YouTube Comments Not Loading (FIXED) – Full Tutorial
YouTube allows users to comment on videos and these comments can be made only if the user is signed in to their Google account. There is no way to make anonymous comments on YouTube.
While users have to be signed in to leave a comment on a YouTube video, they do not have to be signed in to read them. The comments made on a video are visible to anyone that can view/watch the video.
YouTube comments not loading
YouTube comments aren’t exactly the most intelligent discussions you’ll find online but in many cases e.g., comments left under tutorials, they can be helpful. Often a channel leaves helpful information in reply to a comment.
If you’re watching a YouTube video and the comments are not loading, run through these checks and then try the fixes listed further below.
- Make sure commenting is not turned off for a video. YouTube automatically turns off commenting on certain videos e.g. those with children in them, or those with auto-generated tracks. Content creators can also selectively disable comments for some videos so make sure that the comments are turned off message isn’t shown.
- Make sure comments have been left. If a video has comments, you will see the number posted just below its description.
If you’re certain a video has comments and they aren’t loading in your browser, try the fixes below.
1. Clear the website cache
Files stored to your browser’s cache by YouTube may have expired or they may have been corrupted over time. This can often prevent content on a website from loading.
- Open the browser.
- Click the padlock icon in the URL bar (look at the left end).
- Select Site Settings.
- On the page that opens, click Clear Data.
- Close all instances of YouTube and open it again in a new tab.
- Visit the video and it should show comments.
Note: the above steps will work in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers.
2. Clear browesr cache
If clearing the site cookies doesn’t work, try clearing the browser’s cache.
- Open the browser.
- Go to the Settings page.
- Under Privacy and security, click Clear browsing data.
- Select Cached images and files and click Clear data.
- Restart the browser and visit Youtube.
3. Try incognito mode
Your browser’s settings may be preventing the comments from loading. Incognito mode is a private mode that your browser can run in and it disables most user settings.
- Open your browser.
- Tap the Ctrl+Shift+N keyboard shortcut.
- A new window will open.
- Visit a YouTube video and check if the comments load.
4. Disable extensions/add-ons
Many users install extensions-add-ons that hide content on webpages. A common example is ad-blockers. These extensions/add-ons often go beyond blocking ads and will also hide other types of web elements e.g., frames, or comments.
Try to disable the extensions/add-ons in your browser and reload the video to see if the comments appear.
- Open the browser.
- Go to the browser’s extension manager or add-on manager.
- Disable all extensions/add-ons.
- Open the video in a brand new window.
5. Disable proxies and VPN
Proxies and VPNs, particularly those installed in the browser via extensions or add-ons can block content. Disable any proxy or VPN services that you have running and check if the comments for a YouTube video load.
6. Try a new browser profile
It’s possible there is a problem with your browser’s profile. A profile contains lots of files that are specific to a user and many are not deleted when a browser’s cache is cleared. Check if the YouTube comments load for a new profile.
Note: not all browsers support multiple profiles. Chrome and Chromium-based browsers do. If your browser doesn’t support multiple profiles, move on to the next solution.
- Open the browser.
- Click your profile icon at the top right.
- Select Add.
- Enter a name for the profile and launch it.
- Visit a YouTube video and check if the comments load.
7. Reset browser
If there is a problem with the core files of a browser or your profile, resetting the browser can fix them. This will result in your bookmarks, browsing history, auto-fill data etc, being deleted so back them up before you reset the browser.
For Chrome and Chromium-based browser:
- Click the more options button at the top right.
- Select Settings.
- Expand Advanced.
- Scroll to the end.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
For Firefox:
- Open Firefox and click the hamburger icon at the top right.
- Select Help>Troubleshoot Information.
- Click Refresh Firefox.
Conclusion
YouTube doesn’t hide comments on a video. It may block them but in this case, a message is displayed to let users know the comments have been disabled.
If all else fails, try using a different browser. More often than not, a user’s profile or the browser’s installation has developed problems that prevent content from loading.
