The fastest way to stop YouTube ads
YouTube shows ads in two places: before a video starts (skippable or non-skippable) and during the video itself. You have three working routes: use an ad blocker extension, pay for YouTube Premium, or use YouTube's built-in controls to skip or mute ads you can skip. An ad blocker extension stops nearly all ads but may cause videos to load slowly or fail to play. YouTube Premium removes all ads but costs money. The built-in skip button costs nothing and works when ready — it just requires you to click "Skip Ad" when the button appears after five seconds.
The simplest path for most people is installing an ad blocker extension in your browser. Popular options include uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, and AdGuard. Once installed, the extension runs automatically on every YouTube page you visit. You do not need to adjust settings or click anything — ads straightforward do not appear. If you prefer not to use an extension, YouTube Premium is the official paid option, but the free skip button works for most ads and requires no setup.
Key Takeaways
- Ad blocker extensions like uBlock Origin stop most YouTube ads automatically once installed, with no ongoing action needed.
- YouTube's free skip button appears after five seconds on most ads and lets you skip without paying or installing anything.
- YouTube Premium removes all ads but costs a monthly fee and is the only official paid option.
- Some ad blockers may cause videos to buffer or fail to load, so you may need to disable the extension temporarily if a video will not play.
- YouTube actively works against ad blockers, so extensions may stop working or need updates when YouTube changes how it serves ads.
Installing an ad blocker extension
The most common ad blockers work the same way across all browsers. Open your browser's extension store — Chrome Web Store for Chrome, Add-ons for Firefox, Extensions for Edge — and search for "uBlock Origin" or "Adblock Plus". Click the extension name, then click the blue button to install (labeled "Add to Chrome", "Add to Firefox", or similar). The extension appears as a small icon in your browser's top right corner, usually next to your address bar.
Once installed, the extension works on every YouTube page automatically. You do not need to turn it on, log in, or change any settings. Reload any YouTube page you already have open, and ads will no longer appear before or during videos. If a video refuses to load or keeps stopping, the ad blocker may be interfering — click the extension icon and look for a button to disable it on that site, then reload the page.
Ad blockers are free and do not collect your data, though some show occasional notifications asking for donations. Adblock Plus and AdGuard have paid versions with extra features, but the free versions block YouTube ads just as well. uBlock Origin has no paid version — it is free only.
Using YouTube's built-in skip button
Most YouTube ads show a countdown timer in the bottom left corner that says "Skip Ad" after five seconds. Once the timer reaches zero, the button becomes clickable. Click it to skip to your video when ready. This works on desktop, mobile browsers, and the YouTube app on phones. You do not need an extension or a paid account — it is built into YouTube itself.
Some ads cannot be skipped. These are usually short (15 to 20 seconds) and play all the way through before your video starts. You cannot skip them, but they end automatically. A few ads also appear in the middle of longer videos — these also cannot be skipped. The skip button only works on ads that show the countdown timer.
If you find yourself skipping the same ads repeatedly, you can tell YouTube you are not interested in them. Click the small "i" icon in the corner of the ad, then select "See less of this ad" or "Report ad". YouTube will show you fewer ads from that advertiser in the future, though you will still see other ads.
YouTube Premium and what it removes
YouTube Premium is YouTube's official paid service that removes all ads from videos, including skippable ads, non-skippable ads, and mid-roll ads that appear during videos. It costs a monthly fee that varies by country and whether you subscribe through the YouTube website or through an app. Premium also includes offline viewing (read videos to watch without internet), background play (listen to videos with your screen off), and access to YouTube Music.
Premium is the only method YouTube officially supports for removing ads. If you use an ad blocker, YouTube may show you messages asking you to turn it off or subscribe to Premium. These messages do not prevent the ad blocker from working, but they do appear on the page. Premium removes the messages along with the ads.
If you watch YouTube on multiple devices — phone, tablet, computer — Premium covers all of them with a single subscription. You log into your YouTube account on each device, and the subscription applies everywhere. Family plans are available in some countries, allowing multiple people to share one subscription.
