Written by:
Michael Foster
Michael has been creating content for SaaS companies for over a decade. He's written for leading industry publications and developed content strategies for some of the fastest-growing B2B software companies.
Reviewed by:
Emma Rodriguez
Emma transforms complex marketing data into actionable insights. With a Ph.D. in Machine Learning and 8 years of experience in marketing analytics, she leads our AI implementation initiatives.
Table of Contents
You've just watched an amazing video, typed out the perfect comment... and poof - it vanishes into thin air.
Or maybe you're scratching your head wondering why the comment count shows "1" but you can't see any comments at all.
Trust me, I've been there, and so have millions of other YouTube users.
The good news is that most of these comment issues have simple fixes.
I'll walk you through exactly what's going on and how to get your comments working again, based on years of helping creators and viewers solve these exact problems.
What's Really Going On When Comments Disappear?
Let's start with something you might not know: YouTube processes comments differently than videos. While videos load right away, comments go through several checks first - kind of like airport security for your words.
Sometimes it's just a slow page load making your comments invisible. Other times, you might be dealing with comment settings that need tweaking, or maybe your internet connection is playing hide and seek with YouTube's servers.
I've seen this happen most often when:
Your browser needs a quick cleanup (we'll fix that)
The video creator has specific comment rules in place
YouTube's spam filter got a little too enthusiastic
Your internet connection is having a moment
The most common sign something's up is when you see a comment count at the top of the video, but the comments section below looks empty.
Or you post a comment, see it for a second, and then it vanishes like it never existed.
The Quick Fixes You Can Try Right Now
Before we get into the technical stuff, let's try some simple fixes that work surprisingly often:
First, give your page a fresh start - just hit that refresh button. You'd be amazed how often this one simple step brings all your missing comments back to life.
If that doesn't work, try opening YouTube in what I call "clean slate mode" (that's incognito or private browsing to most people).
This trick helps you figure out if the problem is with your browser settings or something else entirely.
Still no luck? Here's what to check next:
Make sure you're actually logged into YouTube (I know, I know - but we all forget sometimes)
Look at the video's comment section - are comments even turned on?
Check if you can see comments on other videos
Common Reasons Your Comments Aren't Showing Up
You know what tends to trip people up the most? Page loading issues. Let me explain what's happening behind the scenes and show you exactly how to fix it.
When Your Page Just Won't Load Right
Sometimes YouTube gets stuck loading comments - you'll see that spinning circle that never seems to end. I run into this all the time, especially when I'm using an older browser or have too many tabs open.
Here's what works for me: First, clean out your browser's stored data. Think of it like clearing out your closet - sometimes you need to get rid of old stuff to make room for the new.
Open your browser settings and look for "Clear browsing data." Make sure you check both "Cached images and files" and "Cookies."
Don't worry - this won't log you out of your accounts if you keep "Passwords" unchecked.
Still seeing a blank comment section? Try YouTube in incognito mode (press Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome). If comments suddenly appear, we know it's probably one of your browser extensions causing trouble.
Speaking of extensions - ad blockers can be sneaky troublemakers. They're great for blocking ads but sometimes they accidentally block comments too. I had this exact problem with uBlock Origin last month. The fix? Click the extension icon and pause it just for YouTube.
When Comments Are Turned Off or Hidden
Sometimes the problem isn't on your end at all. Video creators can control their comment sections in several ways:
Turn comments off completely
Hide them until they review them
Set up filters for certain words or phrases
Make their content "for kids" (which automatically disables comments)
If you want to check if comments are actually turned on, look for the comment box under the video. If there's no comment box, that's your answer right there - comments are turned off for this video.
When Your Internet Is Acting Up
You know how sometimes Netflix keeps buffering but your emails load just fine? YouTube works similarly - videos might play perfectly while comments struggle to show up. Let me share what I've learned from fixing this issue hundreds of times.
First, run a quick speed test at speedtest.net. If you're getting less than 1.5 Mbps, that's probably why your comments aren't loading. Videos often work because YouTube stores them temporarily on your device, but comments need a fresh connection each time.
