---
title: 'YouTube Comments: Replying, Filtering and Moderating'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=6AcAk5Hnau4'
video_id: '6AcAk5Hnau4'
date: 2026-08-01
duration_sec: 381
---

# YouTube Comments: Replying, Filtering and Moderating

> Source: [YouTube Comments: Replying, Filtering and Moderating](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6AcAk5Hnau4)

## Summary

This video is an official YouTube guide for creators on managing and engaging with their comment section. It covers comment sorting and filtering options, saving these preferences as defaults on desktop and mobile, and a range of tools for replying, hearting, and pinning comments. The tutorial also details proactive moderation settings such as blocked words, moderator roles, and how to handle inappropriate comments, including removal, hiding users, and flagging to YouTube.

### Key Points

- **Comment management overview** [00:00] — The comments section is where community engagement happens, and YouTube provides controls for filtering, sorting, and moderating to give creators a consistent experience.
- **Most relevant default sorting** [00:16] — Comments are sorted by 'Most relevant' by default, which surfaces conversations like viewer questions based on the channel's activity.
- **Alternative sorting options** [00:30] — Creators can choose 'Top comments' (valued interactions) or 'Newest first' (chronological order).
- **Save defaults across devices** [00:48] — Preferred sort and filter options can be saved as a default view, available on both desktop and Studio Mobile, with settings syncing automatically.
- **Save desktop filter steps** [01:04] — Go to the Community tab in YouTube Studio, click the Filter bar, choose desired options, then select 'Set current filters as default.'
- **Top sort cannot be default** [01:21] — While the 'Top' sort is available on video and post comments, it cannot be saved as a default view.
- **Save mobile filter steps** [01:36] — In the YouTube Studio app, tap Community, View all, choose sort, tap the Filter icon, select filters, and tap 'Set current filters as your default view.'
- **Response status filters** [01:53] — The Response Status filter includes Unresponded, Responded, and New replies to your response, allowing quick follow-up on comments needing attention.
- **Reply to comments** [02:09] — Clicking Reply shows the audience you're listening; responding is a great way to display personality, connect with viewers, and build a positive community.
- **Heart comments** [02:38] — The heart icon (next to thumbs up/down) lets creators show appreciation; viewers see a red heart and may receive a notification.
- **Pin comments** [02:55] — Creators can pin a comment to the top of the feed to highlight it, e.g., to clarify something, ask a question, or set the community tone with a fan comment.
- **Set upload defaults** [03:23] — In YouTube Studio Settings > Community Moderation > Content Controls, choose whether comments are On or Off for new videos and posts.
- **Moderation filter strictness** [03:39] — Options are None (no hold), Basic (holds potentially inappropriate), Strict (holds broader range), and Hold all comments for review.
- **Bulk apply to existing videos** [04:07] — Select videos in the Videos tab, click Edit, then Comments to apply moderation settings in bulk.
- **Blocked words list** [04:19] — Add words or phrases in Community Moderation settings; comments containing them will be held in YouTube Studio.
- **Moderator roles** [04:35] — Standard Moderators can remove comments or hide users but cannot manage settings; Managing Moderators have full permissions including blocked words and managing standard moderators.
- **Remove and hide actions** [05:17] — To remove a comment, click the three dots in YouTube Studio and select Remove. Hide a user to prevent their future public comments; both options are available from the comment's menu.
- **Flag comments to YouTube** [05:50] — Flagging sends content to YouTube for review; if it violates Community Guidelines, it will be removed. Creators can also remove it immediately themselves.
- **Pause or disable comments** [06:05] — If overwhelmed, creators can pause or completely turn off comments using Community defaults settings.

### Conclusion

YouTube offers a comprehensive set of comment management tools that allow creators to control, engage, and moderate their comment sections effectively. By leveraging sorting, filtering, and moderation features, creators can foster a positive and safe community.

