
So you’re watching your favourite YouTube video, and suddenly, you’re hit with back-to-back unskippable ads. Sounds familiar? You’re not alone. YouTube’s ad game has gone into overdrive in the last few years, and they’re not stopping there. They’ve taken a hard stance against ad blockers and actively detect and restrict users who try to bypass their ads.
And it’s not just YouTube. Google, the parent company, has been cracking down on ad blockers across its entire ecosystem. The introduction of Manifest V3, a new extension standard, has neutered many popular ad blockers on Chromium-based browsers like Chrome and Edge. It’s clear: blocking ads on YouTube is harder than ever.
But it’s not impossible. There are still ways to have an ad-free YouTube experience without having to pay for it. At the same time, paying for YouTube Premium might not be the worst idea ever. We’ll touch on that and more here.
How to Block Ads on YouTube in 3 Easy Steps
Total Adblock is your go-to solution if you’re tired of endless interruptions while watching YouTube. Here’s how you can block ads on YouTube in just three simple steps:
- Download and install Total Adblock from the web store.
- Go through the setup page.
- Enable the ad blocker.
Get Total Adblock with 80% off and enjoy YouTube without interruptions!
Why Block YouTube Ads?
YouTube may be a goldmine of content, but the relentless barrage of ads can make it feel more like a minefield. We’ve got multiple unskippable pre-rolls, mid-rolls, banners, and shorts ads, and now they are apparently testing pause screed ads. These ads can suck the joy out of watching your favourite creators or learning something new. Ads on YouTube aren’t just annoyances anymore; they really mess up the experience.
One big reason to block ads is time. Think about it, every 15-second ad adds up. Over time, you could spend hours watching ads instead of actual content. By blocking ads, you get those hours back and focus on what matters, your content.
Another reason is privacy. Many YouTube ads come with trackers that collect data about your preferences, habits, and even location. This data is used for targeted advertising, which can feel invasive. Blocking ads not only spares you from irrelevant promotions but also protects your personal information.
Let’s not forget the uninterrupted viewing experience. Whether it’s a tutorial or a music video, ads break up the content. By removing them, you get continuous viewing, and everything from binge-watching to casual browsing is better.
How To Block YouTube Ads on Android
Blocking YouTube ads on Android can be tricky since Google’s Play Store doesn’t allow apps that completely block YouTube ads. But you can still use several workarounds to enjoy an ad-free experience. Here’s a breakdown of every method available:
- Use Ad-Blocking Browsers
Some browsers have built-in ad-blocking features that can block YouTube ads when you watch through their web interface.
Brave Browser: A Chromium-based browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. Simply go to YouTube in Brave browser with Shields on, and you should see no ads.
Firefox with Extensions: Firefox supports ad-blocker extensions like uBlock Origin and AdGuard. Install Firefox, add the extension, and you can watch YouTube without interruptions.
- Use YouTube Ad-Blocking Wrappers
Wrappers are open-source apps that offer an alternative to the YouTube interface. They usually do not come with any ads.
NewPipe: A lightweight YouTube client that removes ads and allows background playback. It’s open-source and highly customizable.
LibreTube: Another ad-free YouTube client that focuses on privacy, offering offline downloads and tracker-free browsing.
Note: These apps are not on the Play Store, so you must download them from trusted sources like GitHub or F-Droid.
- Modify the YouTube App with ReVanced
ReVanced is the unofficial successor to YouTube Vanced. It allows you to patch your YouTube app to block ads, enable background playback, and more.
- Download the ReVanced Manager from its official repository on GitHub.
- Use it to patch your YouTube APK and install the modified app.
- Disable the official YouTube app to avoid confusion.
- Enjoy an ad-free experience with features similar to YouTube Premium.
Note: Be careful when downloading ReVanced. Always use official sources to avoid malware.
How to Block YouTube Ads on iOS
Blocking YouTube ads on iOS is a bit more tricky due to app restrictions. iOS does not allow sideloading as easily as Android. So, options like wrappers or ReVanced are out of the question. But with the right tools, you can have an ad-free experience. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to settle for YouTube on the browser.
- Brave Browser
There’s a limited number of good web browsers on the App Store. But Brave is one of the good ones. You can easily use it with the Shields and enjoy ad-free YouTube videos.
- Orion Browser
Orion is a new WebKit-based browser that supports both Chrome and Firefox extensions. Being a WebKit-based browser, it’s essentially Safari on steroids. It brings out the best of each browser. You can use extensions like uBlock Origin for Firefox to block ads on Orion, and YouTube should be covered, too.
- Use AdGuard
AdGuard on your iPhone can block YouTube ads in a slightly unconventional way. If you share a YouTube video link with AdGuard, it opens the video in a new player window and plays it without ads. Here’s how it works:
- Install AdGuard from the App Store
- Open the YouTube app.
- Play a video, tap Share, and select More.
- Select Block YouTube Ads (by AdGuard) from the menu.
- The video will open in AdGuard’s ad-free player.
