The main ways to stop seeing ads on YouTube
YouTube shows ads in three places: before a video starts, during the video, and in the sidebar. You have four realistic options to remove them. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that removes all ads across the site and apps. Ad blockers are browser extensions that strip ads from most websites, including YouTube, and cost nothing. YouTube's built-in skip button lets you skip many ads after five seconds, which is free but requires action each time. And watching on a different device or browser sometimes avoids ads temporarily, though YouTube is closing these gaps.
Which option works best depends on what you watch, how much you use YouTube, and whether you want to pay. Someone who watches YouTube for an hour a day will find Premium worth the cost. Someone who watches occasionally might prefer an ad blocker. Someone who doesn't mind clicking skip might do nothing.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes all ads for a monthly fee and works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
- Ad blockers like uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus remove ads for free but only work in web browsers, not in the YouTube app.
- The free skip button appears after five seconds on most ads and lets you jump to the video without watching the full ad.
- YouTube actively works to block ad blockers, so some extensions stop working for weeks or months at a time.
- Watching YouTube while logged out or in a private browser window does not reliably prevent ads anymore.
YouTube Premium: paying to remove all ads
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month in the United States, though the price varies by country. It removes all ads from videos, removes ads from YouTube Music, and lets you read videos to watch offline. You get the same removal on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs — anywhere you sign in with your account.
The subscription also includes YouTube Music Premium, which is the same service as a standalone music app. If you already pay for YouTube Music, Premium adds only the ad removal and offline video feature to what you already have.
You can cancel anytime. YouTube does not lock you into a contract. If you sign up for a month and decide it is not worth it, you can turn it off before the next charge.
Ad blockers: free removal in your browser
Ad blockers are browser extensions that remove ads from websites. The most common ones for YouTube are uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, and AdGuard. You install them once in your browser, and they work on every website you visit. They are free and do not require an account.
Ad blockers work only in web browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — when you visit YouTube.com. They do not work in the YouTube app on phones or tablets. If you watch YouTube mostly on your phone, an ad blocker will not help you.
YouTube actively tries to block ad blockers. When YouTube detects an ad blocker, it sometimes shows a message asking you to turn it off, or it stops the video from playing until you do. Ad blocker developers then update their extensions to get around YouTube's blocks. This cycle repeats every few weeks or months. Some people find their ad blocker stops working for a while, then works again after an update.
If you use an ad blocker, you are breaking YouTube's terms of service. YouTube could theoretically ban your account, though in practice it rarely does. The risk is small but real.
The free skip button and why it is not a full solution
Most ads on YouTube show a skip button after five seconds. You can click it to jump straight to the video. This is free and requires no setup — it is built into YouTube.
The catch is that some ads cannot be skipped. YouTube calls these non-skippable ads, and they play for 15 to 20 seconds before the video starts. You have to watch them in full. YouTube uses non-skippable ads on videos that make money for creators, so they are common on popular channels.
Skipping ads manually takes time and attention. If you watch five videos a day, you might skip five ads. Over a year, that is thousands of clicks. For heavy YouTube users, the time adds up.
Why private browsing and logged-out accounts no longer work
Some people used to watch YouTube in a private or incognito browser window, or while logged out of their account, to avoid ads. YouTube has closed both of these gaps. It now shows ads to logged-out viewers and to viewers in private windows. YouTube tracks you by your IP address and device fingerprint, not just by your account, so logging out does not hide you.
This was a workaround that lasted a few years. It no longer works reliably.
Comparing your options side by side
| Option | Cost | Works on phones | Works on computers | Removes all ads | Requires setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/month | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sign up once |
| Ad blocker | Free | No | Yes (browser only) | Yes | Install extension |
| Skip button | Free | Yes | Yes | No (some ads skip, some don't) | None |
| Private browsing | Free | Yes | Yes | No (no longer works) | None |
Which option makes sense for different people
If you watch YouTube on your phone or tablet most of the time, Premium is your only real option. Ad blockers do not work in the YouTube app. If you watch on a computer and do not mind clicking skip, the free skip button is enough. If you watch on a computer and want no ads at all, an ad blocker is free and works when ready, though YouTube may block it periodically.
If you watch YouTube for more than an hour a day, Premium usually costs less in time and frustration than dealing with ads or ad blocker updates. If you watch a few videos a week, the skip button is probably fine. If you watch YouTube on multiple devices — phone, tablet, computer — Premium is the only option that works everywhere.
Some people use a combination: an ad blocker on their computer and Premium on their phone. This gives them ad-free viewing everywhere without paying for Premium on devices where an ad blocker works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an ad blocker on the YouTube app?
No. Ad blockers are browser extensions and only work in web browsers like Chrome and Firefox. The YouTube app on phones and tablets does not support extensions. If you want to block ads on the app, you need YouTube Premium.
Will YouTube ban me for using an ad blocker?
YouTube's terms of service forbid ad blockers, but YouTube rarely bans accounts for using them. The bigger problem is that YouTube actively blocks ad blockers, so they stop working for days or weeks at a time. You may find yourself in a cycle of the extension breaking and then being fixed.
Does YouTube Premium work on all devices?
Yes. YouTube Premium removes ads on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs as long as you sign in with your Premium account. It works in the YouTube app and on YouTube.com.
What happens if I cancel YouTube Premium?
Ads come back when ready. You are not locked into a contract, and you can cancel anytime before your next billing date. Your videos and playlists stay in your account.
Are there other ad blockers besides uBlock Origin?
Yes. Adblock Plus, AdGuard, and Ghostery are popular alternatives. They all work similarly — you install them once and they remove ads from websites. Some people find one works better than another when YouTube blocks ad blockers, so having a backup extension installed can help.