Quick answer: YouTube removed public dislike counts in November 2021, but you can still see estimated dislikes using browser extensions like Return YouTube Dislike (most popular), standalone websites like timeskip.io and v2.jabrek.net, or mobile apps. None show exact counts anymore — YouTube disabled the dislike API for everyone, including extensions. What you see now is estimated based on archived data and user sampling.
If you’re a creator, you can still see your own video’s exact dislike count in YouTube Studio — YouTube hid dislikes from the public, not from creators.
Here’s the complete 2026 guide to seeing YouTube dislikes, with honest reviews of every tool and step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile.
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Get started for freeTable of contents
- Why YouTube removed public dislike counts
- Method 1: Return YouTube Dislike (browser extension)
- Method 2: Dislike viewer websites
- Method 3: YouTube Studio (for your own videos)
- How to see dislikes on YouTube mobile
- Are the dislike numbers accurate?
- What to do if Return YouTube Dislike isn’t working
- Can you see who disliked your YouTube video?
- Do dislikes still affect YouTube’s algorithm?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why YouTube removed public dislike counts {#why-removed}
YouTube removed the public dislike count from all videos on November 10, 2021. The dislike button still exists — you can still click “thumbs down” — but the number is hidden from everyone except the video creator.
YouTube’s official reasoning: To reduce “dislike attacks” — coordinated campaigns where users mass-dislike videos to hurt small creators. YouTube’s research claimed smaller channels were disproportionately targeted.
What the change actually did:
- Public viewers can no longer see dislike counts on any video
- The YouTube API no longer returns dislike data (shut down completely)
- Creators can still see their own video dislikes in YouTube Studio
- The dislike button still works for algorithm feedback (“don’t recommend similar content”)
The backlash was significant. A petition to reverse the change got over 500,000 signatures. Former YouTube engineers (including the engineer who originally built the dislike button) publicly criticized the decision. But YouTube has not reversed it and has no plans to.
The practical impact in 2026: If you want to see dislike counts, you need third-party tools. The tools below work by either sampling extension users’ dislikes or using archived data from before the API shutdown.
Method 1: Return YouTube Dislike (browser extension) {#method-1-extension}
Best for: Most users, most of the time Cost: Free Platforms: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera How it works: Displays estimated dislike counts directly on YouTube videos
Return YouTube Dislike is the most popular solution with over 5 million users as of 2026. Once installed, it adds the dislike count back to every YouTube video you watch — right next to the like count, where it used to be.
How to install Return YouTube Dislike
On Chrome:
- Go to the Chrome Web Store
- Click “Add to Chrome”
- Confirm by clicking “Add extension”
- Refresh any YouTube video — dislikes should appear
On Firefox:
- Go to Mozilla Add-ons
- Click “Add to Firefox”
- Confirm permissions
- Refresh any YouTube video
On Edge: Same process as Chrome — it works through the Chrome Web Store.
How accurate is Return YouTube Dislike?
This is the honest part most articles don’t explain clearly. The extension uses two data sources:
- Archived data from before YouTube’s API shutdown (Nov 2021). For videos published before this date, the counts are accurate based on public data at the time.
- Extrapolated data from active extension users. For videos published after Nov 2021, the extension samples dislikes from users who have the extension installed, then extrapolates based on sample size.
The practical accuracy:
- Videos from before Nov 2021: Very accurate (~95%+ of actual counts)
- Videos from after Nov 2021: Rough estimate (accuracy decreases over time as the sample shifts)
- Very new videos (under 24 hours): Unreliable — too small a sample
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Free, open-source, well-maintained
- Integrates seamlessly with YouTube
- Most widely used = best data for newer videos
Cons:
- Not 100% accurate (YouTube doesn’t provide real data)
- Some ad blockers conflict with it
- Mobile support is limited (more on that below)
Method 2: Dislike viewer websites {#method-2-websites}
If you don’t want to install an extension, several websites let you check YouTube dislikes by pasting a video URL.
returnyoutubedislike.com
The official website of the Return YouTube Dislike project. Paste any YouTube URL and it shows estimated dislikes using the same data as the browser extension.
Best for: One-off checks without installing anything. Useful on shared computers.
timeskip.io/tools/youtube-dislike-viewer
A clean, lightweight dislike viewer. Paste a URL, get estimated dislikes instantly.
Best for: Quick checks. No ads, no signup, fast load.
v2.jabrek.net/yt-dislikes
Similar functionality. Paste URL, see dislikes. Includes a chart showing likes-to-dislikes ratio.
