YouTube Comments Not Loading (FIXED) – Full Tutorial

When YouTube comments won’t load, it feels like showing up to a party and realizing nobody can talk. The video plays,
the like button works, the ads are somehow thriving… but the comment section is stuck on an eternal spinner,
blank space, or “Something went wrong.”

The good news: in most cases, this is fixable in minutes. The even better news: you don’t need to be a tech wizard,
just someone who can follow steps without getting emotionally attached to their browser cache.

This full tutorial walks you through the real reasons YouTube comments aren’t showing, the fastest fixes first,
and the deeper solutions that solve stubborn cases on Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Android, iPhone, iPad,
and even “mysteriously cursed” Wi-Fi networks.

Quick Diagnosis: What “Not Loading” Actually Looks Like

Before we fix it, identify the symptom. It helps you skip unnecessary steps.

• Infinite loading spinner where comments should be
• Blank comment area (no error, just empty)
• “Comments are turned off” message
• “Restricted Mode has hidden comments”
• Comments load on mobile but not on desktop (or vice versa)
• Only happens on certain videos, not all videos

Why YouTube Comments Don’t Load (Most Common Causes)

Usually, it’s one of these:

1) Temporary YouTube server issues

Sometimes the problem isn’t your deviceit’s YouTube having a bad day. During outages, parts of the site can break
(desktop often gets hit harder than the app), including comments.

2) Browser cache/cookies or corrupted site data

Your browser saves site data to load pages faster. If that data becomes outdated or corrupted, YouTube can load the
video player but fail to render comments properly.

3) Extensions that interfere (ad blockers, privacy tools, script blockers)

Comments are dynamic content that often loads through scripts. Certain extensions block tracking scripts and
accidentally block the comment system too.

4) Restricted Mode, parental controls, or network filtering

Restricted Mode can hide comments. Schools, workplaces, or “family-safe” routers may enforce it, making it look like a
YouTube bug when it’s actually a setting.

5) Video-level settings: comments disabled (including “made for kids”)

Some creators turn comments off. Also, videos or channels set as “made for kids” can have comments disabled
automatically, depending on YouTube settings.

6) App issues (mobile cache, outdated app version, storage problems)

On phones, the YouTube app can get “sticky” if its cache grows too large or if an update didn’t install cleanly.

The Fast Fixes (Do These First)

Step 1: Refresh the page (yes, really)

1. On desktop: press Ctrl + R (Windows) or Cmd + R (Mac).
2. On mobile: swipe down to refresh or back out of the video and reopen it.

This fixes short-lived loading hiccups, especially if you opened YouTube in a tab that’s been sitting there since last
Tuesday.

Step 2: Test another video (and another account, if possible)

• If comments fail on every video, it’s likely a device/browser/network issue.
• If comments fail on one video only, they may be disabled or filtered on that video.
• If it works when logged out or in another account, it may be a setting (Restricted Mode, supervised account, etc.).

Step 3: Check if YouTube is having an outage

If many people are reporting issues at the same time, you can stop blaming your Wi-Fi for a moment. When YouTube has an
outage, you may see partial failures like slow loading, errors, or missing comments. In that case, the only “fix” is to
wait and try again later.

Desktop Fixes: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari (Full Walkthrough)

Step 4: Open an Incognito/Private window

This is the fastest way to test whether extensions or saved site data are causing the issue.

• Chrome/Edge: Incognito/InPrivate
• Firefox: Private Window
• Safari: Private Browsing

If comments load in private mode, the culprit is usually an extension or corrupted cookies/site data.

Step 5: Disable extensions (especially ad blockers) one by one

1. Disable ad blockers, script blockers, privacy blockers, and “YouTube enhancer” extensions first.
2. Refresh YouTube after disabling each one.
3. When comments start working, you found your troublemaker.

Tip: If you don’t want to give up the extension forever, try whitelisting YouTube and re-enabling only what you truly
need.

