YouTube Comment Reader — Andreas (Andy) Reichelt

Features:

+++ New in version 1.0.17 +++
+ Shortcut key now is Ctrl+Shift+Y (for extension popup) ..which can be changed in the add-on's settings (btw the add-on's popup can be controlled with tab and return keys as well).
+ Any short video can be opened quickly in a regular video player (where timeline, speed, volume etc. can be adjusted) by clicking the video title in the extension's popup.

+++ New in version 1.0.16 +++
Comments now also visible and sortable ascending by timestamps appearing in comments

➤ Youtube comments presented in multi-functional spreadsheet format
➤ Sort comments (by table header click) ascending or descending by author, comment time, upvotes count, replies count, last reply time, timestamps appearing in comments, comment length, or channel owner's upvotes (heart symbol)
➤ Search main comments and/or replies by author and/or text content
...e.g. filter for an author's main comments and/or responses
...e.g. filter for comments and/or responses containing a specific text phrase
➤ Works in every language
➤ Works with YouTube Shorts as well
➤ Quickly navigate through comments and responses by (left, right, up, down) arrow keys
➤ Easily switch between light and dark mode

Instructions:

1. Open a YouTube video.
2. Click on the extension icon (in the chrome extensions toolbar, to the right of the address bar).
3. Wait for the extension popup to load a brief overview containing the YouTube channel, video title, total comments count etc.
4. In the info popup click on the Comment Reader icon. The Comment Reader opens in a new tab and starts loading comments (from newest to oldest).
5. Watch the progress while comments are loading.
6. Click OK to interrupt the loading process at any time to start reading the comments that has been loaded till then. When all comments are loaded, the progress view and interrupt button will disappear.
7. An interrupted loading process can be continued at any time if loading more comments is desired.

Tips:

Use (left, right, up, down) arrow keys to quickly navigate through comments and replies (although, of course, mouse clicks work as well).
➤ use up & down keys to go from one row to another
➤ use the right arrow key to dive into details (of a currently selected row)
➤ use the left arrow key to leave the details and return to parent list

➤ Quickly open any short video in a regular player (..so you can adjust the timeline, speed, volume etc.) by clicking the video description in the add-on's popup

8. If you want to reply to or upvote a comment you may click on the comment time (e.g. "6 hours ago") above the comment text. This will open a new regular YouTube window with the regarding comment as the "Highlighted comment" appearing immediately under the video player. That way you can interact with the regular YouTube user interface to upvote and reply to a comment.