Best for: Visual comparison of like/dislike ratio over time.
Which website should you use?
All three pull from similar data sources and give similar numbers. The practical differences are UI and speed:
| Site | Speed | Ads | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| returnyoutubedislike.com | Medium | None | Most accurate (same source as extension) |
| timeskip.io | Fast | None | Quick one-off checks |
| v2.jabrek.net | Medium | None | Visual charts and ratios |
Method 3: YouTube Studio — for your own videos {#method-3-studio}
Important: if you’re the creator of the video, you can see the exact dislike count in YouTube Studio. YouTube only hid dislikes from the public, not from creators.
How to see dislikes on your own YouTube videos
- Go to studio.youtube.com
- Sign in with the Google account linked to your channel
- Click Content in the left sidebar
- Click the title of any video
- Look at the video analytics summary — you’ll see Likes and Dislikes with exact numbers
You can also see dislikes in the broader Analytics dashboard:
- YouTube Studio → Analytics
- Click the Engagement tab
- Scroll to the “Likes vs dislikes” section
- See counts for individual videos and aggregate across your channel
Why creators can still see dislikes
YouTube’s reasoning: creators need honest feedback to improve their content. Dislikes are a valuable signal for creators to understand which videos didn’t resonate. So while the public can’t see them, the creator can.
This is only for YOUR videos. You cannot see dislike counts on other creators’ videos from YouTube Studio — only the three methods above work for that.
How to see dislikes on YouTube mobile {#mobile}
Mobile is trickier because browser extensions don’t work in the YouTube app. Here are your options:
Option 1: Use mobile browsers with extension support
Firefox Mobile and Kiwi Browser support Chrome extensions on Android. Install Return YouTube Dislike in one of these browsers, then watch YouTube videos in the browser (not the app). Dislikes will display normally.
Steps:
- Install Firefox Mobile or Kiwi Browser from Google Play
- Open the browser, go to settings
- Find “Extensions” or “Add-ons”
- Install Return YouTube Dislike
- Navigate to youtube.com in the browser (not the app)
- Dislikes now appear on videos
Option 2: Use a dislike viewer website
On any mobile browser, bookmark returnyoutubedislike.com or timeskip.io/tools/youtube-dislike-viewer. When you want to see dislikes on a mobile video, copy the YouTube link, paste it into the viewer site.
Not as seamless as the extension, but works on any mobile device without installing anything.
Option 3: iOS/Android dedicated apps
Several third-party YouTube clients include dislike counts natively:
- Vanced Manager (Android — unofficial)
- YouTube ReVanced (Android)
- Yattee (iOS)
Caution: Third-party YouTube apps violate YouTube’s Terms of Service. They can stop working without notice and may get your Google account flagged. Only use if you understand the risks.
Why the regular YouTube app doesn’t show dislikes
The YouTube mobile app is fully controlled by Google, and Google won’t re-add dislikes to it. Unlike web browsers (which can run extensions), the native app has no extension system. There is no way to modify the official YouTube app to show dislikes.
Are the dislike numbers accurate? {#accuracy}
Let’s be honest about accuracy, because most articles gloss over this.
For videos published before November 2021: Very accurate. The Return YouTube Dislike team archived publicly available dislike data from the old YouTube API before it shut down. These numbers are usually within 1-2% of the original counts.
For videos published between November 2021 and today: Less accurate. Tools rely on extrapolation from extension users who click dislike. Accuracy varies:
- Popular videos with millions of views: ±15-25% of actual
- Mid-range videos: ±25-50%
- Niche videos with few views: ±50-100% (sample size too small to estimate reliably)
For videos under 24 hours old: Unreliable. The sample size is too small to extrapolate meaningfully. Wait 1-2 days for numbers to stabilize.
How to interpret the numbers
Think of modern dislike estimates as directional, not exact. They’re good for:
- Comparing relative dislike ratios (Video A got 5× more dislikes than Video B)
- Identifying videos with heavy dislike campaigns
- Seeing rough like-to-dislike ratios
They’re bad for:
- Getting exact counts
- Comparing videos with very different view counts
- Analyzing new videos
Why exact counts aren’t possible anymore
YouTube’s dislike API is completely disabled. No third party — not Google ex-engineers, not power users, not even Microsoft or Mozilla — has access to real dislike data after November 2021. Anyone claiming to have exact counts is either using pre-2021 archived data or lying.
