What Restricted Mode does and how to turn it off

Restricted Mode is a YouTube filter that hides videos YouTube's systems flag as potentially mature content. When it is on, you cannot watch certain videos, and the comments section on other videos is turned off. You turn it off by scrolling to the bottom of any YouTube page, clicking the Restricted Mode toggle, and confirming your choice — the change takes effect immediately on that device and browser.

Restricted Mode is not a parental control that requires a password. It is a preference setting, like changing your volume or subtitle language. If someone else set it to on, you can turn it off yourself without permission. If you are trying to watch a video and YouTube says it is not available in Restricted Mode, turning off the filter is usually the fastest way to access it.

Key Takeaways

  • Restricted Mode is a content filter you toggle on or off at the bottom of any YouTube page — no password needed.
  • The setting applies only to the device and browser you change it on; turning it off on your phone does not affect YouTube on your computer.
  • If Restricted Mode is already off and a video still will not play, the video may be age-restricted or removed, which is a different issue.
  • Restricted Mode filters out comments on many videos, so turning it off also restores the full comment section.

Steps to disable Restricted Mode on desktop

Open YouTube in your web browser and go to any page — your home feed, a video, or the search results. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. In the bottom right corner, you will see a toggle labeled "Restricted Mode: On" (or "Off" if it is already disabled).

Click the toggle. A small pop-up will appear asking you to confirm. Click "Turn off" in the pop-up. The page will refresh, and Restricted Mode is now off. You can verify this by scrolling to the bottom again — the toggle should now say "Restricted Mode: Off."

This change applies only to the browser and device you are using right now. If you use YouTube on a different computer, phone, or browser, you will need to repeat these steps there as well.

Steps to disable Restricted Mode on mobile (phone or tablet)

Open the YouTube app or go to youtube.com in your mobile browser. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. A menu will drop down. Tap "Settings."

Scroll down and tap "General." Look for "Restricted Mode" in the list. Tap it, and you will see two options: "On" and "Off." Tap "Off." The setting saves immediately, and you can close the Settings menu.

If you are using the YouTube app and do not see Restricted Mode in Settings, your app may need an update. Go to your device's app store (Google Play Store on Android, App Store on iPhone), search for YouTube, and tap "Update" if it is available.

Why a video might still be blocked after turning off Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode filters out videos YouTube's system thinks are mature, but it is not the only reason a video might be unavailable. Some videos are age-restricted, which means YouTube requires you to sign in to a Google account and confirm you are at least 18 years old. Turning off Restricted Mode does not bypass an age restriction.

If you are signed in and the video still will not play, the video may have been removed by the creator or by YouTube for violating its policies. You can check by looking at the video page — if it says "Video unavailable," the video is gone, not hidden by Restricted Mode.

Another possibility is that the video is not available in your country. YouTube sometimes blocks videos by region for copyright or legal reasons. Restricted Mode has nothing to do with this, and turning it off will not change it.

Restricted Mode and comment sections

When Restricted Mode is on, YouTube hides the comments section on many videos. This is not because the comments are hidden from you — it is because YouTube turns off comments entirely on videos it flags as potentially mature. Turning off Restricted Mode restores the comment section so you can read and post comments.

If you turn off Restricted Mode and still do not see comments on a video, the creator may have disabled comments on that specific video, or YouTube may have turned them off because of policy violations. This is separate from Restricted Mode and cannot be changed by adjusting the filter.

If someone else turned on Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode is not a parental control with a password. Anyone with access to the device can turn it off by following the steps above. If you are a parent trying to restrict what your child watches, Restricted Mode alone is not enough — it is easy to disable and does not require authentication.

For actual parental controls, YouTube offers YouTube Kids, a separate app designed for younger viewers with stronger restrictions. You can also set up a supervised account through Google Family Link, which gives you more control over what content is available. These options require a password and are much harder to bypass than Restricted Mode.

Troubleshooting: Restricted Mode keeps turning back on

If you turn off Restricted Mode and it turns back on by itself, the most common cause is that you are signed into a Google account that has Restricted Mode locked on by a network administrator or parent. This happens most often on school or work computers, where IT departments lock the setting to prevent users from changing it.

If this is your personal device and your own account, try signing out of YouTube completely, clearing your browser's cookies and cache, and signing back in. Then turn off Restricted Mode again. If it still keeps turning back on, your browser may have an extension or plugin that is re-enabling it — check your browser's extension list and disable anything you do not recognize.

If you are on a school or work network and cannot turn off Restricted Mode, contact your IT department or network administrator. They control the setting on that network, and only they can unlock it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Restricted Mode let me watch age-restricted videos?

No. Restricted Mode and age restrictions are different filters. Age-restricted videos require you to sign into a Google account and confirm you are 18 or older. Turning off Restricted Mode does not remove age restrictions. You must sign in and meet the age requirement separately.

Will turning off Restricted Mode affect other people using this device?

No. Restricted Mode is tied to your browser and device, not to your Google account. If someone else uses a different browser on the same computer, or logs into their own account, they will have their own Restricted Mode setting. Each person's preference is separate.

Can I turn off Restricted Mode on a school or work computer?

You may not be able to. If your school or workplace has locked Restricted Mode on, the toggle will not work, and you will see a message saying the setting is controlled by your network administrator. Only the IT department can unlock it. Ask them to change it if you need access to specific content for legitimate reasons.

What happens to my watch history and subscriptions when I turn off Restricted Mode?

Nothing. Turning off Restricted Mode does not delete or change your watch history, subscriptions, playlists, or any other account data. It only changes the content filter. All your personal YouTube data stays exactly as it was.

If I turn off Restricted Mode, will YouTube recommend more mature content to me?

YouTube's recommendations are based on your watch history and what you search for, not on whether Restricted Mode is on or off. Turning off Restricted Mode simply removes the filter — it does not change how YouTube learns what you like to watch.