Miss seeing those dislike counts on YouTube videos? I feel your pain. Since late 2021, YouTube has hidden public dislike counts, leaving many of us in the dark about video quality before we invest our precious time watching.

But here's the good news - there are several ways to bring those dislike counts back.

Whether you're browsing on your laptop or scrolling through videos on your phone, this guide covers all the methods that actually work in 2025.

Why YouTube Hid Dislike Counts (Quick Background)

In November 2021, YouTube made dislike counts private while keeping the dislike button functional. 

According to YouTube's official blog, this change aimed to reduce "dislike attacks" and prevent harassment, particularly targeting smaller creators who felt disproportionately affected.

The dislike button still exists and functions - you can still click thumbs-down, which affects your personal recommendations and provides private feedback to creators. 

What's gone is just the public count that helped viewers quickly gauge video quality.

How to See YouTube Dislikes as a Viewer (Third-Party Solutions)

Since YouTube doesn't offer a native way for viewers to see dislikes anymore, we need to use third-party tools. 

Let's look at your options, from browser extensions to mobile apps and web-based tools.

Method 1 – Using a Browser Extension ("Return YouTube Dislike")

This is the easiest and most popular method for desktop users.

What it is: Return YouTube Dislike is a free, open-source browser extension that restores dislike counts on YouTube videos. 

With over 6 million users and a 4.7/5 star rating from over 18,000 reviews on the Chrome Web Store, it's clearly the community's go-to solution.

How it works: The extension fetches dislike data through an API that combines archived data (for videos published before December 2021) with anonymized user contributions. 

For older videos, the counts are based on YouTube's original data that was archived before the change. 

For newer videos, the extension estimates dislikes based on data from its millions of users.

Step-by-step installation (Desktop):

1. Open your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, etc.)

2. Search for "Return YouTube Dislike"

3. Click "Add to Chrome" (or equivalent for your browser)

4. Confirm the installation when prompted

5. Refresh any open YouTube tabs or open a new one

6. Play any video – you'll now see the dislike count appear next to the thumbs-down icon

The extension settings allow you to customize how it works. 

You can opt out of sharing your own anonymized data by clicking the extension icon in your browser toolbar and toggling off the "Submit my likes and dislikes" option.

Pros: Once installed, it works automatically across all YouTube videos. The experience feels seamless, almost like YouTube never removed the feature.

Cons: As a third-party solution, the dislike counts are estimates rather than official numbers. For less popular videos with fewer viewers using the extension, accuracy may vary. 

Also, this method only works when watching YouTube in a web browser, not in the mobile app.

Method 2 – Using an Online Dislike Viewer (No Install Needed)

Don't want to install anything? 

There are web-based tools that let you look up dislike counts by simply pasting a video URL.

Several websites use the same Return YouTube Dislike API to fetch dislike data. Hamphy's YouTube Dislike Checker is one of the most straightforward options.

How to use Hamphy's dislike viewer:

1. Visit hamphy.com/dislike-viewer

2. Paste any YouTube video URL into the search box

3. Click "Check Dislikes"

4. The site will display the video's likes, dislikes, and like/dislike ratio

The tool is completely free, doesn't require login, and uses the same data source as the browser extension. 

For people who just want to check occasional videos or can't install extensions (like on a work computer), this is a perfect solution.

The downside is you'll need to manually check each video rather than seeing dislikes automatically while browsing YouTube.

Method 3 – Viewing Dislikes on Mobile (Android & iOS)

Mobile users have several options too, though they work differently than on desktop.

On Android:

• Option A: Use Kiwi Browser. This mobile browser supports Chrome extensions. Install Kiwi Browser from Google Play, open the Chrome Web Store within it, add the Return YouTube Dislike extension, and then use YouTube in that browser.

• Option B: Use a dedicated app. Apps like "Return Dislike Button" on Google Play make checking dislikes simple. After installing, you can share any YouTube video to the app (using the Share button while watching), and it will pop up the dislike count.

• Option C (for tech-savvy users): Use NewPipe with Return YouTube Dislike. The team behind Return YouTube Dislike created a modified version of NewPipe (an alternative YouTube app) that incorporates dislike counts. You can download it from their GitHub repository, install the APK, and enable "Show Dislike Count" in the app's settings.

