YouTube is unarguably the biggest video sharing platform in the world with over 500 hours of content uploaded every minute.
The age of viewers here also varies from kids to adults. To keep the platform safe, YouTube introduced restrictions that prevented inappropriate content from being shown to kids.
This filter keeps “mature” content away from people who do not need them. However, some claim this filtering is too limiting and prevents them from seeing their chosen videos. If you’re in this group and are above 18 years, turning off the age restriction on your account may be the best way to go.
In this guide, we’ll not only show a step by step process to turning off age restriction but also discuss what these restrictions are all about and troubleshooting common issues. Ready?
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Understanding YouTube Age Restrictions
YouTube puts videos with violence, explicit language and sensitive topics under its age restriction group so it can protect its younger viewers or even mature audience that would prefer to do without them.
The YouTube team is able to place videos under the age restriction due to the type of content. Creators also have the chance to age restrict their videos if they believe it to contain restricted content.
Due to these restrictions users who want to see restricted videos will have to sign in to verify their age or turn off age restrictions from their settings. With the restriction affecting viewers under 18 years of age, using organization or family accounts with enforced content filters, or with restricted mode on.
Prerequisites
Before we dive into showing you a simple process to turn off age restriction, you should have these prerequisites. Without some of these, turning off this restriction filter may be impossible.
- Google or YouTube account with age verification where needed.
- An internet enabled device to access YouTube.
- Access to accounts settings with admin access if using organization or family accounts.
- Parental consent or admin approval if under 18 years and using a family account or utilizing a restricted organization account.
Step By Step Guide to Turn Off Age Restriction
Now that you know why age restriction is a thing on YouTube and what you need to turn it off, here is how to do it in just a few easy steps. While the steps are generally similar, it may vary slightly based on the device and platform.
Using Browsers
- Open YouTube by navigating to www.youtube.com on your preferred browser.
- Sign in to YouTube by clicking sign in at the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Your Profile on the top right corner and scroll down to Restricted Mode.
- If Restricted Mode is turned On, click on it and toggle it to switch it Off. You may be prompted to confirm your action or verify your age.
- To verify your age, go to myaccount.google.com and tap on Profile Info to reveal a birthday section.
- Click on Add Birthday to input your birthday that reflects 18 or older and save.
You should have access to all previously restricted videos. Search them to confirm.
Using Mobile App
- Sign into your YouTube account using your google account or Gmail.
- Click your profile icon on the bottom right or top right depending on device channels available and click settings.
- From settings tap General.
- Scroll down till you see the Restricted Mode. It shines Blue if on.
- Toggle it Off. The toggle changes to grey when off.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes turning off age restrictions on your account leads to some common problems. Problems that prevent your request from going through or taking effect. We’ve compiled some of the most common issues people face when trying to turn off age restrictions.
Restricted Mode Won’t Turn Off
Trying to turn off restricted mode but it just won’t toggle off? The problem may be from logging into the wrong google account. Or when the restrictions are enforced by an admin or parental controls. Remember that parental consent or admin approval is among the prerequisites for certain account types.
Other times all you need to do is to clear the browser or app cache and try again.
Videos Still Restricted Even After Turning Off Age Restrictions
If you notice that some videos are still restricted even after successfully turning off age restrictions on your account, the issue may be from the age restrictions set by creators. These cannot be bypassed from your account except you pass YouTube’s age requirement.
You may also face this problem if you’re using a child-linked YouTube account. Here, you can simply switch to an adult account to get access to these videos.
Age Verification Not Working
When you can’t seem to verify your age, the issue is usually solved by providing an acceptable document like credit card or ID or confirming that the age is correctly set in your google account. You can check by login into www.myaccounts.google.com to check.
Incorrect Age Settings
Have you set an incorrect age that is preventing you from seeing mature contents? If your Google account is set as under 18, restrictions are automatically set on the videos available to you. If this is in error, simply log in to your Google account and update your date of birth.
Device-Specific Problems
Some problems stopping you from turning off age restrictions in your account are simply device specific. You may be using an outdated app or firmware. In this case, all you need to do is update the app and use a device with the acceptable firmware.
Or try out the age-old effective method of restarting your device or reinstalling the YouTube app and trying again.
Safety and Privacy Considerations
Disabling age restrictions on YouTube allows access to a broader range of content, but it comes with responsibilities to ensure safe and secure usage. Here are key considerations to keep in mind:
- Exposure to Mature Content
Disabling Restricted Mode may allow access to videos containing mature themes, such as violence, explicit language, or sensitive topics. This can be inappropriate for younger users or those unprepared for such content. Confirm whether unrestricted access aligns with your preferences or household guidelines before making this change.
- Parental Supervision
For accounts used by minors, parents or guardians should actively monitor viewing habits. Consider using YouTube Kids, which is designed for younger audiences with built-in content filters, or Google Family Link to set boundaries on a child’s account. These tools help maintain age-appropriate viewing even when restrictions are adjusted.
- Privacy During Age Verification
Some restricted videos require age verification through your Google account. Avoid sharing sensitive personal information beyond what is necessary, such as when submitting an ID or credit card for verification. YouTube uses these solely for age confirmation and does not store financial details, but always verify you are on an official YouTube or Google page to avoid phishing risks.
- Device Security
When signing into YouTube on shared or public devices, such as a school computer or library tablet, always sign out after use to prevent others from accessing your account. On personal devices, ensure strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your Google account to protect against unauthorized access.
- Monitoring Viewing Habits
Regularly check your YouTube watch history and subscriptions to ensure the content aligns with your values and safety preferences. This is especially important for shared accounts or devices used by multiple family members. You can access watch history under the “History” section of your YouTube account settings.
- Responsible Content Interaction
Turning off restrictions may expose you to controversial or sensitive comments and discussions. Engage thoughtfully and avoid sharing personal information in comments or community posts. Use YouTube’s privacy settings to control who can view your activity or interact with your content.
Final Thoughts
Age restrictions on YouTube are set to help viewers filter the type of content they see on the platform.
These restrictions are set on videos by YouTube or the creators themselves if they think their content contains inappropriate content for kids. As a creator on YouTube, the right video editing service like Your Video Editor can help you decide which videos should be age restricted.
Sometimes age restrictions are turned on knowingly or otherwise on adult accounts too, limiting the type of content they can see.
Turning off these restrictions is the next line of action if you want to enjoy unfiltered content. Thankfully the process can be completed in as little as 1 minute after signing into your account. Other times you’re required to verify your age which may take longer than 1 minute.
While lifting age restrictions on your account is liberating, it also opens you up to certain privacy and safety concerns that you should know. Some of which include exposure to mature content, privacy during age verification, and the responsibility of monitoring the viewing habits of others using the account if it is a family account.
With this information, alongside some common problems that may arise when turning off age restrictions and their fixes, you can enjoy unfiltered content on your YouTube account.
