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Can’t Turn Off Restricted Mode on YouTube? Why It’s Locked On and How to Change It

Restricted Mode is an optional YouTube setting that screens out potentially mature content. It also hides comments. You can usually switch it off from your profile picture menu, but YouTube says it can be locked on by someone else: a network administrator at a library, school, university or other organization, your mobile network’s content filters, or a parent through Family Link. In those cases, ask that person or organization to change it.

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Quick answer

On a computer, click your profile photo (top right) > Restricted Mode (at the bottom) and switch Activate Restricted Mode off. YouTube says the setting works per browser and per device profile, so you may need to change it on each one. If you can’t turn it off, YouTube says it may be set by a network administrator (common in libraries, universities and other public institutions), by your mobile provider’s content filters, or by a parent using Family Link. Ask that administrator, provider or parent. YouTube’s content restrictions page shows whether an administrator, your account or your network set it.

What’s happening?

Does this match what you see?

  • YouTube says “Restricted Mode has been enabled by your network administrator.”
  • The Restricted Mode switch is greyed out or turns back on.
  • Comments are missing on every video.
  • Some videos don’t appear in search or won’t play.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on YouTube’s Turn Restricted Mode on or off page, read directly from support.google.com. It covers computer, iPhone, iPad, Android and smart displays.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why Restricted Mode may be on, according to YouTube.

Who set Restricted Mode and who can change it
Set byWho can change it
You, on this browser or deviceYou
A network administratorThe administrator
Your mobile provider’s filtersThe provider
A parent with Family LinkThe parent
  • It was turned on in this browser or profileCheck this first

    YouTube says Restricted Mode works per browser and per device profile.

  • A network administratorCheck this first

    YouTube says computers in libraries, universities and other public institutions may have it turned on by an administrator.

  • Mobile network content filtersPossible

    YouTube says if DNS restrictions are set to moderate or strict, your carrier may be filtering content, and suggests contacting your provider.

  • Family LinkPossible

    YouTube says parents can turn it on for a child’s account where the child isn’t eligible for a supervised experience, and the child can’t change it on signed-in devices.

Try these 60-second checks first

  • Try another browser or device. If it’s off there, the setting is local to the first one.
  • Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi (or the other way) to see if it’s your network.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Fix 1: Turn Restricted Mode on or off

Safe & reversible1 miniPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

YouTube says Restricted Mode is an optional setting you can switch on or off.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. At the top right, tap your profile photo.
  3. Tap Settings, then General.
  4. Turn Restricted Mode on or off.

Android

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. At the top right, tap your profile photo.
  3. Tap Settings, then General.
  4. Turn Restricted Mode on or off.

Computer (browser)

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. Click your profile photo at the top right.
  3. At the bottom, click Restricted Mode.
  4. In the box that opens, switch Activate Restricted Mode on or off.

YouTube says the setting works per browser and per device profile, so repeat it on each browser or device. On Google Assistant speakers and smart displays, YouTube says to use the Home app: device > Settings > Notifications & digital wellbeing > YouTube Settings.

Did it work? Comments appear again under videos.

Restricted Mode locked on? Who can change it

  • Network administrator: YouTube says computers in libraries, universities and other public institutions may have Restricted Mode turned on by an administrator. Ask them to change it.
  • Mobile provider: YouTube says that if your carrier’s DNS restrictions are set to “moderate” or “strict”, it may be filtering content. Contact your provider.
  • Family Link: YouTube says parents can turn on Restricted Mode for a child’s account (where the child isn’t eligible for a supervised experience on YouTube), and the child can’t change it on signed-in devices. Talk to the parent who manages the account.
  • Check who set it: YouTube says its content restrictions page shows whether the restriction comes from an administrator, your account or your network.

What Restricted Mode does

  • YouTube says it uses signals such as the video’s title, description, metadata and age restrictions to screen out potentially mature content.
  • When it’s on, YouTube says you can’t view comments on videos you watch.
  • In YouTube Music, it also filters music; YouTube says explicit songs still appear but are skipped when played.
  • YouTube says it’s available in every language, though quality can vary between cultures.

For comments that are turned off for other reasons, see YouTube comments not showing.

How to know it worked

  • The Restricted Mode switch shows off, and comments are visible again.

Still not working? Your next steps

  1. Videos won’t play at all? See YouTube videos not playing.

Official help routes

SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube?

On a computer, click your profile photo > Restricted Mode and switch Activate Restricted Mode off. YouTube says it’s set per browser and device profile.

Why does YouTube say Restricted Mode is enabled by my network administrator?

YouTube says computers in libraries, universities and other public institutions may have it turned on by an administrator. Ask the administrator to change it.

Why can’t I turn off Restricted Mode on mobile data?

YouTube says your carrier may be filtering content if DNS restrictions are set to moderate or strict. Contact your provider.

Why can’t I see comments on YouTube?

YouTube says you can’t view comments while Restricted Mode is on. Comments can also be turned off by the creator or for other reasons.

Sources and how we checked this guide

We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.

  1. Turn Restricted Mode on or off on YouTube (external site, opens in a new tab)YouTube Help · checked 21 October 2026

Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.

What changed
  • 28 October 2026: First published.

SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google or YouTube. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.