What Is YouTube Restricted Mode & How to Turn It Off/On

You go on YouTube to search for something, and then you see a message saying, “Some results are hidden because Restricted Mode is turned on.” Why is YouTube restricted, and how do you turn it off?

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about YouTube Restricted Mode, including step-by-step guides for turning it off (or on) on all your devices, plus tips on what to do if it won’t turn off.

What Is YouTube Restricted Mode?

Restricted Mode is a YouTube setting that filters out potentially mature or sensitive content. It hides videos that may contain inappropriate content, and it also automatically hides all comments, regardless of whether the video is flagged as inappropriate or not (in case someone posts something inappropriate in the comment section).

It’s a safety feature designed for kids, schools, workplaces, and other settings where people want more control over what appears on YouTube. You can also use it to avoid upsetting content or to stay focused while working.

How Does YouTube Restricted Mode Work?

Restricted Mode uses automated filters and machine learning to detect inappropriate or sensitive content. It reviews titles, descriptions, metadata, flags, and video content.

When a video triggers those filters, YouTube automatically hides it in Restricted Mode. Human review typically only occurs if the decision is appealed. Either way, you won’t see it in Restricted Mode. And if you have a direct link to a flagged video, you’ll get a “This video is unavailable with Restricted Mode enabled” message when you try to open it.

Here’s what the Restricted Mode may hide:

• Profanity or sexually suggestive language
• Depictions of violence, drug use, or harmful behavior
• Content that promotes hate or discrimination
• Pornographic or sexually explicit imagery
• Content about sensitive topics, like abuse, mental health, or sexuality

Restricted Mode is off by default. If it’s on and you haven’t enabled it yourself, it means a parent, school, work admin, or network provider turned it on.

How to Turn off YouTube Restricted Mode

On PC (Windows and Mac)

These steps show how to turn off Restricted Mode in YouTube using Chrome, but they’re the same in other browsers too:

1. Sign in to YouTube, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, and then scroll to Restricted Mode.

2. Toggle Restricted Mode off. YouTube may briefly reload or update to reflect the change.

 

If you’re still stuck, check below for more tips on bypassing YouTube Restricted Mode.

On Your Phone (iOS and Android)

Turning off YouTube Restricted Mode on mobile takes a couple of extra taps. The steps are the same for Android and iOS devices. 

1. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile icon.

2. Go to Settings (gear icon).

3. Select General.

4. Scroll to Restricted Mode.

5. Toggle it off. That’s it.

On Your TV

On most Smart TVs, you can turn off Restricted Mode through the YouTube app. Here’s how:

1. Open the YouTube app on your TV.
2. Go to the left-hand menu and scroll down to Settings.
3. Select Restricted Mode.
4. Toggle it to Off.

YouTube Restricted Mode Won’t Turn Off? Try This

If you’re stuck with Restricted Mode, there are several reasons why that may be. Here’s what to check and how to fix it: 

Check If Restricted Mode Is Locked to Your Browser

Sometimes, Restricted Mode is locked at the browser level. Click your profile icon, select Restricted Mode, and see whether there’s an option to “Unlock Restricted Mode on this browser.” If it’s locked, you’ll need to enter the password for the account that set it up to unlock it.

Make Sure You’re Logged Into the Right Account 

If a device is shared with a child or used for work, it’s easy to stay signed into the wrong account without realizing it. Double-check that you’re logged into your own personal account, not a supervised or work-managed one.

Use Incognito or Private Mode

If Restricted Mode is enforced through browser settings or extensions like Securly, opening YouTube in an incognito or private window can sometimes help. These sessions don’t carry over certain local settings or extensions.

Clear YouTube and Browser Cache

Cached settings can sometimes prevent changes from taking effect. Clearing your browser’s cache, cookies, and YouTube site data may help. On mobile, clearing the YouTube app’s cache through your device settings can also remove stuck preferences.

Check Parental Controls

If you’re using an account supervised through Google Family Link, Restricted Mode may be locked by a parent or guardian. In that case, only they can turn it off through the Family Link app.

