Block Live and Restricted YouTube Content

You can use Restricted Mode to let users access YouTube videos while blocking other YouTube content. You can:

• Hide comments
• Block live videos
• Block access to Restricted content

Restricted Mode works best for organisations that allow YouTube access but want to block mature or distracting content. A YouTube Content Modification may be a better solution if your organisation only allows users access to specific videos or you want to block advertisements or turn off auto-play.

Before you begin

You need to decide which Restricted Mode setup method is best for your organisation. This decision will determine which method and steps you need to follow.

Question 1: Are you using the Cloud Filter Extension or On-Premise Appliance to apply your policies?

• On-Premise Appliance: Go to question 2.
• Cloud Filter Extension: Go to question 3.

Question 2: Do you have a Decrypt and Inspect policy for the YouTube category?

• Yes: Use Method 1 and YouTube: Restricted Mode via HTTP Header in moderate or strict mode.
• No: Use Method 1 and YouTube: Restricted Mode via CONNECT Header in moderate or strict mode.

Question 3: Are you using the Cloud Filter Extension on ChromeOS?

• Yes: Go to question 4.
• No: Use Method 1 and YouTube SafetyMode Cookie.

Question 4: Are you using Google Workspace for Education?

• Yes: Use Method 2 to use Restricted Mode via Google Admin Console alongside YouTube SafetyMode Cookie.
• No: Use Method 1 and YouTube SafetyMode Cookie.

Method 1: Use Content Modification to enforce Restricted Mode

Step 1: Set up HTTPS Inspection

• If you use YouTube - Restricted Mode via CONNECT Header or the Cloud Filter Extension to apply your Content Modification policies rather than the On-Premise Appliance, skip to Step 2.
• If not, ensure you have a HTTPS Inspection Policy to Decrypt and Inspect the Everything category, or if this is not possible, the YouTube category.

Step 2: Check nothing prevents content modification

Remove any policies that would bypass your Content Modification, including:

• Any Do Not Filter Web Filter Policies for YouTube. These are treated as Allow by the Cloud Filter Extension.
• Any Ignore Content Modification policies for YouTube.

Step 3: Create the Content Modification policy

Create a content modification policy with one of these Content Modifications:

• YouTube - SafetyMode cookie
• YouTube - Restricted Mode
  
  • (Moderate) via CONNECT Header
  • (Moderate) via HTTP Header
  • (Strict) via CONNECT Header
  • (Strict) via HTTP Header

Method 2: Use Google Admin Console and YouTube SafetyMode Cookie

Restricted Mode via Google Admin Console only blocks YouTube content for users signed into their Google Workspace account in Chrome. To block YouTube content in other browsers, you must also set up a YouTube SafetyMode Cookie Content Modification policy.

1. In your Google Admin Console, check the box for Signed in users in your organisation can only watch restricted and approved videos.
2. Create a content modification policy for the YouTube category and Apply YouTube SafetyMode cookie as the Action.

Table of Restricted Mode features

This table outlines some features of each Restricted Mode option.