In late 2021, YouTube removed public dislike counts from all videos across the platform. Creators can still see dislikes in their analytics, but viewers no longer have access to this information. The change was controversial and removed an important signal that helped users judge content quality before investing their time in watching.
Why YouTube Removed Dislikes
YouTube stated that the change was made to protect smaller creators from targeted dislike campaigns. Organized groups would mass-dislike videos to harm a creator’s reputation and discourage them from uploading. While the intention was to reduce harassment, the removal affected all videos equally, including tutorials, product reviews, and news content where dislike counts served as a quality indicator.
Why Dislike Counts Matter
Dislike counts provided valuable context that helped viewers make informed decisions about what to watch.
- Quality Indicator: A video with many dislikes relative to likes signals potential issues with content accuracy or quality.
- Scam Detection: Tutorial and tech videos with high dislikes often contain outdated, misleading, or harmful information.
- Time Saving: Knowing a video is poorly received helps you avoid wasting time on low-quality content.
- Community Feedback: Dislikes represent viewer sentiment that is now invisible to the public.
- Accountability: Public dislikes encouraged creators to maintain quality and accuracy in their content.
Return YouTube Dislike Extension
The community responded to YouTube’s decision by creating the Return YouTube Dislike project. This browser extension restores dislike counts on YouTube videos using a combination of archived data and extrapolated estimates from extension users. It is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers. The data becomes more accurate as more users install the extension and contribute their interactions.
Return Dislike on YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced includes built-in support for Return YouTube Dislike directly within the mobile app. You do not need to install any browser extensions or additional tools. Enable the feature in Vanced Settings, and dislike counts will appear on every video just like they did before YouTube removed them.
With Vanced MicroG keeping your account synced, your likes and dislikes also contribute to the community database, making the data more accurate for everyone. It is a collaborative effort that benefits all users.
How Accurate Are the Restored Dislikes
The restored dislike counts use archived data from before the removal and real-time data from extension users. For popular videos with many extension users, the estimates are quite accurate. For smaller or newer videos, the data may be less precise. However, even approximate dislike information provides more useful context than having no data at all.
Enabling Return Dislike on Desktop
- Install the Extension: Download Return YouTube Dislike from your browser’s extension store.
- No Configuration Needed: The extension works immediately after installation with no setup required.
- Check Any Video: Dislike counts appear automatically beneath every video you watch.
- Contribute Data: Your like and dislike interactions help improve accuracy for all users.
Who Benefits from Return Dislike
- Tutorial Watchers: Users who rely on community feedback to find accurate and helpful guides.
- Tech Viewers: People who check reviews and comparisons before making purchase decisions.
- Cautious Browsers: Anyone who wants quality signals before committing time to a video.
- General Viewers: All users who value transparency and honest community feedback.
Final Thoughts
Dislike counts were a valuable part of the YouTube experience that helped millions of viewers make better decisions about what to watch. Restoring them through tools like Return YouTube Dislike on desktop and YouTube Vanced on mobile brings back that lost transparency. It is a community-driven solution that keeps viewers informed and helps maintain content quality across the platform.
