For YouTube users who miss the dislike counter, Return YouTube Dislike is a browser extension that restores this feature by leveraging a combination of archived dislike data and user-submitted feedback. This open-source project is available for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and other Chromium-based browsers, offering a simple way to regain insight into a video's community feedback. By installing the extension, users can once again view dislike counts, adjust display settings, and even see the percentage of likes and dislikes.
Return YouTube Dislike offers several key features that enhance the YouTube viewing experience. It not only displays the dislike count but also allows users to customize how this information is presented, including formatting and color options. The extension is backed by a significant database of pre-2021 dislike data and continues to collect new data from users who have installed the extension.
The extension works by estimating dislike counts based on data from users who have installed Return YouTube Dislike. While the accuracy may vary, especially for newer videos, the collective data from the user community helps to provide a reasonable estimate. Users can also contribute to the data by liking or disliking videos, further enhancing the accuracy for everyone.
Return YouTube Dislike is compatible with a wide range of browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave. It is also available as a UserScript for browsers that do not support extensions. The project is open-source, and its development is transparent, with the source code available on GitHub.
The primary benefit of Return YouTube Dislike is that it restores a feature that many users found valuable for gauging the quality or appropriateness of a video before watching it. While YouTube removed the dislike count, this extension brings back a critical piece of information that helps viewers make informed decisions about their viewing choices.