Find the First Comment on Any YouTube Video in Seconds

Want to find who commented first on your YouTube video? Looking to identify your earliest supporters or find that one comment from years ago? Unfortunately, YouTube doesn't offer a built-in way to sort comments by date or find the first comment, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

In this guide, you'll learn three proven methods to find the first comment on any YouTube video, including free tools that sort comments chronologically, advanced filtering techniques, and how to download complete comment histories for analysis.

Why YouTube Doesn't Show Oldest Comments First

YouTube's comment section is designed to maximize engagement, not chronological accuracy. The platform sorts comments by "Top Comments" (most likes/replies) by default, with an option to switch to "Newest First", but there's no "Oldest First" setting.

This makes sense for most viewers who want to see popular or recent discussions, but it creates a problem for creators and researchers who need to:

• Identify earliest supporters: Find who was there from day one
• Track comment history: See how conversations evolved over time
• Verify first commenter claims: Someone says "First!" but are they really?
• Analyze engagement patterns: Understand when viewers engaged most
• Find old conversations: Locate a specific comment from months/years ago
• Award first comment prizes: Giveaways for earliest commenters

Without built-in YouTube tools, you need third-party solutions. Here are the three best methods.

Method 1: Use CommentShark Comment Sorter (Easiest)

The simplest way to find the first comment on any YouTube video is using a dedicated comment management tool like CommentShark. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Sign in to CommentShark with your Google account (free)
• Step 2: Enter the YouTube video URL you want to search
• Step 3: Click "Load Comments" to fetch all comments from the video
• Step 4: Click the "Date" column header to sort comments chronologically
• Step 5: The first comment will appear at the top of the list

This method works for any public YouTube video (your own or others') and takes less than 30 seconds.

Bonus Features:

• Filter by date range: Find all comments from a specific time period
• Search by keyword: Locate specific old comments by content
• Export comment data: Download complete comment histories as CSV
• See exact timestamps: Know precisely when each comment was posted
• Track edited comments: See if comments were modified after posting

Method 2: Manually Scroll to Find Old Comments (Time-Consuming)

If you prefer not to use third-party tools, you can theoretically find the first comment by manually scrolling, but this is extremely inefficient for videos with many comments.

How It Works:

• Open the YouTube video
• Sort comments by "Newest First"
• Scroll down continuously to load older comments
• Keep scrolling until you reach the very bottom
• The last comment loaded should be the oldest (first) comment

Why This Method is Problematic:

• Time-consuming: Videos with 1,000+ comments can take 10+ minutes of scrolling
• Unreliable: YouTube may not load all comments, especially on older videos
• No precision: You can't search or filter, just endless scrolling
• No verification: Hard to confirm you've actually reached the first comment
• Mobile unfriendly: Even worse on smartphones with slower loading

This method is only practical for videos with fewer than 50 comments. For anything larger, use Method 1 or 3.

Method 3: Use YouTube Data API (Advanced/Technical)

For developers or technically-minded users, the YouTube Data API provides programmatic access to comment data, including chronological sorting.

Overview:

• Obtain a YouTube Data API key from Google Cloud Console
• Use the commentThreads.list endpoint with order=time parameter
• Fetch comment data in JSON format
• Parse results to extract the first comment
• Handle pagination to ensure you get all comments

Pros:

• Complete control over data
• Can automate searches across multiple videos
• Access to full metadata (timestamps, likes, replies, etc.)
• Useful for large-scale analysis

Cons:

• Requires coding knowledge (Python, JavaScript, etc.)
• API quotas limit how many requests you can make
• Complex setup compared to ready-made tools
• Not practical for one-off searches

Unless you're building a custom application, tools like CommentShark handle the API complexity for you, giving you the same data without writing code.

Why Finding the First Comment Matters

1. Recognizing Loyal Fans

Viewers who comment first on your videos are often your most dedicated fans. They're watching as soon as you upload, engaging immediately, and actively supporting your content. Finding these early commenters lets you:

• Give shoutouts to loyal supporters
• Offer exclusive perks or early access
• Build stronger community bonds
• Identify potential brand ambassadors

2. Running "First Comment" Giveaways

Many creators run giveaways where the first commenter wins a prize. But without the ability to sort chronologically, verifying the true first comment is nearly impossible on YouTube itself. Tools like CommentShark solve this by showing exact timestamps down to the second.

3. Understanding Engagement Patterns

Analyzing when your first comments arrive helps you understand:

• Notification effectiveness: Are subscribers getting alerts immediately?
• Timezone patterns: When are viewers most active?
• Engagement velocity: How quickly do comments start rolling in?
• Loyalty trends: Are the same people consistently first?

This data informs your upload schedule and engagement strategies.

4. Finding Historical Comments

Sometimes you need to find a specific comment from months or years ago. Maybe it contained important feedback, a collaboration offer, or memorable viewer insight. Sorting chronologically lets you jump to any time period and locate that needle in the haystack.

Advanced Tips: Filtering Comments by Date

Beyond just finding the first comment, you can use date-based filtering for powerful insights:

Use Case: Track Re-upload Engagement

If you re-upload an old video, filter comments to show only those from the original upload date range. This helps you see which viewers engaged with the old version vs. the new one.

Use Case: Measure Campaign Impact

Run a promotion or campaign? Filter comments to the campaign period and analyze sentiment, questions, and engagement during that window.

Use Case: Find Seasonal Patterns

Filter comments by month/season to identify when certain topics or questions spike. This informs future content planning.

Common Questions About Finding First Comments

Q: Can I find the first comment on someone else's video?

Yes! As long as the video is public, you can use comment sorting tools like CommentShark to view and sort any video's comments chronologically, even if it's not your own channel.

Q: What if the first comment was deleted?

If the original first comment was deleted by the user or moderated by the creator, it won't appear in the comment list. The tool will show the oldest remaining comment instead.

Q: Can I see edited comments?

YouTube shows if a comment has been edited (with an "edited" label), but doesn't show the original version. The timestamp reflects when the comment was originally posted, not when it was edited.

Q: Does sorting by oldest affect YouTube Studio?

No. Third-party tools like CommentShark pull data via YouTube's API but don't modify anything on YouTube itself. Your YouTube Studio comment section remains unchanged.

Q: How accurate are timestamps?

YouTube API timestamps are accurate to the second. If two comments were posted in the same second, they'll appear in the order YouTube processed them (typically, whoever submitted first).

Beyond Finding First Comments: Complete Comment Management

While finding the first comment is useful, comprehensive comment management goes further. Tools like CommentShark offer:

• Comment Search: Find any comment by keyword, username, or phrase
• Sentiment Analysis: Identify positive, negative, or neutral comments
• Export & Reporting: Download comment data for analysis
• Random Winner Selection: Fairly pick giveaway winners from all comments
• Auto-Reply Rules: Respond to comments automatically with custom templates
• Top Commenter Tracking: Identify your most engaged fans

These features transform comment sections from chaotic noise into strategic growth opportunities.

Stop Guessing, Start Finding

YouTube's lack of chronological comment sorting is frustrating, but it doesn't have to stop you from finding the first comment on any video. Whether you're recognizing loyal fans, running giveaways, or analyzing engagement patterns, the right tools make it instant and effortless.

Stop scrolling endlessly or writing complex API scripts. Use CommentShark to sort comments by date, search histories, and manage your entire comment section from one powerful dashboard.