SponsorBlock blocks sponsor segments and intros, not ads from ad networks

SponsorBlock is a browser extension that skips over parts of videos where creators read sponsorships or plug their own products — the "this video is brought to you by" segments. It does not block ads served by YouTube, Google, or other ad networks. Those ads still play before, during, and after videos unless you use a separate ad blocker or pay for YouTube Premium.

The confusion happens because SponsorBlock removes one type of video interruption (sponsor reads), so people assume it removes all interruptions. It does not. If you want to block YouTube's own ads, you need a different tool.

Key Takeaways

  • SponsorBlock skips sponsor segments that creators read themselves, like "this episode is sponsored by" reads, but does not touch YouTube ads.
  • YouTube ads still play before videos start, during longer videos, and in the video player itself unless you use an ad blocker or YouTube Premium.
  • SponsorBlock works by crowdsourcing timestamps from other users who mark where sponsor segments begin and end.
  • You can customize what SponsorBlock skips — sponsor reads, intros, outros, self-promotion, or interaction reminders — and what it leaves alone.

What SponsorBlock actually removes from videos

SponsorBlock skips five categories of video content that creators add themselves. The most common is sponsor segments — the 30 seconds to two minutes where a creator stops the main content to read a script for a product or service. These are not YouTube ads; they are the creator's own revenue stream.

The extension also skips intros (the opening sequence before content starts), outros (the closing sequence after content ends), self-promotion (when creators plug their own products or channels), and interaction reminders (when creators ask you to like, subscribe, or comment). You can turn any of these categories on or off in the extension settings, so you might skip sponsor reads but keep intros, or vice versa.

None of these are ads from YouTube or Google. They are all parts of the video itself that the creator added.

YouTube ads still play unless you block them separately

YouTube serves ads in three places: before a video starts (pre-roll), during videos longer than eight minutes (mid-roll), and sometimes in the video player itself as banners. SponsorBlock does not touch any of these. They will play the same way they did before you installed the extension.

To block YouTube ads, you have two main routes. The first is YouTube Premium, which costs money and removes all ads from YouTube. The second is a separate ad blocker like uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, or similar tools. These block ads from ad networks across the web, including YouTube. Some people use both SponsorBlock and an ad blocker together.

If you do not use either, you will see YouTube ads even with SponsorBlock installed.

How SponsorBlock knows where sponsor segments are

SponsorBlock does not scan videos automatically. Instead, it relies on a crowdsourced database where users mark the start and end time of sponsor segments and other skippable content. When you watch a video, the extension checks that database and skips to the marked timestamps if they exist.

This means SponsorBlock only works on videos that other users have already marked. Very new videos, very old videos, or videos with few viewers may not have any marks yet. You can manually mark segments yourself if you want to contribute to the database, and those marks help other users later.

The database is maintained by the SponsorBlock project, which is free and open-source. No company owns it, and no ads fund it.

Why creators sometimes object to SponsorBlock

Creators who rely on sponsor reads for income see SponsorBlock as lost revenue. When viewers skip sponsor segments, the creator does not get paid by the sponsor, even though the sponsor paid for the placement. This is different from YouTube ads, where YouTube and the creator split the revenue — if an ad is blocked, both lose money.

Some creators have asked SponsorBlock to stop marking their videos, and the project allows creators to opt out. If a creator opts out, SponsorBlock will not skip segments in their videos even if users have marked them. You can see which creators have opted out in the extension settings.

This is a real tension: viewers want fewer interruptions, creators want to be paid, and sponsors want their message seen. SponsorBlock does not resolve it — it just lets viewers choose their side.

How to set up SponsorBlock to skip only what you want

After you install SponsorBlock, click the extension icon in your browser toolbar and select "Options" or "Settings." You will see five categories: Sponsor, Intro, Outro, Self-Promotion, and Interaction Reminder. Toggle each one on or off depending on what you want to skip.

You can also set what happens when SponsorBlock finds a segment. The default is "Skip automatically," which jumps past the segment without asking. You can change it to "Show notification" (a popup appears but does not skip), "Ask on click" (you click a button to skip), or "Do not skip" (the segment plays normally).

If you want to see which segments SponsorBlock skipped, the extension shows a count in the video player. You can click it to see the exact timestamps and categories of what was removed.

SponsorBlock versus ad blockers: what each one does

The two tools solve different problems. SponsorBlock removes content the creator added (sponsor reads, intros, outros). Ad blockers remove ads from ad networks (YouTube ads, Google ads, banner ads on websites). You can use both at the same time, and many people do.

If your goal is to remove YouTube ads specifically, SponsorBlock alone will not do it. If your goal is to skip sponsor reads, an ad blocker alone will not do it. If your goal is to remove both, you need both tools.

Some ad blockers are more aggressive than others. uBlock Origin blocks most ads and is lightweight. Adblock Plus blocks ads by default but allows some "acceptable ads" through. Both work on YouTube, but they may affect website performance or break some sites' features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SponsorBlock work on all video sites or just YouTube?

SponsorBlock works on YouTube and Vimeo. It was built for YouTube first, and Vimeo support was added later. It does not work on other video platforms like Twitch, TikTok, or Netflix. If you want to skip sponsor segments on those sites, you would need a different tool or do it manually.

Can creators see if I am using SponsorBlock?

No. SponsorBlock runs on your device and does not send any information to creators about whether you are using it. Creators can see that some viewers skip sponsor segments (YouTube analytics show average watch time), but they cannot tell which tool you used or who you are.

Is SponsorBlock safe to use?

SponsorBlock is open-source, meaning anyone can read the code to check for security problems. It does not collect personal data, does not inject ads, and does not sell information. The main risk is that crowdsourced timestamps can be wrong — someone might mark the wrong part of a video as a sponsor segment. You can report incorrect marks in the extension.

What happens if a creator opts out of SponsorBlock?

If a creator opts out, SponsorBlock will not skip segments in their videos, even if users have marked them. You will see all sponsor reads, intros, and outros as normal. You can still manually skip them by dragging the video progress bar, but the extension will not do it automatically.

Can I use SponsorBlock and an ad blocker together?

Yes. Many people use both. SponsorBlock removes sponsor segments, and an ad blocker removes YouTube ads. They do not conflict with each other. Just install both extensions and configure each one separately in its settings.