We’ve simplified the comment moderation experience and merged the two moderation tabs, “Held for review” and “Likely spam,” in YouTube Studio. Now, comments automatically held by YouTube will appear in the combined “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.
You can choose to hold some comments for review before they’re shown on your video or channel. Learn how to change your comment settings.
Comment settings for videos
The following comment settings can be used for individual videos.
Hold potentially inappropriate comments for reviewPotentially inappropriate comments are held for review on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days. You can view these comments from YouTube Studio, not the watch page.
At the bottom of the tab, you may see a link to “Show hidden comments.” Click it to view potentially hurtful comments that are automatically held for review.
YouTube can hold potentially inappropriate comments for review in over 100 languages.
YouTube’s system works to find potentially inappropriate comments, but it’s not always correct. As you review comments, the system gets better at finding comments to hold for review.
If there are more words or phrases you want to hold for review, add them to your blocked words list.
Hold all comments for review
All comments must be manually approved before they can show. Comments can be reviewed on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.
Learn how to review held comments.
Allow all comments
All comments left on your video are immediately visible. You can view these comments on your Comments page, under the “Published” tab.
Viewers can still report inappropriate comments and spam. Comments that violate our Community Guidelines may be removed. Comments that are likely spam may be automatically held for review in YouTube Studio for up to 60 days.
Turn off comments
If you turn off comments for your video, viewers can’t comment. “Comments are disabled for this video. Learn more.” will show beneath your video.
Channel level comment settings
Hidden users
You can choose to hide comments from specific commenters across all videos on your channel.
Learn how to hide comments from a specific channel.
You can add a list of words and phrases that you don’t want to show in comments to your blocked words lists.
Comments closely matching these terms may be held for review for up to 60 days, unless they’re from someone on your approved user list. Live chat messages containing these terms will also be blocked.
Comments with blocked words can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab.
To add to your blocked words lists:
- Open YouTube Studio.
- From the left, click Settings
Community.
- Under the "Automated Filters" tab, scroll to "Blocked words."
- Add words and phrases separated by commas.
- Select SAVE.
Block comments with links
You can hold comments that contain hashtags and URLs for review. Here's how:
- Open YouTube Studio.
- From the left, click Settings
- Under the "Automated Filters" tab, select Block links.
Comments with links won’t be blocked if they're posted by you, moderators, or approved users.
Live chat messages with URLs are also blocked.
Comments with hashtags and links can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.
Default comment settings
You can apply the same comment setting to all new video uploads. Changing your default settings for new video uploads will not impact existing videos.
You can choose different comment settings for individual videos after upload. Learn how to change your default comment settings for new videos.
Channel homepage comment settings
You can change your setting for new comments on the Discussion or Community tab of your channel. Learn how to change your channel’s comment settings.
FAQ about comment settings
Can I block certain words, links, or users from one specific video?
No. Hidden users, blocked words, and link blocking automatically apply to all videos and to your channel homepage.
Note: Changes to your comment settings only apply to new videos.
Can I review comments from hidden users?
No. Comments from hidden users don’t show in YouTube Studio.
Can I review comments that are blocked for specific words or links?
Yes. Comments with blocked words or links can be reviewed and approved on your Comments page, under the “Held for review” tab for up to 60 days.
If I turn comments off and back on again, do my old comments come back?
Yes. If you turn comments off and back on again, existing comments will reappear.
If you turn off comments, existing comments can’t be seen on the watch page or in YouTube Studio.
If I change my settings, are existing comments impacted?
| Impacted | Not impacted |
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Exception: If you turn off comments on your channel homepage, all previous comments are hidden.