YouTube comments loading issues are surprisingly common and usually specific to the device or browser you are using rather than YouTube itself. The comments section loads separately from the video, which means your video can play perfectly while the comments fail to appear. Here is how to fix it across all platforms.

Why YouTube Comments Sometimes Do Not Load

YouTube loads comments through a separate asynchronous request after the main page loads. Anything that interrupts this request – an extension, a cache issue, a network hiccup, or a browser setting – can cause the comments section to appear blank or spin indefinitely. The video plays fine because it loads from a different part of YouTube’s infrastructure.

Fixes for Desktop Browsers

Scroll Down to Trigger Loading

YouTube uses lazy loading for comments – they do not load until you scroll down to the comments section. This is intentional to speed up page load times. If comments appear blank, scroll down past the video description and wait a few seconds. The comments should populate as you scroll.

Refresh the Page

Press F5 (Windows) or Command + R (Mac) to reload. If comments were stuck on a failed request, a refresh usually resolves it.

Disable Extensions

Ad blockers are the most common cause of YouTube comments not loading on desktop. uBlock Origin and similar extensions sometimes block the comments request along with ad requests. Open an Incognito window (which disables extensions) and see if comments load there. If they do, whitelist YouTube in your ad blocker or disable the extension temporarily.

Clear Browser Cache

A corrupted cache can prevent YouTube’s comment scripts from loading correctly. Clear your browser cache (Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, Command + Shift + Delete on Mac), reload YouTube, and try again.

Try a Different Browser

If comments load in Chrome but not Safari (or vice versa), the issue is browser-specific. This can be caused by browser-specific settings, extensions, or cookie handling. Use the browser where comments work while you troubleshoot the other.

Fixes for iPhone and Android

Update the YouTube App

Comment loading bugs are frequently fixed in app updates. Check the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) for a YouTube update and install it.

Clear the App Cache (Android)

Go to Settings, then Apps, find YouTube, tap Storage, then Clear cache. Reopen YouTube and test.

Clear App Cache on iPhone

iPhone does not have a direct cache-clear button for individual apps. Delete the YouTube app and reinstall it from the App Store to achieve the same result.

Check If Comments Are Disabled on the Video

Creators can disable comments on individual videos. If the video has no comment section at all (not even a ‘Comments are turned off’ message), try another video to confirm this is not the issue.

Fixes for Smart TV

Comment sections are not available on most YouTube Smart TV apps by design. YouTube’s TV interface omits comments because they are difficult to navigate with a remote. This is not a bug – it is an intentional product decision. Use your phone or computer to read and post comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some videos show ‘Comments are turned off’?

The creator has disabled comments on that video. This is a voluntary creator setting, often used on sensitive content, children’s content (required by COPPA compliance), or when a creator wants to reduce moderation burden.

Can I access YouTube comments through the API?

Yes. YouTube’s Data API provides access to comments for most public videos. Developer tools and some third-party apps use this to display comments separately from the main YouTube interface.