Here's what usually works:
Reset your router (unplug it for 30 seconds)
Switch from WiFi to mobile data, just to test
Close other tabs and apps using your internet
Try YouTube on a different device
A trick I learned from my own connectivity issues: open YouTube in another browser. If comments load there, we know it's not your internet - it's your browser settings needing attention.
Browser Extensions Playing Hide and Seek
Let me tell you about something that drove me crazy last week - my ad blocker was secretly hiding YouTube comments without telling me. It turns out browser extensions can be pretty sneaky about this.
Signs your extensions might be causing trouble:
Comments show up in incognito mode but not regular browsing
You see the comment count but no actual comments
The comment section looks broken or misaligned
The fix is pretty simple once you know what to look for.
Open your browser's extension menu (it usually looks like a puzzle piece in Chrome) and turn off each extension one by one.
Test YouTube comments after each one. When comments suddenly appear, you've found the troublemaker.
BTW, some extensions let you keep them on but just disable them for YouTube. Right-click the extension icon and look for site-specific settings.
When YouTube's Own Settings Get in the Way
You know what's funny about YouTube? Sometimes it tries to protect us so much from spam that our own comments get caught in the net. Let me share what I've seen happen and how to work around it.
First up - YouTube's safety filters. They're like an overprotective parent who means well but sometimes goes too far. Your comment might vanish if you:
Post too many comments too quickly
Include links (even harmless ones)
Use certain phrases that trigger the spam filter
Try to tag too many people
Here's what I do when my comments keep disappearing: I wait a minute between comments and avoid anything that looks remotely like advertising. Even saying "check this out" can sometimes make YouTube suspicious.
When Nothing Seems to Work
Sometimes you try everything and still can't get your comments to show up. Been there! Let me share my last-resort fixes that usually do the trick.
First, try logging out and back in. I know it sounds too simple, but it works more often than you'd expect. It's like giving YouTube a chance to forget whatever it thinks is wrong with your account.
If you are still stuck, here's my nuclear option checklist:
Clear your entire browser history (not just cache)
Update your browser to the latest version
Try a completely different browser
Check if comments work on mobile instead
I once spent hours trying to fix my comments until I realized my browser was three versions behind. The moment I updated, everything started working again.
Let me share some advanced solutions I've picked up from years of dealing with YouTube comments. These work especially well if you're active in the comments section or run your own channel.
Getting Around Shadow Restrictions
If you feel like your comments show up for you but no one else can see them, it's because of something we call a shadow restriction - and I've helped hundreds of creators deal with this exact problem.
"Wait, how do I know if this is happening to me?"
Good question. Here's a simple test I use: Post a comment, then open the same video in incognito mode or ask a friend to check. If your comment only shows up when you're logged in, you've got a shadow restriction.
Usually this happens because:
You've been posting similar comments across lots of videos
YouTube's system thinks you might be a bot
You post comments too quickly
Your comments often include links or certain phrases
The fix is to change up how you comment for a while.
Write unique responses, space them out by a few minutes, and avoid anything that looks like self-promotion. I've seen restrictions lift within a few days of changing these habits.
Advanced Browser Tricks That Actually Work
Let me share something most people don't know about: YouTube stores different types of data in your browser, and sometimes they clash. I learned this after spending way too many hours troubleshooting comment issues.
Try this advanced fix:
Open your browser's developer tools (press F12)
Go to the Application or Storage tab
Clear just the YouTube-specific data
Leave everything else untouched
This works better than clearing your entire browser history because it only resets YouTube while keeping everything else running smoothly.
What Really Matters When Your YouTube Comments Won't Show Up
Look, YouTube comments can be tricky. I've spent years helping creators and viewers fix their comment problems, and here's what I've learned: most issues have simple solutions, even when they seem complicated at first.
Here's something most guides won't tell you: sometimes the best fix is just waiting it out. YouTube's systems occasionally get overloaded, especially during big events or updates. If nothing else works, try again in a few hours.
The most important thing is to not let comment issues stop you from being part of the YouTube community. Keep trying different solutions, and remember - even the most experienced YouTubers deal with these same problems sometimes.
Make sure you save this guide for the next time your comments act up.
Bookmark it, take a screenshot, whatever works for you. Because let's be honest - we all run into YouTube comment problems now and then. But now you know exactly how to fix them.
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