How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Restricted Mode is an optional setting you can use on YouTube. This feature can help screen out potentially mature content that you or others using your devices may prefer not to view.

How to turn Restricted Mode on and off

Turn Restricted Mode on or off

Android app

Mobile site

Android TV

Note: This only controls Restricted Mode on your Android TV.

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. From the Home screen, scroll to the Apps row.
  3. Select YouTube.
  4. Scroll and select Settings.
  5. Select Restricted Mode or Safety Mode.
  6. Select On or Off.

Troubleshoot problems with turning off Restricted Mode

Computers in libraries, universities, and other public institutions may have Restricted Mode turned on by the system administrator. If you’ve entered your username and password, and Restricted Mode remains on, try contacting your system administrator for more help.

Note: Some mobile network providers offer content filters. These filters restrict the type of web content you can access when your device is connected to their mobile network.

  • Check if YouTube content restrictions are turned on for your network here. 
    • If your DNS restrictions are set to “moderate” or “strict," it’s likely that you have content filtering turned on. Try contacting your mobile network provider to find out how to manage or turn off this setting.

Control Restricted Mode for your family

If you’re a parent using the Family Link app, you can turn on Restricted Mode for your child's account if they’re not eligible for a supervised experience on YouTube. Learn how to turn on Restricted Mode in the Family Link app's settings. 

When Restricted Mode is turned on in Family Link, your child can't change the Restricted Mode settings on any device they’re signed in to.

Learn more about Restricted Mode

  • We use many signals, like video title, description, metadata, Community Guidelines reviews, and age restrictions to identify and filter out potentially mature content.
  • Restricted Mode is available in every language, but due to differences in cultural norms and sensitivities, the quality may vary.
  • When Restricted Mode is turned on, you can't view comments on the videos you watch.
  • Restricted Mode works on the browser or device level, so you must turn it on for each browser you use. If your browser or device supports multiple profiles, you must turn on this mode for each profile.
  • Creators: Learn about how Restricted Mode impacts your content.

Assistant Speakers and Smart Displays

  1. Open the Home app on your mobile device.
  2. Tap the Speaker or Smart Display you would like to modify.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap Notifications & digital wellbeing.
  5. Tap YouTube Settings.
  6. There are two ways you can control Restricted Mode settings for your Smart Display:
    1. You can turn on or off Restricted Mode for yourself, and
    2. If you’re a device manager, you can turn on or off Restricted Mode for all other users.

Note: Restricted Mode is set at the device level.

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Not all content on YouTube is suitable for younger audiences. For kids 13 and under, there’s a separate app called YouTube Kids. By turning on Restricted Mode on the standard platform, you can “hide potentially mature videos.” At the same time, if you need to find a video and Restricted Mode is hiding it, you can always disable the function. Let’s go over how to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube.

Read more: How to sign out of YouTube

Restricted Mode on YouTube is meant to be active when you know someone underaged will be using YouTube on that account. If they see something disturbing, there’s no going back.

As you may know, there is a lot of mature content on YouTube. This includes racist content, sexual content, content with a lot of “dirty” language, and more.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

That said, if you are old enough to handle the more adult content, you can turn off Restricted Mode. This way, nothing will be hidden when you’re using the platform.

Disabling Restricted Mode on YouTube (Android and iOS)

Open the YouTube mobile app on your Android or iOS device; then, from the home screen, tap your profile picture in the top right.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Press Settings > General.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

You will see the Restricted Mode option within General at the very bottom. If the slider is blue and on the right, the function is active. Tap it once to disable Restricted Mode.

Disabling Restricted Mode on YouTube (desktop)

From the YouTube home screen, click your profile picture in the top right.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

At the bottom of the subsequent menu, you will see the Restricted Mode button. If it says “Restricted Mode: On,” the function is active. Click the button once if this is the case.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Click the ACTIVATE RESTRICTED MODE slider if it is blue. This will disable it.

How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube mobile

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

FAQs

Why can’t I turn off restricted mode on YouTube?

If Restricted Mode is locked, you will be asked to authenticate your Google account and password. You must also add a phone number to your Google account.

Why can't I turn off restricted mode in YouTube?

How to Fix YouTube Restricted Mode Won't Turn off?.
Restart your device..
Try again to turn off YouTube Restricted Mode..
Disable or remove the new browser add-ons..
Check your account restrictions..
Check your network restrictions..
Clear browser cache..
Clear the YouTube app cache..
Reinstall the YouTube app..

Why is YouTube mobile on restricted mode?

Restricted Mode is an optional setting you can use on YouTube. This feature can help screen out potentially mature content that you or others using your devices may prefer not to view.