How to Block YouTube Ads On PC, Mac, iPhone and Android: The Ultimate Guide

Over the past years, YouTube ads have become more annoying than ever.

We understand that YouTube runs on ads that support creators. However, with pre-roll and mid-roll ads, the entire YouTube experience may become trashy.

Sure, there is YouTube Premium, which offers an ad-free experience, but not everyone can afford it. It does not feel right that people who can’t afford YouTube Premium are bombarded with advertisements, does it?

This is where you have to think of blocking YouTube ads.

RELATED: A Shortlist of Ad Blockers for Mac and Safari

Why block YouTube ads

Trust me, there are a few reasons to block YouTube ads.

1. Ads can annoy your entertainment experience on YouTube, especially while watching lengthy videos.
2. YouTube now focuses on advertisements that people can’t skip. It means having to watch the entire thing.
3. Because YouTube wants to stream the ads in the highest quality possible, these ads consume a lot of data resources.
4. On mobile devices and laptops, these ads can also cause battery drain, especially when you watch a video with multiple mid-roll ads.
5. On top of all these, people also have privacy concerns over how these ads work and retrieve data.

You may have one or more of these reasons to block YouTube ads. Regardless, we have the best options you can try for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Shall we start the ultimate guide to blocking YouTube ads?

Note: We have included ad-blockers/browsers/extensions that we have personally tested and verified as of 26 August 2024. The battle between YouTube and ad-blockers is ongoing, and the functionality of some of these tools may vary. Rest assured, we shall try our best to update these tools as changes happen.

Block YouTube ads across PC/Mac

You can use a few methods to watch YouTube without ads on your PC and Mac. You can install an ad-blocker extension on your browser and watch YouTube ad-free. Similarly, you can go for a web browser with a built-in ad-blocker. But nothing beats the convenience that system-wide ad-blockers offer.

#1 AdGuard

• Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Routers
• Pricing: $1.49 per month/$55.99

AdGuard for Windows and Mac is a great way to block YouTube ads across your device. It means you don’t have to install extensions on different browsers. AdGuard uses multiple methods to ensure that pop-ups or video ads don’t annoy you. Instead, you can focus on work as AdGuard expertly tackles problematic ads. This ad-blocking suite is a convenient option for me as I use multiple web browsers.

To block YouTube ads with AdGuard on your Mac, start by downloading and installing the app. Once installed, open AdGuard and enable the main protection module to block ads, pop-ups, and trackers across all browsers. You can customize the level of filtering through the Settings menu by selecting specific filters, like privacy or security.

During our testing sessions, AdGuard blocked YouTube ads in seconds. We could watch YouTube videos as though we had YouTube Premium set up and running. AdGuard has also been consistent when it comes to blocking YT ads over time.

You should go for AdGuard if you need an install-and-forget solution to block YouTube ads across your PC or Mac. Considering that you can get a lifetime license for $55.99, this is a reasonable package, too.

#2 AdLock

• Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Pricing: Starts at $1.05 per month

AdLock is another system-wide ad blocker that we have tested and loved. This app also lets you get rid of all ads conveniently, including YouTube ads. If you have AdLock running in the background, you can watch your favorite YouTube videos on any browser.

As expected, AdLock makes us feel like we have a premium subscription. We also found that it speeds up the entire YouTube experience. That is, there is less wait before you can watch the video content. The system-wide extension claims to reduce data consumption as well.

Compared to AdGuard, AdLock gives you better customization options. For instance, you get to choose many options like traffic filtering, ad blocking, and protection suites. Advanced filters also help you block YouTube ads or other banners on native apps.

You end up paying only $1.05 per month to block YouTube ads across your devices. Considering the extra benefits of ad-blocking, this amount is way more reasonable than YouTube Premium.

Block YouTube ads on Android

Thanks to how customizable it is, Android makes it easy to block YouTube ads on Android. More importantly, you can choose the system-wide ad blockers above, or between two methods below to block YouTube ads on your Android smartphone or tablet.