Why ad blockers sometimes stop working
YouTube regularly changes how it detects and serves ads, which can cause ad blockers to stop working temporarily. When this happens, ads reappear on videos even though your extension is installed and enabled. This is not a problem with your browser or your extension — it is YouTube actively working against ad blockers. The extension developer usually releases an update within days or weeks that restores blocking.
To check if your ad blocker needs an update, click its icon in your browser's top right corner. Most extensions show a version number or an "Update" button if a new version is available. Click it to update. If no update is available and ads are still appearing, the extension may be temporarily broken — check the extension's official website or support page to see if other users are reporting the same issue.
Some people switch between multiple ad blockers to avoid this problem. If one stops working, they enable a second one. This is not necessary for most users, but it is an option if you find yourself frequently dealing with broken extensions. Keep in mind that running multiple ad blockers at once can slow down your browser and cause videos to load more slowly.
When ad blockers cause videos to fail
Some websites, including YouTube, have started detecting ad blockers and refusing to load videos until you disable them. When this happens, you see a message saying "Please disable your ad blocker" or the video straightforward will not play. The solution is temporary: click the ad blocker's icon in your browser's top right, find the option to disable it on the current site (usually labeled "Disable on this site" or "Pause"), then reload the page. The video should load when ready.
Once you disable the extension on that site, ads will appear again on YouTube until you re-enable the extension. You can re-enable it anytime by clicking the icon again and selecting "Enable on this site". Some people leave their ad blocker disabled on YouTube and use the skip button instead, accepting that ads will appear but avoiding the loading problems.
If disabling the extension does not fix the problem, try a different browser or clear your browser's cache and cookies. Sometimes YouTube's detection system gets confused by old data stored on your computer. Clearing this data forces YouTube to reload fresh, which sometimes resolves the issue.
Mobile YouTube and ad blocking
Ad blocking on mobile is more complicated than on desktop. The YouTube app on phones does not support extensions, so ad blockers do not work inside the app itself. If you watch YouTube through your phone's web browser instead of the app, you can install an ad blocker extension the same way you would on desktop — most mobile browsers support extensions.
On iPhone, Safari supports some ad blockers through the App Store, but they work differently than desktop extensions and are less reliable. On Android, Firefox and Chrome both support extensions, so you can install uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus and block ads the same way as on a computer. The YouTube app itself has no ad-blocking option except YouTube Premium.
If you use the YouTube app and want to avoid ads without paying for Premium, your only option is the skip button. If you use a mobile web browser, you can install an extension and block ads the same way as on desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using an ad blocker against YouTube's rules?
YouTube's terms of service say you should not use ad blockers, but YouTube cannot prevent you from installing one — it can only ask you to turn it off. Using an ad blocker will not get your account banned. YouTube may show you messages asking you to disable it or subscribe to Premium, but these are requests, not enforcement.
Will an ad blocker slow down my internet or computer?
Ad blockers use a small amount of memory and processing power, but most people do not notice a difference. Some ad blockers are lighter than others — uBlock Origin is known for being fast, while Adblock Plus uses more resources. If your computer is old or slow, a lighter extension like uBlock Origin may be a better choice than a heavier one.
Can I block ads on YouTube without an extension or Premium?
Yes, you can use YouTube's built-in skip button to skip most ads after five seconds. You cannot block non-skippable ads or mid-roll ads, but you can skip the ones that allow it. This costs nothing and requires no setup, though it does require you to click the skip button each time.
What happens if I use an ad blocker and YouTube Premium at the same time?
Nothing bad happens — the ad blocker straightforward becomes unnecessary because Premium already removes all ads. You are paying for Premium but not getting extra benefit from the ad blocker. You can disable the extension on YouTube to save a small amount of memory, or leave it enabled with no negative effect.
Do ad blockers work on YouTube Shorts?
Ad blockers block ads on Shorts the same way they block ads on regular videos. YouTube Premium also removes ads from Shorts. The skip button does not appear on Shorts ads because Shorts are designed for quick viewing, so non-skippable ads are more common on Shorts than on regular videos.