How to Open Comments on TikTok

Wondering why your killer TikTok video is getting tons of views but zero comments? It’s likely your comment settings are switched off. Turning them on is simple, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it. We'll cover everything from enabling comments for your entire account to managing them for a single video, plus some pro tips for building a great community once the conversation starts flowing.

Why Turning on Your TikTok Comments Is a Game-Changer

Before we get into the step-by-step, let's talk about why comments are so vital on TikTok. They are more than just text below your video, they are the heart of your community and a powerful signal to the TikTok algorithm. An active comment section isn't just a sign of a healthy account - it's a catalyst for growth.

• It Signals Value to the Algorithm: When people take the time to comment, it tells TikTok that your content is making an impact. Questions, reactions, jokes, and arguments are all forms of engagement. The algorithm sees this activity and is more likely to push your video to a wider audience on the "For You" Page. A video with 500 likes and 100 comments will often perform better than a video with 1,000 likes and 2 comments.
• It Builds a Real Community: Comments are where you connect directly with your audience. A simple video can become a shared inside joke, a helpful Q&A session, or a heated debate. When you reply, pin comments, and engage in the conversation, you're not just a creator, you're the leader of a community. People come back for the content, but they stay for the community.
• It’s a Goldmine for Feedback and Ideas: What does your audience want to see next? They’ll tell you in the comments. Pay attention to their questions, pain points, and what they loved most about your video. This direct feedback is invaluable for refining your content strategy and creating videos you know your audience is waiting for.
• It Increases "Watch Time": As people stop to read comments or type their own, they are spending more time on your video page. This increases the total watch time and average view duration - two massive ranking factors for the algorithm. An entertaining comment section can even cause people to rewatch the video to understand a specific joke or reference.

In short, closed comments turn your account into a one-way broadcast. Open comments transform it into a dynamic conversation, creating a more invested audience and fueling your account's growth.

How to Turn on Comments for All Your Future TikTok Videos

If you want comments to be on by default for every new video you post, you need to adjust your account's global privacy settings. This is the most efficient way to open up the conversation for good. It takes less than a minute.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Open TikTok and go to your Profile: Tap the "Profile" icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Access the Main Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner of your profile page.
3. Go to "Settings and privacy": A menu will pop up from the bottom of the screen. Select the "Settings and privacy" option, usually accompanied by a gear icon.
4. Select "Privacy": In the "Account" section, tap on "Privacy." This is where you'll find all the controls for who can interact with your account.
5. Find the "Comments" Setting: Scroll down through the "Interactions" section until you see "Comments." Tap on it.
6. Choose Who Can Comment: This is the final step. You’ll be presented with a few options that define who is allowed to comment on your videos. Let’s break them down:
   • Everyone: This is the best option for creators, businesses, and anyone focused on growth. It allows anyone on TikTok, whether they follow you or not, to comment on your videos. This maximizes your potential for engagement and viral moments.
   • Followers that you follow back (Friends): This is a more restrictive option. Only your mutuals - people you follow who also follow you - can comment. This is a good choice for personal accounts who only want friends and family engaging with their content.
   • No One: This setting disables comments across all of your videos by default. If your comments are currently off, your account is likely set to this.

Once you select "Everyone" or "Followers that you follow back," your settings are saved automatically. From now on, every video you upload will have comments enabled according to your choice.

How to Turn On Comments for a Single Video

Sometimes you might have comments turned off for just one video, either accidentally or on purpose. You don't need to change your entire account's settings to fix this. You can enable or disable comments on a video-by-video basis.

For a Video You've Already Posted:

1. Navigate to the video in question: Go to your profile and find the video you want to change.
2. Open the video options: Tap the video to open it in full-screen mode. Then, tap the three horizontal dots (...) on the right-hand side of the screen.
3. Find the privacy settings: A menu with several rows of icons will appear. Swipe left on the bottom row of gray icons until you find "Privacy settings." It usually has a lock icon.
4. Allow comments: In the privacy settings menu for that specific video, you'll see a toggle for "Allow comments." Tap the toggle to turn it on (it will turn green). Now, comments for that specific video are open!

For a Video You're About to Post:

You can also control comments right from the final screen before you publish a new TikTik.

1. After recording and editing your video, you’ll land on the Post screen where you write your caption and add hashtags.
2. Before hitting "Post," tap on "More options."
3. You'll see a toggle for "Allow comments." Make sure this is switched on (green) before you publish to ensure your community can engage from the moment it goes live.

Beyond ‘On’ or 'Off': Mastering Your Comment Controls

Simply turning comments on is just the beginning. To cultivate a positive and engaging community, you need to use TikTok's powerful filtering tools. These features help you keep the conversation constructive and protect your mental energy from spam and negativity.

You can find these settings in the same place as the main comment controls: Settings and privacy > Privacy > Comments.

Advanced Comment Filtering Tools

• Filter All Comments: Turning this on means that no comment will appear on your video unless you manually approve it. It's a powerful tool for accounts dealing with a lot of harassment or for brands with very strict compliance requirements. However, it can also stifle conversation and is very time-consuming to manage, so use it wisely.
• Filter Spam and Offensive Comments: This feature is highly recommended for all creators. It allows TikTok's AI to automatically hide comments that it deems inappropriate, offensive, or spammy. These hidden comments can still be reviewed and approved by you if you wish, but they won't be public by default.
• Filter Keywords: This is your personal moderation tool. You can create a list of specific words and phrases you don't want to see in your comments. If a comment contains one of your keywords, it will be automatically hidden pending your approval. This is perfect for filtering out common spam, spoilers, specific insults, or any other topic you don't want to discuss.

Troubleshooting: Why Are My TikTok Comments Still Off?

If you've followed the steps above and still can't enable your comments, there are a few likely reasons.

• Age Restrictions: TikTok has safety policies in place to protect younger users. By default, users under the age of 16 have their comment settings restricted. For users aged 13-15, the setting is defaulted to "Friends" or "No One," and they cannot change this to "Everyone." If this applies to you, you won't be able to fully open your comments.
• The Video is Under Review: Sometimes, if a video is flagged for a potential Community Guideline violation, TikTok may temporarily disable comments while it's being reviewed.
• A Temporary Glitch: Technology isn't perfect. If things aren't working as they should, try the classic troubleshooting steps: completely close the app and reopen it, or check for an app update in your phone's app store.

Your Comments Are On. Now What? Best Practices for Engagement

Congratulations, your community is talking! The final step is to participate in the conversation. Here’s how you can leverage your newly active comment section:

• Pin a Great Comment: Find a comment that is particularly insightful, funny, or positive and pin it. This highlights the kind of conversation you want to foster and gives the commenter a nice shout-out.
• Reply with a Video: One of TikTok’s best features is the ability to reply to a comment with a new video. If an interesting question is asked, use the "video reply" feature to create new content that directly addresses your audience's curiosity. It's a perfect way to generate endless content ideas.
• Like and Reply Consistently: You don't have to reply to every single comment, but liking comments shows you're reading them and listening. When you have time, write thoughtful replies to foster deeper connections with your most engaged followers.

Final Thoughts

Turning on your TikTok comments transforms your account from a simple broadcast channel into a thriving community forum. By following these steps to open them up and using the filtering tools to keep things positive, you create a space where your audience can connect with you and each other, fueling your growth on the platform.

Once the conversations start flowing, managing that firehose of comments across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can become overwhelming. We built Postbase because we believe creators shouldn't have to bounce between apps just to keep up with their community. We bring all your social media comments and DMs into a single, clean inbox, so you can engage thoughtfully without missing important messages and get back to creating great content.