How to Bypass YouTube Restricted Mode Enabled by Your Network Administrator

If you see “Turned on by your network administrator to help hide potentially mature videos” under Restricted Mode settings, the above tips won’t work. This is because the network admin has forced YouTube into Restricted Mode using DNS or network-level controls. Here are a few options that may help, depending on the setup:

Switch to Another Network

If possible, connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile data. This is often the quickest and easiest way around network-level restrictions.

Use a High-Quality VPN

If another network isn’t an option, you can still get around Restricted Mode on the same network with a reliable VPN. Because VPNs send traffic through their own servers, they may reduce the impact of DNS- or router-level restrictions enforced by the local network.

Using a private or incognito window alongside a VPN can also help avoid account- or browser-based settings carrying over. That said, some school, university, or workplace networks block VPN connections altogether. These blocks often rely on detecting encrypted traffic or filtering known VPN server addresses. 

If you’re on a network that blocks VPN connections, an obfuscated VPN (which masks encrypted traffic) can help. 

Change Your DNS Settings

Some networks force Restricted Mode by using DNS resolvers that block or filter content (like Google’s SafeSearch DNS). Switching to a public resolver, such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8) may help. 

If you use PIA, you can also configure your device to use PIA DNS for added privacy. PIA follows a no-logs VPN, which means it doesn’t store or track your DNS queries and includes built-in DNS leak protection that keeps your requests private while connected.

Use the Tor Browser 

Tor routes traffic through its own encrypted network instead of the local one, allowing DNS requests to be resolved outside the restrictive network’s controls.

That said, I only recommend resorting to Tor if you’re fresh out of options. Its multi-layered protection often causes noticeable slowdowns, and YouTube may also limit certain features when accessed through Tor.  

Some networks also block access to the Tor network entirely. However, using a high-quality Tor VPN may help if you still want to connect. 

How to Enable and Lock YouTube Restricted Mode 

Activating Restricted Mode is super simple on any device. However, if you don’t want a child (or anyone else) to turn it off, you’ll need to lock Restricted Mode as well.

Here’s how to do that: 

On Browsers

1. Log in to your Google account on YouTube and click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
2. Find the Restricted Mode settings and toggle the switch to “On.”
3. Click Lock Restricted Mode on this browser (appears below the toggle).

4. Enter your Google account password to confirm.

On Mobile (Via Family Link)

Unfortunately, there isn’t an option to lock Restricted Mode directly from the mobile app. To prevent children from deactivating Restricted Mode on their phone, you’ll need to use parental controls like Family Link (or DNS filtering).

1. Install Google Family Link on your device and your child’s.
2. Link your child’s account.
3. In the Family Link app, go to Manage Settings > Controls on Google services > YouTube.
4. Enable Restricted Mode. Once set through Family Link, it stays locked and can’t be changed by the child.

Via Google Workspace

If you’re a Google Workspace admin, you can enforce Restricted Mode for signed-in users in your organization. To do this:

1. Open admin.google.com.
2. Go to Menu > Apps > Additional Google Services > YouTube.
3. Select YouTube settings for your Organizational Unit.
4. Under Access Settings, choose Strict Restricted Mode or Moderate Restricted Mode.
5. Click Save to apply to users in that organizational unit.

Set DNS Filtering

You can configure your network to enforce YouTube’s Restricted Mode using DNS-based controls that direct www.youtube.com to restrict.youtube.com. The best way to do this is via home router firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT), network firewalls, and DNS filters like OpenDNS. 

The steps vary based on router firmware and brand, but here’s a general guide you can follow:

1. Log into your router by typing its IP address into your web browser.
2. Enter your admin username and password.
3. Go to the DNS settings. You may find these under URL redirection, firewall rules, or parental control section (it varies depending on your router model or firmware).
4. Create a redirect rule to point www.youtube.com and youtube.com to restrict.youtube.com.
5. If your router doesn’t support manual redirects, set up a DNS filtering service like OpenDNS, and configure your network to use their DNS servers.
6. Save your changes, and restart your router.

FAQ