YouTube error · Common
YouTube comments not loading — every fix that works
The video plays but the comments section is stuck on "Loading comments…" or shows an empty box. Different from comments being disabled (which shows an explicit message) — the request is failing silently.
Why this happens
- Browser extension blocking the comments API endpoint.
- YouTube's comments service had a partial outage in your region.
- Browser cache holds a stale comments service worker.
- Logged-out state where comments require sign-in (rare, varies by video).
- Network firewall blocking specific Google API hostnames.
How to fix it
- 1
Disable extensions in incognito mode
Comments-specific blockers and aggressive ad blockers can break the comments API. Test in incognito with extensions disabled — if comments load there, an extension is the cause.
- 2
Hard reload the page
Cmd+Shift+R or Ctrl+F5 — bypasses cache and pulls fresh JavaScript. Fixes about half of comments-not-loading cases.
- 3
Check downdetector.com for YouTube outages
Comments service occasionally has localized outages while video playback continues working. If many users in your region report the same issue, wait it out.
- 4
Sign in to YouTube
Some videos restrict comment visibility to signed-in users. Signing in lifts that restriction.
- 5
Try the embed view
youtube.com/embed/<id> uses a stripped-down player that occasionally renders comments via a different code path that isn't affected by the same extension hooks.