What to do if Return YouTube Dislike isn’t working {#troubleshooting}
Common issues and fixes:
Extension installed but numbers don’t appear
Most common causes:
- Page not refreshed — after installing, refresh any open YouTube tabs
- Ad blocker conflict — uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, or similar may block the extension’s API calls. Whitelist
returnyoutubedislike.comin your ad blocker. - YouTube Premium issue — rare, but some Premium features can block third-party extensions. Try disabling other extensions temporarily
- Outdated extension version — check for updates in your browser’s extension manager
Numbers appear but seem wildly wrong
- Video is very new (under 24 hours): wait for sample size to grow
- Video is very niche (under 10K views): sample size may be too small
- Video was re-uploaded: the extension might be pulling data from a different video
Extension stops working suddenly
- YouTube layout update: the extension needs updates when YouTube changes its UI. Usually fixed within days
- Browser update: check if the extension is still enabled after a browser update
- Account sync issue: sign out and back into your browser
“API limit reached” errors
- Too many rapid checks: slow down. The free API has rate limits.
- VPN interference: some VPNs trigger rate limits faster
If the extension is fully broken for you, use one of the dislike viewer websites as a backup — they pull from the same data but through a different infrastructure.
Can you see who disliked your YouTube video? {#who-disliked}
No. Not even as the creator.
YouTube has never shown creators WHO disliked their videos. Only the total count (in YouTube Studio). Individual dislike identity is permanently private — by design, to prevent retaliation.
Some third-party articles claim tools exist to reveal dislikers. These claims are false. YouTube’s API has never exposed individual dislike identity, so no tool could access that data. If a service claims to show who disliked your videos, it’s either:
- Scamming you
- Trying to install malware
- Phishing for YouTube login credentials
Never install tools promising this feature. They are guaranteed to be fake at best, malicious at worst.
Do dislikes still affect YouTube’s algorithm? {#algorithm}
Yes, dislikes still matter to YouTube’s algorithm — they’re just hidden from the public. Here’s what dislikes actually signal:
How YouTube uses dislikes in 2026
- Content suppression: Videos with heavy dislike-to-like ratios get less algorithmic recommendation
- “Don’t recommend similar” signal: When you dislike a video, YouTube reduces similar recommendations to you personally
- Creator feedback: Dislikes factor into which videos YouTube recommends to other users who might dislike them
- Monetization effect: Videos with very high dislike ratios may face ad serving restrictions
How much do dislikes hurt a video?
Based on creator reports and YouTube’s own documentation:
- Small dislike ratio (under 5%): negligible impact
- Medium dislike ratio (5-15%): some recommendation suppression, variable by niche
- High dislike ratio (15-30%): significant recommendation reduction
- Very high (30%+): potential monetization restrictions, strong recommendation suppression
Should creators worry about dislikes?
Only if dislikes exceed 15% of total engagement (likes + dislikes). Under 15% is normal and doesn’t hurt your channel. Over 30% is a signal to review the video and potentially remove or re-edit.
Controversial topics naturally get more dislikes (politics, religion, divisive opinions). The algorithm accounts for topic context and doesn’t penalize high-dislike rates on inherently divisive content as harshly.
Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}
Can you still see dislikes on YouTube in 2026?
Not publicly through YouTube directly — YouTube removed the dislike count in November 2021. But you can see estimated dislikes using the Return YouTube Dislike browser extension, dislike viewer websites (returnyoutubedislike.com, timeskip.io, v2.jabrek.net), or — if you’re the video’s creator — exact counts in YouTube Studio.
How accurate is Return YouTube Dislike?
Very accurate for videos published before November 2021 (within 1-2% of original counts). Less accurate for newer videos, where it relies on extrapolation from extension users. Rough accuracy ranges: popular videos ±15-25%, mid-range videos ±25-50%, niche videos ±50-100%.
Why did YouTube remove dislikes?
YouTube officially cited “dislike attacks” — coordinated mass-dislike campaigns targeting small creators — as the reason. They removed public counts in November 2021 after testing the change on a limited set of videos earlier that year. The change was widely criticized and a petition to reverse it gathered 500,000+ signatures, but YouTube has not reversed course.
Can I see dislikes on YouTube mobile?