Step 6: Clear YouTube site data (targeted cleanup)

Instead of wiping your entire browsing history, you can remove YouTube’s stored data only. The exact menu names vary by
browser, but the goal is the same: remove cookies and cached site data for YouTube.

1. Open your browser settings.
2. Go to Privacy/Site Data/Cookies.
3. Search for youtube (and optionally google).
4. Remove those site entries.
5. Restart the browser and sign back into YouTube.

Step 7: Clear cache and cookies (the “big hammer,” used responsibly)

If targeted site cleanup doesn’t work, clear your cache and cookies for a broader reset. This commonly resolves pages
that partially load (video loads, comments don’t) due to stale data conflicts.

• Select a time range (often All time for stubborn problems).
• Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• Restart the browser afterward.

Heads up: clearing cookies may sign you out of sites. Annoying, but temporary.

Step 8: Update your browser

Older browser versions can struggle with modern site scripts. Update your browser, then try again. If you’re already
updated, try switching browsers temporarily (e.g., Chrome → Edge, or Safari → Chrome).

Step 9: Turn off VPN (or try a different VPN server)

VPNs can cause weird loading behavior if a server is slow or if YouTube challenges traffic from that IP. If comments
load after turning off the VPN, try a different region/server.

Mobile Fixes: Android

Step 10: Force close YouTube and reopen

1. Open the app switcher.
2. Swipe YouTube away to close it.
3. Reopen YouTube and test comments again.

Step 11: Clear the YouTube app cache (Android)

Cache bloat is a classic reason comments load forever. Clearing cache is safe; it doesn’t delete your account or
subscriptions.

1. Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube.
2. Tap Storage.
3. Tap Clear cache.
4. Reopen YouTube and test comments.

Step 12: Update the YouTube app

Open the Play Store, search YouTube, and tap Update if available. If updates don’t
show, you may already be current.

Step 13: Restart your phone (simple, effective)

A restart clears temporary system processes and network glitches that can interfere with app content loading.

Mobile Fixes: iPhone & iPad

Step 14: Close and reopen YouTube

Swipe up (or double-click Home on older devices) and fully close YouTube, then reopen it.

Step 15: Update the YouTube app (iOS)

Open the App Store → search YouTube → update if available. Many comment-loading bugs disappear after a routine update.

Step 16: Offload or reinstall YouTube (when the app is “stuck”)

iOS doesn’t offer a universal “clear app cache” button for every app. But you can refresh the app installation.

1. Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage).
2. Find YouTube.
3. Choose Offload App (keeps documents/data) or delete and reinstall for a full reset.
4. Reinstall YouTube and sign in again.

Settings & “Not a Bug” Situations (Very Common)

Restricted Mode is hiding comments

If you see a message like “Restricted Mode has hidden comments,” the fix is changing Restricted Mode settings. On some
networks, Restricted Mode can be locked by an administrator (schools/workplaces), meaning you can’t disable it without
network permission.

1. Click your profile icon on YouTube.
2. Find Restricted Mode.
3. Turn it off and reload the video.

Comments are disabled by the creator (or by YouTube)

If a creator turned comments off, there’s nothing to “fix” on your side. Also, some videos marked for certain audiences
(including “made for kids”) can have comments disabled by policy or settings.

You’re on a supervised account (Family controls)

Some supervised experiences can limit comment visibility. If comments load when you’re signed out or on another
account, this is a strong clue.

Advanced Fixes (When Nothing Else Works)

Step 17: Try a different network

Switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data (or vice versa). If comments load on a different network, your original network is
likely filtering content, blocking scripts, or having DNS issues.

Step 18: Reboot your router/modem

Unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, then test again. This can fix temporary DNS and connectivity issues.

Step 19: Check content filtering, SafeSearch, or DNS filtering

Some routers and “family safety” DNS services can block parts of YouTube (including comments) while still letting
videos play. If you’re on a school/work network, you may not be able to change this yourself.

