How Highlighted Comments Happen
When YouTube sends you a notification about a comment — someone replied to you, mentioned you, or commented on your video — the link in that notification doesn't just open the video. It opens the video with an extra URL parameter (?lc=<comment-id>) that identifies the exact comment.
When the page loads with that parameter, YouTube pulls the referenced comment to the top of the comment section and labels it "Highlighted comment" — saving you from scrolling through hundreds of comments to find the one the notification was about. Replies get the same treatment with a "Highlighted reply" label.
The highlight lives entirely in that URL. Open the same video normally and the comment section looks completely standard — for you and for everyone else.
Highlighted vs Pinned Comments
These two get confused constantly, but they're opposites in every way that matters:
| Feature | Highlighted comment | Pinned comment |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates it | YouTube, automatically | The video's creator, manually |
| Who sees it | Only the person who followed the link | Everyone |
| Purpose | Navigation — find the comment a link points to | Promotion — feature a comment for all viewers |
| Engagement effect | None | High — top placement for every viewer |
The Myth: "The Creator Noticed Me"
The most common misreading of the label: viewers see "Highlighted comment" above their own comment and assume the creator featured them. What actually happened is simpler — they opened the video from a notification about their own comment (a like, a reply), and YouTube highlighted it for them.
If a creator genuinely wants to feature your comment, you'll see it pinned — with the creator's name on the pin — or receive a public reply or a heart from the creator. Those are visible to everyone; a highlight never is.
How to Remove a Highlighted Comment
There's nothing to delete — the highlight isn't attached to the comment, only to the URL you used. To view the video without it, edit the address bar: remove ?lc=... (or &lc=...) and everything after it, then reload. On mobile, just open the video from search or your feed instead of the notification.
Creators sometimes worry a highlighted spam comment is being promoted on their video — it isn't. Other viewers never see the highlight. If the underlying comment is spam, handle the comment itself: our guide to managing YouTube comments covers removing, hiding users, and setting up filters.
Drowning in YouTube Comments?
Highlights help you find one comment — FeedGuardians handles all of them. AI moderation hides spam and scam comments automatically and drafts replies in your brand voice, across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Try FeedGuardians FreeSet up in 2 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a highlighted comment mean the creator noticed me?
No. Highlighting is automatic and viewer-side. It appears because you followed a link pointing at that comment — not because the creator saw or featured it. Creator recognition looks like a pin, a heart, or a reply.
Can I highlight my own comment for other people?
Not in the way you'd hope. You can share a direct link to your comment (tap the comment's timestamp/share option), and anyone opening that link sees it highlighted — but only because they used your link. There's no way to make a comment appear highlighted for people browsing normally.
Why does my own comment show as highlighted?
You arrived via a notification about your comment — someone liked or replied to it, and you tapped through. YouTube highlights it so you land on the right thread.
Is there a highlighted comment on other platforms too?
Facebook has its own version of comment highlighting plus the separate @highlight tag — different mechanics, same family of confusion. We break it down in what a highlighted comment means on Facebook.
Related Guides & Resources
How to Manage YouTube Comments
The full toolkit: moderation settings, blocked words, held-for-review, and pinning the comments you actually want on top.
How to Hide Comments on YouTube
Hide comments from specific users or turn them off entirely — yours or anyone's, step by step.
How to Delete YouTube Comments
Remove comments on your videos and your own comments elsewhere — including bulk options.
What Does a Highlighted Comment Mean on Facebook?
Facebook's version of the label, the @highlight tag, and the profile-viewer myth — explained.