Modded YouTube Apps

Modded YouTube ads are customized versions of the YouTube app. You have to download these apps from their official website, but you can have a peaceful video-streaming experience. Here is one option that you can try.

#1 NewPipe

NewPipe is probably the best successor to YouTube Vanced. This Android app lets you watch YouTube videos without a single advertisement. It also brings you features like background play and downloads. Most of the features are otherwise restricted to YouTube Premium.

The restriction here is that you cannot connect your YouTube account. All the other features are available, though. For instance, you can search and play any video you want. While slightly different, NewPipe offers a much more intuitive YouTube interface.

The best part? NewPipe is entirely free to use and open-source. It can help you access other platforms like SoundCloud as well.

Ad-Blocking Browsers

If you can forego the convenience of the dedicated YouTube app, you can rely on ad-blocking browsers to get an ad-free YouTube experience. Among the countless ad-blocking browsers available for Android, we’ve chosen the best three.

#2 Brave

Brave remains one of the most functional and reliable browsers you can use on Android, and it comes with one of the best ad blocker utilities we have seen. More importantly, these Brave Shields are available on all devices. It means you can open YouTube on Brave for Android and enjoy YouTube ad-free.

Since Brave uses the Blink rendering engine on Android, there are no compromises in the performance and speed departments. We have actually found Brave to be a better browser than Google Chrome in multiple respects.

#3 Opera

Opera is another great option for watching ad-free YouTube videos on Android devices. All you need to do is open your YouTube dashboard using the Android Opera browser. Because the browser ships with a built-in ad blocker, YouTube ads won’t bother you at all.

Opera for Android packs a few additional features, too, if you are wondering. It is one of the rare browsers that offer a completely free VPN service. It can be another way to access ad-free YouTube if the ad-blocker fails to work (which is very unlikely, according to our sampling testing).

#4 Firefox + uBlock Origin

You might want to use this combination to block YouTube ads on your Android phone. Firefox, unlike Chrome for Android, offers native support for extensions. So, you get to use one of the most privacy-friendly Android browsers with an all-time favorite ad-blocker extension, uBlock Origin.

For those who don’t know, uBlock Origin has been the best way to block YouTube and other ads across web browsers for years. It remains updated and packed with the necessary features. By choosing this open-source combo, you can effortlessly block YouTube ads.

Block YouTube ads on iOS

Blocking YouTube ads on iOS is not as straightforward as doing the same on Android devices. For one, iOS-wide ad blockers do not work on iPhones or iPads, possibly due to Apple’s restrictions. Even though we did come across a modded YouTube player, you have to sideload the app, making it a little inconvenient for most users.

Yet, with some compromises, you can get an ad-free YouTube experience on your iPhone. Here are the best options.

#1 AdLock

AdLock, our ad-blocker pick for Windows/macOS, has an iOS app as well. This app can block YouTube ads as well as trackers on Safari. The setup is straightforward, as you simply have to enable the content blockers. It works across Safari and keeps you away from ads and trackers.

#2 Safari + Wipr

If you want a one-time purchase option to block YouTube ads on Safari on your iPhone, you must check out the Safari + Wipr combination. Wipr costs less than $5 and receives regular updates. So, until YouTube ships server-side ad injection, Wipr will help you.

#3 Ad-blocking Browsers

Brave has an equally powerful app for iOS, and you can use it on your iPhone or iPad to access YouTube ad-free. Many a time, Brave offers better performance than Chrome on iOS.

So, if you need a Chrome-like web browser on your iPhone, you might want to choose Brave. In the same way, you can use Opera on your iPhone or iPad.

Block YouTube ads using new Distraction Control in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia

iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia bring a new ‘Distraction Control‘ feature in Safari that lets users hide pop-ups, overlays, and other distractions on web pages.

Although it’s not specifically designed to block ads, it offers a handy way to manage visual clutter and enhance your browsing experience without the need for third-party apps.

While not a replacement for dedicated ad blockers, it’s a useful addition for those looking to reduce distractions easily.