## Transcript

The comments section is where your community goes  to engage directly with your content. It's where   you get direct feedback and build conversations  around your videos. We know for creators,   managing all of those comments is a big part  of your job. That’s why we’ve focused on giving  
you more control and a consistent experience  with new comment filters and sorting options.  comments are sorted by Most relevant as a default  view. This aims to surface the conversations you  
may want to engage with, like questions from  viewers, based on your channel’s activity.  You have two other sorting options: Top comments,  which surfaces what viewers are most likely   to value and interact with; and Newest first,  which displays comments in chronological order. 
If you prefer a different view, you can save  your preferred sort and filter options as a   default. This feature is now also available  on Studio Mobile, and your channel’s settings   will automatically sync between both. To save a default filter on desktop: 
Go to the Community tab in YouTube Studio. Click the Filter bar.  Choose your desired sort and filter options.  Filters also allow you to search for specific   keywords, or filter by subscriber status, and even  by the commenter's subscriber count. Keep in mind,  
while the 'Top' sort is available on video and  post comments, it cannot be saved as a default.  From the filter menu, select  Set current filters as default. To save a default filter on mobile: In the YouTube Studio app,  
from the bottom menu, tap Community. Next to “Comments,” tap View all.  Choose your desired sort option In the top left, tap the Filter icon.  Choose your filters, scroll to the bottom, and  tap Set current filters as your default view. 
Within the Response Status filter, you'll  find options for Unresponded, Responded,   and New replies to your response. Now you can  select any combination of these to quickly   find comments you need to follow up on. Once you’ve found the relevant comments,  
you have a suite of tools to engage  with your community directly.  To reply to comments on your videos and posts,  simply click the Reply button. When you jump in,   it shows your audience that you’re listening.  Responding to comments is a great way to show  
your personality, engage and connect with  viewers, and help build a positive community.  icon next to the thumbs up and thumbs down.  Viewers will see your picture with a small  
red heart on their comment, and may receive a  notification that you loved what they wrote.  From a video or post's comment page, you can  also pin a comment to the top of the feed to   highlight it for all of your viewers. You can  pin your own comment to clarify something from  
your video, ask your audience a specific  question, or tease a specific moment. Or,   you can pin a fan comment that stood out  to you to set the tone for the community.  Now let’s talk about how to handle  hurtful or inappropriate comments. 
YouTube’s priority is to make sure that comments  provide a safer experience for all users.  Here are some things you can do at a channel  level to proactively manage your comment section: 
Set upload defaults. To set comment  upload defaults, go to YouTube Studio   Settings. Select Community Moderation,  then look under the Content Controls tab.  Under "Comments on new videos and posts,"  you can choose to turn comments On or Off. 
If you choose to keep comments on, you can  adjust your moderation filter's strictness:  Selecting None ensures no  comments will be held back.  Basic holds potentially inappropriate comments. Strict will hold a broader range of  
potentially inappropriate comments. You can also choose to Hold all comments.  To apply these to existing videos in bulk, go  to your Videos tab in YouTube Studio. Select  
the videos, click Edit, and choose Comments. Create a blocked words list. In your channel   Settings under “Community Moderation,” you can add  words or phrases that you don’t want to appear in  
your comments section. Comments containing these  blocked words will be held in YouTube Studio.  Add comment moderators. You can assign  Standard and Managing Moderators. Both   help review and manage comments on your videos. Standard Moderators:. Can remove comments from  
public view or hide users. When a moderator  removes a comment, it is moved to your “Held”   tab for you to make a final decision, rather than  being deleted entirely. Standard Moderators cannot  
manage channel settings like blocked words. Managing Moderators: Have all Standard   permissions, plus the ability to manage settings  like Blocked Words and manage Standard Moderators 
To assign a moderator: Go to Studio Settings,  then Community Moderation, then the User   Management tab and add the user's channel URL. If someone has written something inappropriate   in your comments, or if you find a comment  that requires individual action, you can: 
Remove the comment and all  of its replies. To do so,   you can go to your YouTube Studio “Comments” tab  and click these three dots, and select “Remove.”  Hide the user from your channel. This prevents  a specific user's future comments from appearing  
publicly on your channel. You can hide a  user by selecting the three dot menu from   one of their comments, or in YouTube Studio. Flag the comment to YouTube. Flagging helps   protect the community from bad actors by sending  the content to YouTube for review. If the comment  
violates YouTube Community Guidelines, it  will be removed from the platform. You can   also remove the comment yourself to ensure  it’s immediately hidden from public view.  Remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by  your comments, you can always choose to pause  
or turn off comments completely by selecting  these settings in your Community defaults.  We hope these tools help you better manage  and engage with your community. To learn more,   check out the Help Center  links in the description.