Get AdGuard at 30% off using the code CHECKADBLOCK30 for ad-free YouTube.
- Safari with Total AdBlock
You can always just download an ad blocker from the app store and pair it with Safari. But of course, you’ll have to use Safari to watch YouTube videos. Here’s how you can do that with Total AdBlock.
- Install Total Adblock from the App Store and open an account.
- Go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers.
- Toggle on all Total Adblock Content blockers.
How to Block YouTube Ads on Desktop Browsers
Blocking YouTube ads on desktop browsers is easy. There are many ad blockers out there that still work well with YouTube. However, keep in mind that YouTube constantly changes that by adding restrictions. So you may need to switch adblockers every once in a while if one of these stops working. But here are a few ad blockers that are currently working well.
- AdGuard: AdGuard is one of YouTube’s most versatile and powerful ad blockers. It blocks ads on YouTube videos perfectly, no matter which browser you use: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. The MV3 compatibility ensures it works flawlessly on Chromium-based browsers even after Google’s recent updates.
- AdBlock: AdBlock is a favourite among millions of users. It blocks YouTube ads, pop-ups, trackers, and even crypto-mining scripts. It’s easy to use, but for a full experience, disable the default “acceptable ads” setting.
- Ghostery: Ghostery goes beyond ad blocking and focuses on privacy. It uses AI-driven anti-tracking technology to stop ads and trackers in their tracks. If privacy online is your top priority, Ghostery is a good option.
- Stands AdBlocker: Formerly Fair AdBlocker, Stands blocks ads on social media and streaming platforms like YouTube. It is easy to use and blocks trackers and adware.
- uBlock Origin: For Firefox users, uBlock Origin is the best. Its many filter options and dynamic filtering make it the perfect choice for those who want total control over what gets blocked.
Should You Just Switch To YouTube Premium?
While you can keep trying to use ad blockers and YouTube wrappers, the other option is just to give in and subscribe. That’s what I did. But I should mention that YouTube Premium is dirt cheap where I live, and I share the family plan with five other people, making it even more affordable. But is it really worth it for you? That’s what I hope this section will answer.
We’ve covered several ad blockers that can get rid of YouTube ads. While they work well, there’s a growing problem. YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers like never before. Reports of ad blockers getting flagged or stopped by YouTube are becoming increasingly common, resulting in an inconsistent and sometimes frustrating experience. To make things worse, YouTube is experimenting with new ad placements, like adding ads to the pause screen, pushing users towards their paid subscriptions.
For many, the main appeal of YouTube Premium is the ad-free experience. If you watch YouTube on your desktop, you might get by with an ad blocker. But the real value of YouTube Premium is in the mobile app benefits where ad blockers don’t work. Features like background playback let you listen to videos while using other apps, and offline downloads let you watch content without an internet connection. These perks can be a game changer for people who use YouTube as a music source or watch videos on their mobile devices frequently.
Another great thing about YouTube Premium is YouTube Music, a music streaming service included in the subscription. With a massive library of tracks, including independent uploads exclusive to YouTube, it rivals Spotify and Apple Music. For many users, YouTube Music alone might be worth the cost, especially since it combines music streaming with YouTube’s unique content.
Pricing, of course, is a big factor. In the US, it’s $13.99 a month, and in the UK, it’s £12. But in other regions, YouTube offers much lower pricing, sometimes as low as $2 a month due to regional adjustments. Whether it’s worth it depends on how often you use YouTube, the devices you use, and whether YouTube Music fits into your streaming habits.
Wrapping Up
The ad-supported free tier of YouTube is an unusable mess these days. And their aggressive strategy of cracking down on ad blockers isn’t helping either. But at the same time, the ad blockers have also made it their mission to keep blocking YouTube ads. So, chances are, if your ad blocker isn’t working with YouTube, there will be an update soon to fix that issue.
Then, there are wrappers and the ReVanced project that are doing God’s work for the users on the Android platform. Personally, I think YouTube Premium is an easy choice for iOS users because there are very limited options, and none of them allow ad blocking on the official YouTube app. But ultimately, the choice depends on your preferences and how far you’re willing to go to block ads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is blocking YouTube ads illegal?
No, blocking YouTube ads is not illegal. While YouTube’s Terms of Service say you can’t ad-block, there’s no law against using ad-blockers to improve your browsing life. But YouTube will block you if it detects an ad-blocker.
Do ad-blockers work on the YouTube app?
Most ad-blockers can’t block ads in the YouTube app because of platform restrictions, especially on iOS and Android. However, you can use YouTube Premium, browser-based ad-blockers or third-party YouTube clients.
Can I share my YouTube Premium subscription?
Yes, YouTube Premium has a family plan that allows up to 6 people to share a subscription. All members must live in the same household.
Is blocking YouTube ads considered piracy?
No, blocking YouTube ads is not piracy. Piracy is uthe nauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material. Ad-blocking is just filtering out ads and trackers during your browsing.
Related articles: