How to Download Your YouTube Comments
Short answer: Use Google Takeout, deselect everything, then select only YouTube and YouTube Music. Google emails you a download link, often within a few hours.
Step by step
- Go to Google Takeout and click Deselect all near the top of the list.
- Scroll down to YouTube and YouTube Music and check its box.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Next step.
- Leave the settings as they are (Send download link via email, Export once, .zip) and click Create export.
- Google emails you a download link. You have one week to use it.
If you’ve uploaded videos, the download can be large. That’s fine, the scan only reads two small files inside it, your comments and the list of videos you uploaded.
Why download it before a job search
The part that matters for a job search is your comment history, which sits in one small file inside the export, even if the whole download is large.
Some screening vendors publicly describe social media lookbacks of up to seven years, so PruneSocial uses a seven-year review window for eligible dated activity. Actual employer and screening-provider practices can vary. Your own export is the most complete way to see what's there. See the sources and methodology.
What's in the file that matters
You don't need to unzip anything or dig through folders. The scan reads: comments.csv and videos.csv (the titles and descriptions of videos you uploaded). Everything else in the export, including photos and messages, stays on your computer.
Can’t find the ZIP on your phone, or the scanner can’t read it? See fixes for common export problems.
Check your YouTube history when your export arrives
Not requested yet? Start with the export checklist. Drop the ZIP into PruneSocial and your comments from the last seven years are scored against published screening categories, with a recommended fix for anything flagged.