How to Turn Off the Age Restriction on YouTube?

Did you know that 32% of young users confessed they stumbled upon adult content at least once before turning 18? This is where the importance of age restriction by YouTube comes into the picture. It is there to protect children and deny them from harmful videos. 

But, this restricted feature sometimes frustrates the users. In that case, you can easily turn them off. So, read through the guide to learn how to turn off age restrictions on YouTube in just a few steps while not losing sight of possible risks. This way, you will be able to view videos without interruption.

Also, if you are a YouTube influencer or a content creator looking to enhance your YouTube channel, avail of  YouTube Promotion Services and grow your audience.

What Is Age-Restricted Content?

Turn Off Age Restriction on YouTube

Age-restricted videos content on YouTube is the videos not suitable for all sorts of audiences, especially those under 13. They can be harmful to minor audiences, specifically due to their explicit nature towards showing violence and sensitive and sensual content.

Restricted mode on YouTube, therefore, delivers the purpose of protecting younger viewers from potentially harmful content. YouTube age restriction guidelines dictate to content creators what type of content will fall under the restricted category and what not.

Why Does YouTube Have Age Restrictions?

YouTube, being one of the top content-consuming platforms for all age groups, tends to create a safe and appropriate environment for all of its users. As a result, it tries to comply with the legal regulations, especially with COPPA.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, has specific guidelines on protecting the privacy and safety of children under 13 years. This will apply during online content consumption, where hateful language, violence, and sexual content may hamper their mental state.

Therefore, to protect the mental and emotional well-being of its young audience and to comply with the regulations of law, YouTube places stress on applying age restrictions. Let’s then know what contents are age-restricted by YouTube.

What Content Gets Age-Restricted?

Age-restricted content can be any content that YouTube finds to be not safe for young viewers. This may include;

  • Violent real-life as well as graphical content
  • Explicit use of harsh language, slang, and words triggering hatred
  • Videos promoting drug, alcohol, and smoking
  • Videos showing some sort of nudity
  • Dangerous life-threatening challenge videos or pranks

YouTube does not directly ban these videos. They simply put restrictions as a protective measure to limit the consumption of such content by children.

Why Can Turning Off Age Restrictions Be Beneficial For You?

While YouTube age restriction workaround is beneficial for protecting the small members of the family from harmful content, adults may want to explore YouTube with greater access. 

Well, you can disable YouTube age restriction anytime and enjoy its advantages.

  • Access to Content

By turning off the age restriction on YouTube, you can get to see videos that may be inaccessible to you due to age restrictions. By turning off this default feature, you can watch YouTube videos freely without any interruptions or limitations.

  • Filter Out Content

The restricted mode on YouTube is a voluntary setting that allows you to filter out content that you regard as inappropriate. This can be extremely beneficial for parents who want to regulate what their children are watching on YouTube.

Steps to Disable Age Restrictions on YouTube

If you are facing issues with age restriction by YouTube or feel that your feed is getting too much filtered, taking a few steps will fix YouTube age restriction error. Here are the steps to disable Restricted Mode.

  • Step 1: Log In To Your YouTube

To change age settings on YouTube you will first have to log into your YouTube account. You can start doing the process from your mobile device or laptop, at your convenience.

  • Step 2: Turn Off the Restricted Mode from YouTube Settings
turn off age restriction YouTube

Now, after logging in, you will have to check whether the “Restricted Mode” setting is enabled in your YouTube account. You can check it and disable age restrictions on YouTube by;

  1. Clicking on your YouTube profile icon on the top right corner of your laptop screen or bottom right corner of your mobile.
  2. There, you will get the Settings with the signature settings icon.
  3. There, on touching the General tab, you will get the Restricted Mode.
  4. Check if it is switched on.
  5. If yes, then touch it to disable it.

By simply disabling Restricted Mode by following these steps you can access more varied content on YouTube. However, if you want to change age restrictions, then you will have to take a different path.

  • Step 3: Change Age Settings From Google

If you encounter an issue regarding age restriction by YouTube, you may simply want to turn off age verification on YouTube. We generally have to put our age during account creation, which you may want to modify after a few years.

