Restricted Mode filters out videos YouTube's systems flag as potentially mature content — but the filter sometimes blocks videos that aren't actually mature, and it applies to your whole account or device depending on where you turn it off.

YouTube's Restricted Mode is a content filter that hides videos flagged by YouTube's automated systems and human reviewers as containing mature themes: violence, sexual content, profanity, or other adult material. When it's on, you won't see those videos in search results, recommendations, or your subscriptions feed.

The filter isn't perfect. It sometimes blocks educational videos about health, history, or social issues, and sometimes misses content it should filter. It also works differently depending on where you turn it off — disabling it on your account affects all your devices, while disabling it on a single device only affects that one.

Key Takeaways

  • Restricted Mode is turned on or off in YouTube settings, and the steps differ slightly between the website, the mobile app, and smart TVs.
  • Disabling it on your account (through the website) removes the filter across all your devices, while disabling it on a single device only affects that device.
  • If you share a device with others, turning off Restricted Mode on that device affects what everyone sees on that device.
  • YouTube's filter sometimes blocks videos that aren't actually mature content, so if a video you're looking for is missing, Restricted Mode may be the reason.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on the YouTube website

On a computer or phone browser, sign into your YouTube account and look for your profile picture in the top right corner. Click it, then click Settings. On the left side, click General. Scroll down until you see Restricted Mode and click the toggle to turn it off. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click Turn off.

This change applies to your account across all devices where you're signed in. If you sign out and browse YouTube without logging in, Restricted Mode will still be on for that unsigned session.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on the YouTube mobile app

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings, then General. Scroll down to Restricted Mode and tap the toggle to turn it off. Confirm when YouTube asks.

Like the website, this change affects your account across all devices. If you use the app on a shared device and want to keep Restricted Mode on for other users, you'll need to sign out of the app instead — unsigned browsing keeps the filter active.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on smart TVs and other devices

On a smart TV, game console, or streaming device, open YouTube and go to Settings (usually found in the menu or by pressing a settings button on the remote). Look for Restricted Mode and toggle it off. The exact path varies by device — some have it under General, others under Parental Controls.

Turning off Restricted Mode on a device only affects that device, not your account. If you share the TV with family members, they'll see the filter turned off the next time they use YouTube on that TV, even if they're signed into their own accounts.

What happens when you turn Restricted Mode off

Once you disable it, you'll immediately see videos that were previously hidden. Search results will be longer, your recommendations may change, and videos in your subscriptions feed that were filtered will reappear. The change takes effect right away — you don't need to refresh or restart the app.

If you turn it back on later, those videos disappear from view again, but they're not deleted from your watch history or playlists. Turning Restricted Mode on and off doesn't affect any videos you've already watched or saved.

Why videos might still be missing after turning off Restricted Mode

Even with Restricted Mode off, some videos won't appear in search results. YouTube also removes videos that violate its community guidelines — these are taken down entirely, not just filtered. If a video is completely gone, it was removed by YouTube, not hidden by Restricted Mode.

Some creators also make their videos unavailable in certain countries or regions, or they set their videos to private or unlisted. These restrictions are separate from Restricted Mode and won't change when you turn the filter off.

Restricted Mode on shared devices and accounts

If you share a device with children or other family members, turning off Restricted Mode on that device affects everyone who uses YouTube on it. Each person's account will see unfiltered results when using that device, even if they're signed in separately.

If you want to keep the filter on for some users and off for others on the same device, the only option is to have them use different devices, or to turn Restricted Mode on and off each time you switch users. YouTube doesn't offer per-user filtering on a single device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Restricted Mode affect my watch history or recommendations?

No. Turning off Restricted Mode doesn't change your watch history or delete anything you've watched. It only changes what videos are visible in search and recommendations going forward. Your viewing history stays the same.

Can I turn off Restricted Mode for just one video?

No. Restricted Mode is an all-or-nothing setting — you either have it on or off. If a specific video is blocked and you want to watch it, you need to turn off Restricted Mode entirely. You can turn it back on afterward if you want.

What if I forgot my password and can't sign into my account to change Restricted Mode?

You can turn off Restricted Mode on a single device without signing in. Open YouTube, go to Settings, find Restricted Mode, and toggle it off. This only affects that device. To change it on your account across all devices, you'll need to reset your password first through the Google Account recovery page.

Does Restricted Mode block ads or just videos?

Restricted Mode only filters videos. It doesn't change which ads you see. Ads are controlled by your Google account settings and browsing history, not by Restricted Mode.

Why is Restricted Mode back on after I turned it off?

If you're using a shared device, someone else may have turned it back on. If you're the only user, check that you're signed into the same Google account on all your devices — sometimes signing into a different account resets settings. You can also check your account's recent activity to see if anything changed.