The most direct way to block YouTube ads
The YouTube app itself does not have a built-in ad blocker. YouTube's terms of service prohibit blocking ads through the app, and the company actively works against ad-blocking tools. Your realistic options are: pay for YouTube Premium to remove ads, use a different app that plays YouTube videos, or block ads at the network level on your device.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month and removes all ads from videos, lets you read videos to watch offline, and enables background play so audio continues when you close the app. If you watch YouTube regularly, this is the only method YouTube officially supports.
If you do not want to pay, the next option is switching to a third-party app that plays YouTube videos without ads. Apps like NewPipe (Android only, free) and Invidious (web-based, free) pull YouTube videos and play them without the ads YouTube would normally show. These apps are not made by YouTube and exist in a legal gray area, but they work reliably for basic video watching.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium ($13.99/month) is the only method YouTube officially allows, and it removes all ads from the app.
- Third-party apps like NewPipe (Android) and Invidious (web) play YouTube videos without ads, though they are not made or endorsed by YouTube.
- Ad blockers designed for web browsers do not work inside the YouTube app because the app connects directly to YouTube's servers.
- Network-level blocking through your router or device settings can reduce ads but may break some YouTube features.
Why browser ad blockers do not work in the YouTube app
Browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus work by filtering what your browser downloads and displays. The YouTube app bypasses your browser entirely — it connects directly to YouTube's servers and receives ads as part of that connection. An extension cannot see or block what the app receives because the extension only controls the browser.
This is why ad blockers work on YouTube's website but not on the YouTube app. If you watch YouTube in a mobile browser instead of the app, you can use an ad blocker, though some browsers (like Safari on iPhone) do not allow extensions at all. On Android, Firefox allows extensions including uBlock Origin, so you can watch YouTube in Firefox with an ad blocker running.
Using third-party apps to watch YouTube without ads
NewPipe is a free Android app that downloads YouTube videos and plays them without ads. It is not available on the Google Play Store — you read it from the NewPipe website or F-Droid (an alternative app store). NewPipe lets you search YouTube, subscribe to channels, and create playlists, all without ads. The trade-off is that it does not support YouTube Premium features like offline downloads or background play, and it occasionally breaks when YouTube changes how it works.
Invidious is a web-based YouTube front-end that works on any device with a browser. You visit an Invidious instance (a copy of the service hosted by volunteers) and search for videos there. Invidious plays YouTube videos without ads and lets you subscribe to channels. Because it is web-based, it works on iPhone, iPad, and any Android device. The downside is that Invidious instances sometimes go offline or get slow, and you have to find a working instance URL.
Both apps work because they re-host YouTube's video files without YouTube's ad-serving code. YouTube does not officially support these apps, and using them violates YouTube's terms of service, though the legal risk to individual users is low.
Blocking ads at the network level
You can block ads across all apps on your device by configuring your router or using a DNS-level blocker. Pi-hole is a popular option — it is a small piece of software you run on a Raspberry Pi or old computer connected to your network. Pi-hole intercepts all DNS requests (the lookups that tell your device where to find a website) and blocks requests to known ad servers before they reach your device.
Pi-hole can reduce ads in the YouTube app, but it does not remove YouTube's own ads because YouTube serves ads from the same domain as the video. You would block some third-party ads but not YouTube's first-party ads. Setting up Pi-hole requires some technical knowledge — you need to install the software, configure your router to use it, and maintain it over time.
A simpler alternative is a DNS-blocking service like Quad9 or NextDNS, which you configure in your device's network settings instead of your router. These services block known ad and malware domains at the DNS level. Like Pi-hole, they reduce some ads but cannot remove YouTube's own ads.
What happens if you try to use a VPN or proxy
Some people try to use a VPN (virtual private network) or proxy to hide their traffic from YouTube in hopes of blocking ads. This does not work. YouTube detects ad blockers and VPNs by checking whether your device is requesting ads and receiving them. A VPN hides your location and IP address but does not hide whether you are blocking ads — YouTube can still see that you are not loading ad content.
YouTube will show you a message saying "Ad blockers violate our terms of service" if it detects blocking, whether you use a VPN or not. The only way around this is to actually not block ads (by using Premium or a third-party app that YouTube cannot detect).
Comparing your actual options
| Method | Cost | Works in YouTube app | Removes all ads | Setup difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/month | Yes | Yes | straightforward — subscribe in app |
| NewPipe (Android) | Free | No — separate app | Yes | Medium — sideload app |
| Invidious (web) | Free | No — web-based | Yes | straightforward — visit website |
| Pi-hole (network) | Free (hardware cost) | Partial — blocks some ads | No | Hard — requires setup |
| Browser ad blocker (Firefox) | Free | No — use browser instead | Yes | straightforward — install extension |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an ad blocker on YouTube in a mobile browser?
Yes, if your browser supports extensions. Firefox on Android allows uBlock Origin and other ad blockers, so you can watch YouTube in Firefox with ads blocked. Safari on iPhone does not allow extensions, so ad blockers do not work there. Chrome on both platforms restricts extensions, so ad blockers do not work in Chrome either.
Does YouTube Premium work on all devices?
YouTube Premium removes ads from the YouTube app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Gaming. It works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. One Premium subscription covers one person across all their devices — you cannot share it with family members unless you pay for YouTube Premium Family ($22.99/month), which covers up to six people.
Is using NewPipe or Invidious illegal?
Using these apps violates YouTube's terms of service, but the legal risk to individual users is very low. YouTube has not sued people for using ad-blocking apps. The apps themselves exist in a gray area — YouTube could demand they shut down, but they are hosted by volunteers and often move to new domains. If you are concerned about terms of service, YouTube Premium is the officially supported option.
Will YouTube Premium ever stop working if I use an ad blocker?
No. YouTube Premium subscribers do not see ads, so YouTube has no reason to block them. If you subscribe to Premium, you can disable any ad blockers you have running.
Can I block just certain ads in the YouTube app?
No. The YouTube app does not let you choose which ads to see or skip. You either see ads (free) or you do not (Premium). Some third-party apps let you skip ads faster, but they do not remove them entirely.