How to Turn On Comments on TikTok if Restricted

Nothing stalls your TikTok momentum faster than finding your comments suddenly turned off. That engagement you work so hard for vanishes, leaving your video feeling like a monologue in an empty room. This guide breaks down exactly why your comments might be restricted, provides step-by-step instructions to turn them back on, and offers tips for managing your community effectively once the conversation is flowing again.

First, Let's Figure Out Why Your Comments Are M.I.A.

Before you can fix the problem, you need to know what caused it. Comment restrictions on TikTok usually fall into one of four categories, ranging from a simple settings mix-up to an account-level action by the platform. Figuring out which one applies to you is the first step.

You Might Have Turned Them Off by Mistake

It sounds obvious, but this is the most common reason. It's easy to accidentally tap the wrong toggle, especially when you're in a rush to post. You can turn off comments in two places: on a specific, individual video, or for your entire account. If only one of your videos has comments disabled, you likely switched them off on the posting screen for that specific video. If all of your new videos have no comment section, you probably changed the master setting in your account's privacy options.

Your Account Belongs to a User Under 16

TikTok has built-in safety features to protect its younger users. If the birthday associated with the account indicates the user is between the ages of 13 and 15, comment permissions are automatically restricted. Accounts in this age range can only choose between allowing comments from "Friends" (followers you follow back) or "No one." The option for "Everyone" is disabled by design. For users under 13, comments are disabled entirely. It's a non-negotiable platform policy intended to create a safer environment.

You've Enabled Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode is a feature you can turn on to limit your exposure to content that might be inappropriate for all audiences. While this primarily affects the videos you see in your feed, some users have reported it can indirectly impact comment visibility and functionality. It’s designed to filter mature content, and the complex filter can sometimes be overzealous. While less common, if you're experiencing inexplicable issues, it's worth checking if this mode is active on your account.

TikTok Took Action Due to a Community Guideline Violation

This is the most serious possibility. If your video, or the comments on it, violated TikTok's Community Guidelines (e.g., promoted harassment, spam, hate speech, or dangerous activities), TikTok may have proactively disabled comments on that specific video. In more severe or repeated cases, they might temporarily restrict comment functionality across your entire account. You can check for any active violations by visiting your "Account Status" page in the settings menu.

The Fix: Turning Comments On for a Single Video

Let's start with the easiest and most frequent fix. If you've noticed that comments are off for just one particular video, you can toggle them back on in a few taps. This often happens if you accidentally hit the switch during the upload process.

Here's how to fix it for a video that's already live:

1. Navigate to your Profile by tapping the icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Find and tap on the video you want to change the settings for.
3. Tap the three dots (...) on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. In the bottom row of options, swipe left until you see "Privacy settings." Tap it.
5. Find the "Allow comments" toggle. If it’s gray, that's your problem! Tap it to turn it green.

That's it. Go back to your video, and the comment section should now be active. To prevent this from happening in the future, pay close attention to the "More options" screen right before you post a new video. You'll see the "Allow comments" toggle there, too - make sure it’s always on before you hit "Post."

Setting It and Forgetting It: Turning Comments On Account-Wide

If every new video you post has comments turned off by default, you need to adjust your main account privacy settings. This controls the commenting permissions for all future uploads, saving you the hassle of checking it every single time.

Follow these steps to set your account-wide permissions:

1. Go to your Profile page.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
3. Select "Settings and privacy."
4. Tap on "Privacy."
5. Scroll down to the "Safety" section and tap on "Comments."

Here, you'll see a few options that define who can comment on your future videos:

• Everyone: This is the best option for growth and community building. Anyone on TikTok, whether they follow you or not, can leave a comment.
• Followers that you follow back: Formerly called "Friends," this option restricts comments to your mutual followers only. It’s a good choice if you want to maintain a tighter, more private community.
• No one: This disables comments across every new video you upload.

Select "Everyone" if you're focused on maximizing engagement. Your changes will save and apply to all videos you post moving forward.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If Your Comments Are Still Disabled

If you've tried the aforementioned steps and your comments are still locked, it's time to investigate some deeper issues. This usually points to a platform-level restriction rather than a simple user-controlled setting.

Check Your Age Settings

As mentioned earlier, users under 16 have automatic comment restrictions that cannot be turned off. If you entered your birthday incorrectly when setting up your account and it mistakenly identifies you as a minor, this could be the root cause. Unfortunately, correcting an age on TikTok is not straightforward. You'll need to contact TikTok support through the app and be prepared to provide proof-of-age documentation. Be patient, as this process can take time.

Review Your Account Status

If TikTok has taken action against your account, they will usually notify you. You can check for any active strikes or violations by going to "Settings and privacy" > "Support" > "Safety Center" > "Account status." This dashboard will show you if any of your videos have been removed or if restrictions have been placed on your account due to guideline violations. If there's a violation listed, it will often explain the nature of the restriction and how long it might last.

Contact TikTok Support

When all else fails, reaching out to support is your last resort. Document your issue with screenshots and provide a clear, concise explanation of the problem and the steps you’ve already taken to fix it. To report the problem, go to "Settings and privacy" > "Report a problem" and find the topic that best matches your issue. Submitting a detailed ticket increases your chances of getting a helpful response.

You've Got Comments! Now What?

Turning comments on is only half the battle. The real magic of community-building happens in how you manage them. A thriving comment section can boost your video's visibility on the For You Page and turn casual viewers into loyal fans. Here are a few best practices to keep your comments a positive and engaging space.

Filter Spam and Offensive Comments

Your mental health matters. Protecting your comment section from negativity is essential for long-term creator success. TikTok provides powerful filtering tools to help with this in the same "Comments" privacy menu.

• Filter all comments: This setting holds all comments for your approval. It gives you maximum control but can be very time-consuming.
• Filter Keywords: This is the most practical tool. You can create a list of words and phrases you want hidden from your comment section. Spam, slurs, insults, or any term you find triggering can be added to this list. Comments containing these keywords will be held for your review instead of being posted publicly.

Engage with Your Community

Don't just let comments sit there - interact with them! Replying to comments signals to the algorithm that your content is creating conversation, which can help its performance.

• Reply to messages: Try to respond to as many genuine comments as you can, especially in the first few hours after posting.
• Pin a great comment: Pinning a particularly insightful or funny comment can guide the tone of the conversation and highlight your community.
• Use the video reply feature: Answering a question with a new video is one of the best ways to create follow-up content and make your followers feel seen.

Final Thoughts

Whether it's a simple, overlooked toggle in your privacy settings or a more complicated issue with your account status, you typically have options for troubleshooting why your TikTok comments are restricted. By methodically checking your per-video settings, account-wide privacy options, and account status, you can almost always get your community's conversation flowing again.

Once your comments are flowing again, the challenge shifts to managing all that amazing engagement effectively. At Postbase, we built our unified inbox to solve exactly this problem, allowing you to reply to all your TikTok comments and DMs right alongside interactions from your other platforms. By consolidating every conversation into one simple feed, we help you keep up with your community without the chaos of constant app-switching - because building that audience is the whole reason you wanted comments on in the first place.