Comments are off by default for new uploads — you turn them on in your video settings

When you upload a video to YouTube, comments are disabled automatically. To let viewers leave comments, you go to your video's settings and switch the comments feature on. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you uploaded the video today or months ago.

You can also control comments after they arrive — delete ones you don't want, pin your favorites to the top, or turn comments back off if they become a problem. YouTube gives you full control over what appears under your video.

Key Takeaways

  • Comments start disabled on every new video, so you must manually turn them on if you want viewers to comment.
  • You enable comments by opening your video, clicking Details, scrolling to the Advanced Settings section, and toggling Comments to On.
  • You can change the comment setting anytime — before or after people start commenting — without affecting existing comments.
  • YouTube lets you delete individual comments, pin comments to the top, or disable comments entirely if they become unwanted.

How to enable comments on a video you just uploaded

Start by going to YouTube Studio, which is the creator dashboard where you manage your channel. Click the Videos tab on the left side, then find the video you want to enable comments on and click it. The video details page will open.

Click the Details tab near the top of the page. Scroll down until you see Advanced Settings — it's a collapsible section near the bottom. Click Advanced Settings to expand it. Look for the Comments option and toggle it to On. Click Save at the bottom right of the page. YouTube will confirm the change, and comments are now enabled.

How to enable comments on an older video

The steps are identical whether your video is brand new or from years ago. Go to YouTube Studio, find the video in your Videos list, click it, go to Details, expand Advanced Settings, toggle Comments to On, and save. You don't need to re-upload or do anything else — the change takes effect when ready.

If you have many videos with comments disabled and want to turn them on for all of them at once, YouTube does not have a bulk edit feature. You will need to go through each video individually, though the process only takes about 30 seconds per video.

What to do if comments are causing problems

If you enable comments and then decide you don't want them, you can turn them back off the same way you turned them on. Go to Details, expand Advanced Settings, toggle Comments to Off, and save. This removes the comment box from your video, but it does not delete comments that are already there — they stay visible unless you delete them manually.

To delete individual comments, go to your video, click the Comments tab, and you'll see all the comments people have left. Hover over any comment and a trash icon appears. Click it to delete that comment. You can also pin a comment to the top of the section by clicking the three dots next to it and selecting Pin Comment — this is useful if you want to highlight your own response or a particularly good viewer comment.

Why YouTube disables comments by default

YouTube starts with comments off because it puts you in control. Some creators don't want comments at all, some want to review them before they appear, and some want to build their audience before opening up to feedback. By making you turn comments on deliberately, YouTube makes sure you've thought about whether you want them.

This default also protects new channels from spam and harassment. Once you've decided comments are right for your content, turning them on takes seconds.

Comment settings you can adjust beyond just on or off

In Advanced Settings, you'll see other comment controls beyond the straightforward On/Off toggle. You can choose to hold all comments for review before they appear publicly — this means viewers submit comments, but you see them first and decide whether to publish them. You can also block comments that contain certain words or phrases by adding them to a filter list.

These settings let you keep comments enabled while still controlling what appears under your video. If you want comments but don't want to moderate them constantly, the review-first option gives you that middle ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I turn comments off, do existing comments disappear?

No. Turning comments off hides the comment box so new comments can't be added, but all existing comments stay visible. If you want to remove them, you have to delete them one by one. If you want them gone completely, turn comments off and then delete each comment manually.

Can I enable comments on someone else's video?

No. You can only change comment settings on videos you uploaded to your own channel. If you're a collaborator or manager on someone else's channel, you may have permission to edit their videos, but you still need to be logged into that channel account.

What's the difference between turning comments off and holding them for review?

Turning comments off removes the comment box entirely — viewers can't comment at all. Holding for review lets viewers submit comments, but you see them first and choose whether to publish them. Use review mode if you want comments but want to filter out spam or inappropriate ones before they appear.

Do I have to enable comments to get views?

No. YouTube doesn't require comments to be on, and videos with comments disabled can get plenty of views. Some creators disable comments by choice, and it doesn't hurt your video's performance in YouTube's recommendation system.