leaving the app setting as is and using the web version when you need unrestricted access.

If Restricted Mode Keeps Turning Back On

Sometimes Restricted Mode re-enables itself, usually because of a setting on your device or network. On a school or work computer, an administrator may have locked Restricted Mode on through a network policy — you will not be able to turn it off permanently in that case, and you would need to contact your IT department.

On a home computer, check whether anyone has set up parental controls through your operating system. On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, and check Family options. On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, and look for Parental Controls. If parental controls are active, you may need a password to disable them. If you are the account owner and do not remember setting them, you can reset them through your Microsoft or Apple account recovery process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Restricted Mode affect other people's YouTube accounts on the same computer?

No. On the web, Restricted Mode is per account, so each person's setting is separate. If you disable it on your account, other people using their own accounts on the same computer will still have their own Restricted Mode settings intact.

Can I disable Restricted Mode on the YouTube app without using a browser?

Not directly. The app does not have its own toggle. You can disable it for your account through a web browser, but the app will still follow your device's parental control settings. If you need unrestricted access on a phone, use the mobile web version instead of the app.

What if I disabled Restricted Mode but still cannot see certain videos?

Some videos are age-restricted by YouTube or the uploader, separate from Restricted Mode. Age-restricted videos require you to be signed in and 18 or older. Disabling Restricted Mode will not override that. You may also be in a country where certain content is blocked by law — that is a different restriction YouTube cannot remove.

Is there a way to disable Restricted Mode for just one person on a shared device?

On a computer, yes — each person signs into their own account and manages their own setting. On a phone or tablet using the app, no — the setting applies to the whole device. If you need separate restrictions for different people on a phone, you would need to set up separate user profiles through your device's settings, which is complex and not common.