YouTube removed the total number of dislikes on a video for viewers, although the dislike button is present for each. This was mainly done to tackle harassment and targeted campaigns against creators. However, knowing the dislike count on a video can aid in judging its authenticity and effectiveness, especially concerning tutorials. So, to enable the YouTube dislike button count, I used a dedicated plugin that brought up the total dislikes under each video.

Key Takeaways
  • The YouTube dislike count is disabled by default in the recent versions.
  • The Return YouTube Dislike extension effectively restored the dislike count under each video, while the YouTube Dislike Checker tool was also helpful.
  • Remember that these numbers are not the exact representation of the number of dislikes but an estimate.

Methods Difficult Rating

Using Extension
Rated: 3/10

Using Dislike Checker
Rated: 1/10


Note: Neither of these methods shows an accurate number of dislikes, but the data is fairly close.

Using Extension

The Return YouTube Dislike add-on allows you to enable the visibility of the thumbs-down count on YouTube in most browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. I installed the extension from the Chrome Web Store and enabled it on the Chrome browser, after which the total dislike count was up.

Dislike Count Displayed Under A Video (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Tip: Using this plugin on YouTube did not slow down its performance or affect it in any other way. Therefore, you can safely use it on your PC.

Using YouTube Dislike Checker

This tool gives a close estimate of the video’s dislike count as evaluated by their algorithm. I copied the video’s URL and pasted it in the search box in the YouTube Dislike Checker tool. It provided me with the data within a few seconds.

YouTube Dislike Evaluation
YouTube Dislike Evaluation (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Wrap Up

While YouTube informed that the step was taken to counter targeted dislike campaigns, it did not sit well among many viewers. Although these methods are relatively effective in viewing the dislike count of YouTube videos, the exact number can only be seen by the creator until YouTube decides to restore the feature for viewers officially.

The above techniques are just a workaround and let me decide better if a certain video is worth spending my time on. In case the extension stops working, re-add it to your browser. 


Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take To Download The Extension?

It took me less than 5 minutes to download and use it on my browser, though it may vary with the internet speed.

How Does The Extension Work?

It uses YouTube cache data and users’ interaction with the video to evaluate the dislike count.

Can Creators See The Dislike Count On Their Videos?

YouTube creators can see the stats of their videos in the Creator Studio.


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Abdul Hadi
[How-To Guides Expert] Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city's aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity! Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com Google IT Certificate Shehryar Khan