The two ways to remove ads on YouTube
YouTube shows ads in two ways: skippable ads that let you skip after five seconds, and non-skippable ads that play for 15 to 20 seconds before your video starts. You cannot remove ads entirely while using YouTube for free, but you have two real options: pay for YouTube Premium, which removes all ads, or use an ad blocker in your web browser.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month (or $139.99 per year if you pay annually) and removes ads from all videos you watch. It also lets you read videos to watch offline and play videos with your screen off. If you use YouTube on a phone or tablet, the YouTube app itself does not block ads — only the web browser version and third-party apps can do that.
An ad blocker is free software that runs in your browser and stops ads from loading before they reach you. The most common choice is uBlock Origin, which works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Once installed, it blocks YouTube ads automatically without any setup on your part.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes all ads for $13.99 per month, but the free YouTube app on phones and tablets will still show ads no matter what you do.
- Ad blockers like uBlock Origin work only in web browsers, not in the YouTube app, and they stop ads from loading before they play.
- If you use YouTube in a browser on your computer, an ad blocker takes about two minutes to install and requires no further action.
- YouTube actively works against ad blockers and may show a message asking you to turn yours off; you can dismiss this message and keep watching.
Installing an ad blocker in your browser
The fastest way to block YouTube ads is to install uBlock Origin, which is free and works in most browsers. Open your browser and go to the extension store for your browser: the Chrome Web Store if you use Chrome, Add-ons for Firefox, or the Edge Add-ons store if you use Edge. Search for "uBlock Origin" and click the button to add it to your browser.
Once installed, uBlock Origin sits in the top right corner of your browser as a small shield icon. You do not need to turn it on or configure anything — it blocks ads automatically on YouTube and every other website. If you want to turn it off for a specific site, click the shield icon and toggle the switch, but for YouTube you will almost always want to leave it on.
Some people use other ad blockers like Adblock Plus or Ghostery, but uBlock Origin is the most reliable for YouTube because it updates quickly when YouTube changes how it serves ads. All ad blockers work the same way: they prevent the ad from loading in the first place, so you never see it or hear it.
What to do when YouTube asks you to turn off your ad blocker
YouTube knows when you are using an ad blocker and will sometimes show a message saying "YouTube does not work well with ad blockers" or asking you to turn yours off. This message is a request, not a requirement — you can dismiss it and keep watching. Click outside the message box or press Escape on your keyboard to close it.
YouTube may also show a blank space where an ad would normally play, or pause your video and ask you to disable your blocker before continuing. If this happens, refresh the page (press Ctrl+R on Windows or Command+R on Mac) and try again. If the same message appears, you can usually click "I still want to see ads" or a similar button to proceed without turning off your blocker.
YouTube is testing different ways to pressure users into disabling ad blockers or buying Premium, so the exact message changes. The key point is that you are not breaking any rules by using an ad blocker — you are straightforward choosing not to see ads on a free service.
Why ad blockers work differently on phones and tablets
The YouTube app on iPhones, iPads, and Android phones does not respect ad blockers because apps do not use the same browser technology that extensions plug into. Even if you install an ad blocker on your phone's browser, it will not block ads in the YouTube app itself.
If you want to watch YouTube without ads on a phone or tablet, your only option is YouTube Premium. Some people use the web version of YouTube in their phone's browser instead of the app — you can do this by going to youtube.com in Safari or Chrome on your phone — and an ad blocker will work there. However, the web version is slower and less convenient than the app, so most people either pay for Premium or accept the ads.
Comparing YouTube Premium to ad blockers
YouTube Premium removes ads everywhere you watch YouTube: on your computer, phone, tablet, and TV. It also includes YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost, lets you read videos to watch offline, and plays videos in the background on your phone (so you can lock your screen while listening). The trade-off is the monthly cost.
An ad blocker is free and works when ready, but only on your computer in a web browser. It does not work in the YouTube app on any device, and YouTube may occasionally show you a message asking you to turn it off. If you watch YouTube mostly on your phone or use the app on your computer, Premium is the only way to remove ads completely.
| Method | Cost | Works on Phone App | Works in Browser | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/month | Yes | Yes | 2 minutes |
| Ad Blocker (uBlock Origin) | Free | No | Yes | 2 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using an ad blocker violate YouTube's terms of service?
YouTube's terms say you should not use tools to block ads, but they do not actively ban users for it. YouTube may show you a message asking you to turn off your blocker, but this is a request, not enforcement. Many people use ad blockers on YouTube without consequence, though YouTube continues to develop ways to detect and pressure users to disable them.
Will an ad blocker slow down YouTube?
No. Ad blockers actually make YouTube load faster because they prevent ads from downloading. Your video will start playing sooner and use less data because the ad files never load at all.
Can I use an ad blocker on YouTube TV?
No. YouTube TV is a paid service that runs in your browser, but ad blockers cannot block ads on it because YouTube TV detects them and refuses to play. If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you are paying for the service and ads are part of the deal.
What happens if I use an ad blocker and YouTube Premium at the same time?
Nothing bad happens. YouTube Premium removes ads, so your ad blocker has nothing to block. You are paying for Premium, so you do not need the blocker, but having both installed causes no problems.
Do I need to pay for a premium ad blocker, or is the free version enough?
The free version of uBlock Origin blocks YouTube ads completely. You do not need to pay for any ad blocker to remove YouTube ads — free versions work just as well as paid ones.