To remove the age restriction on YouTube, you will have to change a few things on your Google account. For this, follow the steps;

  1. Go to your Google Account
  2. There, navigate to the Personal Info section
  3. Here, you can see your birth date and change it if you want to get greater access to YouTube videos

However, it is always wise to stick to your correct birth date to avoid any further issues. There are other ways to disable age verification on YouTube, too.

  • Step 4: Turn Off Age Verification On YouTube

YouTube may sometimes require you to go through age verifications. This process is beneficial for users to access content according to their age and mental capacity.

However, upon finding it inconvenient or too much restrictive you can turn off the settings. Just follow these steps;

  1. Go to the account settings on YouTube again
  2. Here, go to the Age Verification section
  3. Verify your age here using a valid ID proof
  4. Once the verification is complete, you can access videos apt for your age group

What to Do if You Can’t Turn Off Age Restriction?

Sometimes you may find some errors in turning off Restricted Mode in YouTube settings. This can happen due to several reasons, including;

  • Network Restrictions

Suppose you are sitting in a restricted zone such as a school or workplace or using a public network or a library. In that case, the network administrator may automatically turn on the Restricted mode of that area. This is, again, a protective measure.

Thereby, you will not be able to turn off YouTube’s age restrictions using such a public network. However, upon contacting the network admit directly, you can remove this issue.

  • Incorrect Birthday

If your Google account by any chance shows you to be under 18, the Restricted Mode will automatically apply to you. You can fix this issue anytime by following the steps that we have suggested to you.

Just go to your Google Account settings and update your personal information, especially your birthday. Make sure your birthday indicates you are above 18 years old, and thereby, YouTube will grant you access to restricted videos.

  • Regional Restrictions

Some content is restricted to specific geographical areas due to the strict rules of the government of that place. Here, simply disabling the YouTube age restriction settings will not work for you.

Instead, you can use a VPN to get to the content you want to see. VPN will help you bypass the regional restrictions and access the content of your wish.

  • Use a Different Device or Browser

Sometimes, the issue can be with the device or browser you are using. If logging in through browsers is not helping you with YouTube settings for age restrictions, try to use the YouTube app. 

  • Contact YouTube Support
disable YouTube age restriction

If all the above measures fail, you can reach out to the YouTube team anytime. They can help you disable the Restricted Mode or give you insights on any bugs or errors in the platform that may cause the issue at that time.

  • Age Restriction for Content Creators

If you are in the opposite direction, i.e., into content creation on YouTube, note that there are age restriction for content creators, too. YouTube can restrict your content if it finds it to be so.

Conclusion

To conclude, by following the steps to remove any age restriction, you can easily access all sorts of content on YouTube. Just disable the Restricted Mode and enjoy whatever you want to see.

Further, if you want to grow your audience, you can also buy YouTube subscribers seamlessly from SidesMedia and get the boost you need to increase visibility and reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get rid of YouTube age restriction?

Log into your account, verify your age by updating your birthdate in Google Account Settings, and disable Restricted Mode in YouTube settings. You may need to submit an ID for verification if prompted.

Why does my YouTube keep saying age restricted?

This happens if your account is under 18, Restricted Mode is enabled, or YouTube cannot verify your age. Regional restrictions or network filters may also be the cause.

How do I turn off YouTube restrictions?

Go to YouTube settings, find Restricted Mode under your profile, and toggle it off. On mobile, it’s under Settings > General. Network-level restrictions may require administrator access.

How do I change my age to 18 on YouTube?

Edit your birthdate in your Google Account under Personal Info. If required, submit a valid ID or follow YouTube’s age verification steps.

Luka L.

Luka Lucheski is a digital marketing strategist and content creator with over 5 years of experience in social media growth and engagement. As a leading writer at SidesMedia, Luka has helped brands increase their online visibility through data-driven content strategies featured in top marketing publications. Committed to delivering accurate and relevant insights, Luka blends creativity with analytics to provide readers with actionable advice.

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