YouTube Comment Sort Restorer

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Comment Sort Restorer is a browser extension that automatically scans the current YouTube page for comment sections, sort dropdowns, comment threads, and comment order indicators. It detects comment sort elements by examining class names, IDs, and text patterns for sort controls and dropdown menus. The extension adds a floating restore button that shows the current sort status and provides quick access to sort settings. Clicking the button opens a panel where you can set the comment sort order (Top comments, Newest first, or Oldest first), restore your preferred sort on page load, view and save notes about comment threads, and store sort history locally. The extension maintains a comment sort database per video with sort history, notes, and tags. The main panel displays the current sort, remembered sort for the video, sort selection buttons, note management, and settings for default sort and auto-restore. The extension automatically restores your preferred sort when you navigate to a video you've visited before. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your sort preferences persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube viewers, comment readers, and community members to maintain consistent comment sorting across videos, ensuring they see comments in their preferred order every time.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays comment sections, sort dropdowns, comment threads, or comment order indicators – including YouTube watch pages, embedded YouTube players with comments, and any page with YouTube comment sections. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects comment sort elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube viewers who want to maintain consistent comment sorting across videos.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube video page. The extension automatically detects the comment section and shows a restore button (🔁) near the comments with the current sort status. Click the restore button to open the main panel. The panel shows the current sort order and any saved sort for this video. Use the sort buttons to change the comment order – Top comments, Newest first, or Oldest first – and the extension saves your preference automatically for that video. Add notes about the comment thread, discussion topic, or engagement patterns in the notes section. A floating button (💬) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the main panel from anywhere. Use the settings section to set your default sort order and enable or disable auto-restore on page load. The "Clear All Sorts" button removes all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension employs a multi-layered detection system that identifies YouTube comment sort controls with high accuracy. First, it scans the DOM using a comprehensive set of CSS selectors targeting the sort dropdown menu button, sort filter elements, and comment section components. The sort dropdown detection uses pattern matching on aria-label attributes, class names, and text content. When a sort is selected, the extension finds the dropdown button, clicks it to open the menu, then identifies and clicks the appropriate menu item. The extension handles both the standard YouTube sort menu and the newer YouTube UI variations. The video ID extraction uses regex pattern matching to identify YouTube's 11-character video ID from the URL. Sort preferences are stored in a structured database keyed by video ID. When a video loads, the extension checks the database for a remembered sort and applies it using the dropdown interaction sequence. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when the comment section loads, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The comment sort panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during comment reading. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The sort controls and settings are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your comment reading workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause comment sort detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. The extension stores all sort data, preferences, and notes exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. The extension does not read, modify, or interfere with any YouTube content, comments, or functionality beyond the sort controls – it operates on the page content and stores only metadata (video IDs, sort preferences, and notes) that you explicitly create. You are responsible for backing up your sort data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.