Yes, with workarounds. The regular YouTube mobile app does not show dislikes. But you can: (1) use Firefox Mobile or Kiwi Browser on Android with the Return YouTube Dislike extension, (2) paste video URLs into dislike viewer websites like returnyoutubedislike.com, or (3) use third-party YouTube clients (though these violate YouTube’s terms of service).
Can creators see dislikes on their own YouTube videos?
Yes. YouTube only hid dislike counts from the public — creators can see exact dislike numbers in YouTube Studio. Go to studio.youtube.com → Content → click any video → see Likes and Dislikes in the analytics summary. You can also view aggregate engagement data in the Analytics tab.
Can you see who disliked your YouTube video?
No. YouTube has never shown creators who specifically disliked their videos, only the total count. Any tool claiming to reveal individual disliker identity is either a scam or malware. The YouTube API has never exposed this data.
Does YouTube still count dislikes in its algorithm?
Yes. Dislikes still factor into YouTube’s recommendation algorithm. They’re hidden from public view but actively used for content ranking, personalized recommendations, and creator feedback. High dislike ratios (15%+ of total engagement) can reduce recommendations.
Is Return YouTube Dislike safe to use?
Yes. Return YouTube Dislike is open-source (its code is public on GitHub) and trusted by over 5 million users. It doesn’t collect personal data or access your YouTube account. The only minor privacy trade-off is that when you dislike videos, your anonymous vote contributes to the extension’s data pool — this helps all users see dislike counts.
Why don’t the numbers I see match what I saw yesterday?
Three possible reasons: (1) the extension’s data updates periodically as more users watch the video, (2) YouTube changed the video’s display (rare), or (3) the creator re-uploaded the video with a different ID (treated as new by the extension). Dislike estimates evolve over time for videos published after 2021.
Can I see dislike counts in YouTube’s analytics if I have YouTube Studio access?
Yes, with exact counts. YouTube Studio → Analytics → Engagement tab shows likes and dislikes for your own videos. You can also see this per-video in the Content tab. Managers of YouTube channels (brand accounts) can access this data if they have the right permission level.
Why does the same video show different dislike counts on different tools?
Different tools use different data sources and extrapolation methods. Return YouTube Dislike uses its own large extension user base. v2.jabrek.net and timeskip.io may use similar sources with different calculation methods. For videos before November 2021, counts converge; for newer videos, they can vary by 10-40%.
What happened to the YouTube API for dislikes?
YouTube shut down public dislike data access through its API in December 2021, about a month after removing public dislike counts. No third-party developer — regardless of API tier or permissions — can access dislike data through official channels anymore. All current tools use web scraping, archived data, or extension user samples instead.
Are dislike viewer websites safe?
The three main dislike viewer websites (returnyoutubedislike.com, timeskip.io, v2.jabrek.net) are legitimate. They don’t require login or personal information. Be cautious of alternative “dislike viewer” sites that ask for YouTube login credentials — these are phishing scams. Never log into YouTube through a third-party site to “see dislikes.”
Why is my extension showing zero dislikes on some videos?
Two main causes: (1) the video is genuinely undisliked (rare for popular content), or (2) the extension failed to fetch data. Refresh the page. If still zero, try opening the video in incognito mode (tests for extension conflicts). If the extension works in incognito but not in regular mode, another extension is blocking it.
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Get started for freeThe bottom line
YouTube removed public dislike counts in November 2021, but you can still see them with the right tools:
- Browser extension (best for most users): Return YouTube Dislike — free, open-source, works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
- Website (for occasional checks): returnyoutubedislike.com, timeskip.io, or v2.jabrek.net
- YouTube Studio (for your own videos): Exact dislike counts are still available to creators
- Mobile: Firefox Mobile or Kiwi Browser with the extension, or use dislike viewer websites in any browser
Keep in mind that all non-creator dislike counts are estimates based on extension user sampling. They’re accurate for older videos, rough for newer ones, and unreliable for very new or very niche videos.
If you’re a creator trying to understand your own video’s performance, YouTube Studio gives you exact numbers anytime. For analyzing other creators’ videos, the Return YouTube Dislike extension is the best option. For one-off checks on shared computers, paste URLs into a dislike viewer website.
For creators focused on growing their channel, see our guide on how to see your YouTube subscribers for complete analytics access, and how much YouTube pays for 1,000 views for understanding what those views are actually worth in revenue.
And if posting consistently is part of your growth strategy, SchedPilot lets you batch-schedule YouTube Shorts alongside Instagram Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn, and 7 other platforms from one upload. $5/month, free trial, no credit card required.