Step 20: Sign out and sign back in

It sounds basic, but account tokens can occasionally glitch. Sign out of YouTube/Google, close the app/browser, reopen,
and sign back in.

Mini Troubleshooting Map (Pick Your Path)

• Comments load in private mode: disable extensions → clear YouTube site data → restart browser.
• Comments load on mobile but not desktop: desktop extensions/cache are likely the issue.
• Comments load on desktop but not mobile: clear app cache (Android) or offload/reinstall (iOS).
• Only one video has no comments: comments are disabled or filtered for that video.
• Message mentions Restricted Mode: turn it off (unless locked by network/admin).
• Everyone is complaining online: it’s probably an outagetake a break and try again later.

Real-World Experiences: What This Problem Usually Feels Like (And How People Actually Fix It)

If you’re thinking, “Okay, but which step is the real fix?”you’re not alone. In real life, people don’t
troubleshoot in neat textbook order. They panic-scroll, they refresh 14 times, they blame their internet provider,
and they briefly consider moving to the woods. Here are the most common real-world scenarios and how they usually end.

The “It Works on My Phone” Mystery

This one is everywhere: comments load perfectly in the YouTube app, but on your laptop they’re just… gone. In practice,
that almost always points to a browser issuemost often an extension. Ad blockers and privacy add-ons are the usual
suspects because the comments section is script-heavy. People fix it by opening an Incognito window and realizing
comments suddenly appear like magic. Then they disable extensions one by one until the “villain” reveals itself.
The funniest part? It’s often an extension installed months ago that you forgot existedlike a digital raccoon living
in your browser walls.

The “School Wi-Fi Ate My Comments” Surprise

On certain networksespecially schools, offices, or shared apartments with parental controlsYouTube might still play
videos but hide comments due to filtering. Users describe it as “YouTube is broken,” but the clue is usually a message
about Restricted Mode or the fact that comments return instantly when switching to mobile data. The fix is simple
(change networks), but the lesson is spicy: sometimes your router is the one moderating your internet, not YouTube.

The “Cache Gremlins” Slow Burn

Another common pattern: YouTube works fine for weeks, then gradually gets weirdcomments load slowly, then not at all.
People often notice other odd behavior too, like thumbnails not loading or pages partially rendering. Clearing
YouTube site data (or broader cache/cookies) is the cure here. It’s not glamorous, but it’s effectivelike cleaning a
junk drawer that somehow contains 47 rubber bands, 2 mystery keys, and a single battery that doesn’t match anything.

The “Made for Kids” Gotcha

Sometimes the “problem” is actually the intended behavior: comments are disabled on a specific video. Viewers may think
comments failed to load, especially if they’re used to scrolling down and seeing a comment wall. In these cases, people
usually realize the truth after trying multiple videos: “Oh… it’s just this one.” It happens a lot with
kid-focused content or channels that choose to disable comments to reduce spam or drama.

The Outage That Made Everyone a Tech Support Agent

During a YouTube outage, social media fills with people doing the exact same troubleshooting steps in parallelrefresh,
clear cache, restart devicesonly to discover the issue was never on their end. The easiest way to avoid wasting time
is checking whether lots of users are reporting problems. If it’s widespread, you’re allowed to stop debugging and go
do something better with your day (like watching videos… once YouTube gets its life together).

Conclusion: Your Comments Are Coming Back

When YouTube comments are not loading, the fix is usually one of four things: refresh the page, remove extension
interference, clear site/app data, or fix a setting like Restricted Mode. If it’s only happening on certain videos,
comments may be disabled by the creator or by YouTube’s audience settings.

Work top-down: start with the fastest checks, then move to targeted cleanup (YouTube site data or app cache), and only
then do the “bigger reset” options like clearing all cache/cookies or reinstalling the app. That approach saves time,
keeps your logins intact when possible, and gets you back to the comment sectionwhere the jokes, hot takes, and
accidental life advice live.