How to Allow Comments on TikTok

Wondering why your latest TikTok isn't getting any comments? Your settings might be the culprit. It's a common oversight, but thankfully, it's also an easy fix. This guide will walk you through exactly how to allow comments on your TikTok account, manage them for individual videos, and use advanced controls to build a thriving community around your content.

Why Comments Are Your Secret Weapon for TikTok Growth

Before we get into the nuts and bolts, let's talk about why you should care about comments in the first place. On TikTok, the comment section is more than just a place for feedback, it's a powerful engine for engagement and growth. Think about it:

• Algorithm Fuel: The TikTok algorithm loves engagement. Comments signal to the platform that people are actively interacting with your content, which can help push your video to a wider audience and potentially the "For You" page. More comments often lead to more views.
• Community Building: Your comment section is where you connect directly with your audience. It's where inside jokes are born, questions are answered, and viewers become loyal fans. This sense of community keeps people coming back for more.
• Content Ideas: Your audience is a goldmine of ideas. The comments can tell you what resonates, what questions people have, and what they want to see next. You can even use the "Reply with video" feature to turn a great comment into your next viral hit.
• Social Proof: A video with hundreds of comments immediately seems more interesting and credible than one with none. An active comment section adds a layer of social proof that encourages new viewers to stop scrolling and pay attention.

Simply put, an open and active comment section is a sign of a healthy, growing account. Let's make sure yours is set up for success.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to TikTok Comment Settings

TikTok gives you plenty of control over your comments, from account-wide settings to video-specific options. Here’s how to navigate them all.

How to Allow Comments on Your Entire Account

This is the master switch for all your videos - past and future. If you want comments enabled by default for everything you post, this is the first place you should check.

1. Go to your Profile: Open the TikTok app and tap the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Open the Settings Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Navigate to Privacy: From the menu that appears, select Settings and privacy, and then tap on Privacy.
4. Find the Comments Setting: Scroll down to the "Safety" section and tap on Comments.
5. Set Your Preference: The first option you'll see is "Comments." Tap it. Here you can choose who is allowed to comment on your videos by default. To allow the most engagement, select Everyone. If you want a more controlled environment, you can choose Followers that you follow back or No one. For growth, Everyone is almost always the best option.

How to Turn Comments On or Off for a Single Existing Video

What if you want to change the comment status for a video you've already posted? Maybe you forgot to turn them on, or maybe a comment section is getting out of hand and you want to shut it down. Here's how:

1. Find the video: Go to your profile and find the video you want to adjust.
2. Open Video Options: Tap the three dots (...) on the right side of the screen.
3. Access Privacy Settings: Swipe left on the bottom row of icons until you find Privacy settings and tap it.
4. Toggle Comments: You'll see a switch next to Allow comments. Tap the toggle to turn comments on (green) or off (gray).

This setting only affects this one video, leaving your account-wide preferences untouched. It’s perfect for making case-by-case decisions.

How to Manage Comments *Before* You Post a New Video

You can also control comment settings for each video individually right before you hit post. This is useful if you’re posting something particularly sensitive or, conversely, a video specifically designed to generate a ton of conversation.

1. Create your video: Film and edit your TikTok as you normally would.
2. Proceed to the Post Screen: After editing, tap Next to go to the final screen where you write your caption and add hashtags.
3. Choose Your Settings: Look for the option that says More options. Tap on it.
4. Toggle Comments: You'll find a switch labeled Allow comments here. Make sure it's toggled on (green) if you want people to be able to leave comments.

This setting on the post screen will override your default account setting for that specific video.

Beyond "On" or "Off": A Deep Dive into TikTok's Comment Controls

True community management goes beyond a simple on/off switch. TikTok offers a suite of tools that let you create a safer and more positive environment for your audience. Mastering these controls is what separates amateur creators from pro-level social media managers.

Filtering Comments Like a Pro

Instead of manually deleting every unwanted comment, you can have TikTok do the heavy lifting for you automatically. These filters are incredibly powerful for maintaining brand safety and a positive vibe.

You can find these settings under Settings and privacy >, Privacy >, Comments.

Filter all comments

Turning this on means every single comment must be manually approved by you before it becomes public. This offers maximum control but can be extremely time-consuming for accounts with high engagement. It's often better for brands in highly regulated industries or for accounts that deal with very sensitive topics.

Filter spam and offensive comments

This is a must-have for nearly every creator. When enabled, TikTok uses its own system to automatically hide comments that it identifies as spam or offensive. These comments aren't deleted, they are sent to a "Review filtered comments" section where you can choose to approve, delete, or report them. It’s an effective way to clean up your comment section without much manual effort.

Filter keywords

This is your most powerful filtering tool. Here, you can create a list of specific words and phrases you want hidden. When a comment contains one of your keywords, it's sent to the review queue instead of going public. What should you filter?

• Profanity: Any curse words or offensive terms you don't want on your page.
• Competitor Names: Prevent other accounts from promoting themselves in your comment section.
• Spammy Phrases: Add common spam phrases like "follow me," "check my bio," or "promo code."
• Hateful/Negative Terms: Add specific slurs or triggering words related to your niche or identity.

Managing Individual Comments

Once the comments start rolling in, you have a few options for interacting with them. Just tap and hold on any comment to bring up a menu of options:

• Reply: The foundation of community management. Liking a comment is good, replying is great.
• Reply with video: See a great question or a funny quip? Use this feature to create a new video that features the comment as a sticker. This is one of the best ways to foster community and generate fresh content.
• Pin comment: Pinning a comment keeps it at the very top of the comment section for everyone to see. Pin the best comments that represent your brand, answer a common question, or add valuable context to your video.
• Delete: For comments that break your rules or are just plain unhelpful, deletion is a clean and simple option.
• Report: If a comment violates TikTok's Community Guidelines (e.g., hate speech, harassment), report it. This helps keep the entire platform safer.

Tips for Cultivating a Positive and Engaging Comment Section

Now that your settings are optimized, it's time to encourage the kind of interaction you want to see. Having comments "on" is just the first step.

• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Don't just post a video, invite a conversation. End your caption with a question like "What do you think of this?" or "Have you ever experienced this?" or "Tell me your favorite!"
• Prompt a Debate (a friendly one!): Controversial but effective. Post something that playfully divides opinions, like "Is pineapple on pizza a crime? Tell me in the comments."
• Be the First to Comment: Immediately after posting, leave your own comment to kickstart the conversation. Add extra context, ask another question, or just post a funny follow-up.
• Shout Out Awesome Comments: Whether you're pinning them or replying with a video, publicly acknowledging great comments encourages more quality interactions. People love to be seen.
• Handle Negativity Gracefully: You can't avoid negative comments entirely. For constructive criticism, respond politely. For baseless hate, it's often best to simply delete and block. Don’t get pulled into endless arguments, protect your peace and the vibe of your community.

Building a great comment section is an ongoing process. It reflects the personality of your brand and the strength of your audience. By using these tools and strategies, you can turn a simple feature into one of your most valuable assets for TikTok growth.

Final Thoughts

Controlling your TikTok comments is about more than just flipping a switch, it’s about strategically building a community. By enabling comments, using filters effectively, and engaging with your audience, you can create a safe and vibrant space that fuels your account's growth and makes content creation more rewarding.

Once you open the floodgates to engagement, managing feedback across TikTok, Instagram, and your other platforms can feel overwhelming. To help with this, we built a unified social media inbox at Postbase. It brings all of your comments and DMs from all your accounts into one simple feed, so you can respond to your community without constantly switching between apps. It makes community management feel organized, not chaotic.