how to turn off restricted mode on youtube

You turn off Restricted Mode in YouTube from your account settings on each device (phone, browser, TV), but it can also be locked by parents, school, or a network admin so you may not always be able to disable it yourself.

How to Turn Off Restricted Mode on YouTube

1. On phone (YouTube app – Android & iPhone)

Steps are almost the same on Android and iOS:

1. Open the YouTube app and make sure you’re signed in to the correct account.
2. Tap your profile picture (top right or bottom right, depending on version).
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap General.
5. Look for Restricted Mode and toggle it off (switch should be grey, not blue).

If you have multiple Google/YouTube accounts on your phone, repeat this for each account where Restricted Mode is on.

2. On mobile browser (m.youtube.com)

If you use YouTube in a browser like Chrome or Safari on your phone:

1. Go to m.youtube.com and sign in.
2. Tap your profile photo in the top right.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Account.
5. Turn Restricted Mode off.

This only applies to that browser; another browser on the same phone can still have Restricted Mode on separately.

3. On computer (YouTube website)

On desktop or laptop (Windows, Mac, Chromebook):

1. Open a browser and go to youtube.com.
2. Sign in and click your profile picture in the top right.
3. In the menu that opens, scroll to the bottom.
4. Click Restricted Mode.
5. In the box that appears, toggle Restricted Mode off (or uncheck “Activate Restricted Mode”).

If there’s an option or note like “Locked by your network administrator ” or you’re asked for a password, it’s probably enforced by a parent, school, work, or network admin.

4. On Android TV / smart TV (YouTube app)

1. Sign in to your account on the YouTube app on your TV.
2. From the TV Home screen, go to the Apps row and open YouTube.
3. In YouTube, open Settings.
4. Find Restricted Mode (or Safety Mode) and choose Off.

This only affects that TV device; other devices will keep their own setting.

5. If Restricted Mode won’t turn off

Sometimes you can’t disable it directly because it’s controlled elsewhere:

• Family/Parental controls
  • Your Google account may be part of a family group or supervised account where the manager has forced Restricted Mode.
  • In that case, only the family manager/parent can change the setting or remove restrictions, often via Google Family Link or their Google account settings.

• School or work device / Wi‑Fi
  • Schools and workplaces often lock Restricted Mode at the network level or via device policies.
  • You may see messages like “Locked by your network administrator” and the switch will be greyed out.

* You’ll have to contact the **IT admin** ; you can’t disable it yourself.

• Public or shared computers
  • Libraries, cafes, and some offices use browser or DNS filters that force Restricted Mode.
  • On these, even logged into your own account, you may not be allowed to turn it off.

• Different account has it on
  • You might be on the wrong YouTube/Google account.
  • Click your profile, choose Switch account , and check each one’s Restricted Mode setting.

6. Quick checks if you still see “Restricted Mode”

Run through this quick checklist:

• You turned it off in:
  • The YouTube app on your phone.
  • The browser version of YouTube (on phone and/or PC).
• You checked all accounts you’re logged into.

• You’re not on a school/work/public network that forces it.

• Your account is not a child/supervised account controlled by a parent.

If all of that checks out and Restricted Mode is still stuck, it’s almost always because of a hidden admin/parental setting. In those cases, you’ll need whoever manages the network or account (parent, IT, etc.) to change it. TL;DR: Go to your YouTube profile → Settings → General → Restricted Mode and toggle it off on every device and account you use; if it says it’s managed or locked, only the parent/admin or network owner can disable it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.