Block YouTube ads using a VPN

Here’s something many of us don’t understand about YouTube ads.

While YouTube ads may seem a universal problem, users from some countries don’t have to put up with it. So, if you use a VPN to connect to a server in those countries, you can enjoy YouTube without any ads.

In this case, you can get any VPN service that lets you connect to a server in Albania, Moldova, or Myanmar. YouTube does not run its advertisement program in these countries. So, as long as you browse YouTube from these countries, you are safe from YouTube ads.

The best part? This solution works on any device that supports VPN apps. This way, you can stop YouTube ads on your iOS or iPadOS devices as well. Here are some points to note.

• You should be connected to an IP address located in Albania, Moldova, or Myanmar to enjoy ad-free YouTube videos.
• When you use a VPN to block YouTube ads, you run the risk of compromising speeds. Depending on the server location and the VPN provider, you may face up to 50% speed loss.
• You may also have some privacy concerns while using a VPN service, especially a free option. So, you may have to spend an additional amount to get a reliable VPN in the first place.
• You can use split-tunneling options on your VPN app to enable easy YouTube ad-blocking without having to compromise overall browsing speed.
• Most VPN providers have a server in at least one of the three countries. You might even find a free VPN with an Albanian server.

This method also ensures that YouTube cannot track your activities or profile you. So, you get two birds with one stone.

Download YouTube videos and watch them without ads

If you cannot try the methods we have mentioned above, you might want to consider downloading YouTube videos to your computer or smartphone. When you download a video, you don’t download the ads, meaning that you can enjoy a practically ad-free YouTube experience.

You can easily choose between a variety of YouTube downloaders for Mac, PC, and Android. There are free and paid options you can use depending on your requirements. If you want to watch lengthier videos on YT, downloading the entire video is an easy way to get rid of mid-roll and unskippable ads.

The challenge of blocking YouTube ads

The landscape of ad blocking is constantly evolving. Google’s recent decision to phase out uBlock Origin from Chrome highlights this. This move affects users who rely on ad blockers (add link) for a clean and private YouTube experience.

The future of ad blocking remains uncertain. As technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that new ad-blocking solutions will emerge to address the challenges posed by Google’s decision. It’s essential for all of us to stay informed about the latest developments in this area and to choose the best options to protect our online experience and privacy.

FAQs

How can I watch YouTube without ads?

You can always subscribe to YouTube Premium to watch videos without ads. If you don’t want to pay this amount, you can do the same with modded YouTube apps, ad-blockers, or extensions.

How many types of YouTube ads are there?

YouTube offers several ad formats, including:

• Skippable in-stream ads: Can be skipped after 5 seconds.
• Non-skippable in-stream ads: Play for up to 30 seconds without the option to skip.
• Bumper ads: Short, non-skippable ads lasting up to 6 seconds.
• In-feed video ads: Appear in search results, on the homepage, and alongside related videos.

How do I unblock YouTube ads completely?

You can unblock YouTube ads completely by using a system-wide ad blocker. These apps will block all types of ads that pop up on your browser or other apps. This way, YouTube ads won’t appear, either.

• Subscribe to YouTube Premium: This provides ad-free listening across all YouTube platforms, including YouTube Music.
• Use AdLock: This app offers a dedicated feature for blocking ads on YouTube Music.
• Try a third-party YouTube ad blocker app: Explore options above for a dedicated feature for blocking ads on YouTube Music.
• Consider third-party YouTube Music clients or downloaders: These can provide ad-free playback and additional features.
• Utilize Distraction Control (iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia): This Safari feature can help reduce visual clutter and distractions, including some types of ads.

Conclusion

We have covered almost all the working methods to block YouTube ads on your PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and iPadOS devices. While most methods are platform-specific, you can also explore the VPN method to block all YouTube ads. We have categorically avoided some apps like a modded version of YouTube for iOS. While it seems legit, the setup is complex, and the suggestion seemed counterintuitive for the most part.

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