On iPhone (iOS):

• Option A: Use "YouTube Dislike Checker" app. Available on the App Store, this app lets you share videos directly from the YouTube app to check their dislike counts. It's free, shows no ads, and doesn't require a login.
  Option B: Use Safari. While Safari doesn't support the Return YouTube Dislike extension directly, you can create a bookmark to Hamphy's dislike viewer for quick access when you want to check a video's dislikes.

All these mobile solutions use the same Return YouTube Dislike database, so the numbers should match what you'd see using the browser extension.

How to See Dislikes on Your Own YouTube Videos (YouTube Studio)

If you're a content creator checking dislikes on your own videos, you're in luck! 

YouTube never removed this capability for creators - you can still see the exact dislike counts for videos you've uploaded.

YouTube Studio (desktop):

1. Log into YouTube Studio

2. Go to "Content" in the left sidebar

3. Find the video you want to check and click on its title

4. Click on "Analytics"

5. Under the "Engagement" tab, you'll find the likes and dislikes data

YouTube Studio mobile app:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app on your phone

2. Tap on "Dashboard" or "Content"

3. Select the video you want to check

4. Tap "Analytics"

5. Under "Engagement," you'll see your video's likes and dislikes

This native method gives you the exact dislike count, not an estimate, but it only works for content you've created yourself.

Tips, Accuracy, and What These Dislike Counts Mean

How accurate are these third-party dislike counts?

The accuracy varies depending on the video's popularity and age. 

The counts are generally quite close for popular videos with lots of views. 

For newer or less-watched videos, the estimates might be less precise since they rely on data from extension users who have watched the video.

Think of the restored dislike counts as a helpful gauge rather than an exact science. 

For most purposes - like deciding whether a tutorial is trustworthy - they're accurate enough to be useful.

Are these third-party tools safe to use?

Return YouTube Dislike is open-source, meaning its code is publicly available for inspection. 

With over 6 million users and high ratings, it's generally considered safe. 

The extension doesn't access sensitive data - it only needs permission to modify how YouTube looks in your browser.

That said, always download extensions from official sources like the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons, not random websites. 

For extra privacy, you can opt out of sharing your own like/dislike data in the extension settings.

The dislike-checking websites and mobile apps mentioned earlier are also widely used and don't require login information, but as with any third-party tool, use common sense and stick to the established options with good reviews.

Do dislikes still matter on YouTube?

Absolutely. 

Even though the public can't see dislike counts natively, the dislike button still:

• Influences your personal YouTube recommendations

• Helps creators understand audience reception through their analytics

• Contributes to the platform's overall quality control

The like-to-dislike ratio remains a valuable metric for gauging content quality. 

A video with 90% likes generally indicates good reception, while one with only 50% likes might have issues worth noting before you invest your time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people still dislike videos even though the count is hidden?

Yes, the thumbs-down button still works. Your dislike still affects your personal recommendations and is visible to the creator in their analytics dashboard.

Will YouTube ever bring back public dislike counts?

As of 2025, YouTube has maintained their stance on keeping dislikes private despite community feedback. 

There's no indication they plan to reverse this decision, which is why third-party tools remain necessary.

Can I see who specifically disliked my YouTube videos?

No. Even as a creator, you can only see the total number of dislikes, not which specific users disliked your content. 

This has always been the case, even before the 2021 change.

Is using these extensions against YouTube's Terms of Service?

Using Return YouTube Dislike or similar tools doesn't violate YouTube's Terms of Service.

These extensions simply display third-party data and don't interfere with YouTube's core functionality or advertising.

Are there any other browser extensions that show dislikes?

Yes, "Dislike Restore Pro" is another extension that shows dislikes, but Return YouTube Dislike is the most widely used and well-maintained option. 

Some analytics platforms like vidIQ also incorporate dislike data now, pulling from the same Return YouTube Dislike API.

Conclusion – Bringing Dislikes Back to YouTube

While YouTube doesn't show dislike counts publicly anymore, you now have multiple ways to access this valuable information. 

From the simple browser extension that works seamlessly on desktop to mobile apps that bring the feature to your phone, the community has stepped up to restore what many consider an essential part of the YouTube experience.

For casual viewers, these tools help you avoid wasting time on low-quality content. For creators, they provide additional insights into how videos are being received beyond YouTube's official analytics.

The methods in this guide should work well into 2025, and the open-source nature of Return YouTube Dislike means it's likely to stay updated even as YouTube's interface continues to evolve.