The three ways to stop seeing ads on YouTube
You can remove ads from YouTube in three ways: pay for YouTube Premium, use an ad blocker browser extension, or switch to a YouTube client app that strips ads before they reach your device. YouTube Premium costs money and removes ads across all your devices. Ad blockers are free but require you to install software in your browser. Third-party apps are free but may not work on all devices and exist in a legal gray area with YouTube.
Which route works best depends on what device you use, how much you watch, and whether you want to support creators. YouTube Premium also includes offline downloads and background play — features the free options do not offer.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes all ads for a monthly fee and works across phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
- Ad blocker extensions like uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus block ads in your browser for free but do not work on the YouTube app.
- Third-party YouTube clients like NewPipe (Android) and Invidious (web) strip ads before they load, but YouTube does not officially support them.
- YouTube detects some ad blockers and may ask you to turn them off or upgrade to Premium before you can watch.
- Creators earn money from ads, so blocking ads means they receive no payment from your views.
YouTube Premium: paying to remove all ads
YouTube Premium is YouTube's official paid subscription. It removes all ads from videos, lets you download videos to watch offline, and allows videos to play in the background while you use other apps. The cost varies by country and whether you bundle it with other Google services. On a phone or tablet, you can start a free trial to test it before you commit to paying.
Premium works on every device where you watch YouTube — your phone, tablet, computer, and smart TV — as long as you are signed into the same Google account. If you share your account with family members, they also get ad-free viewing, though YouTube offers a separate Family Plan that lets up to six people use their own accounts.
The main trade-off is cost. If you watch YouTube daily, the monthly fee may feel worth it. If you watch occasionally, the free methods below might suit you better.
Ad blockers: free removal in your web browser
An ad blocker is a browser extension that stops ads from loading before they play. The most common ones are uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, and AdGuard. You install them from your browser's extension store — the Chrome Web Store for Google Chrome, the Firefox Add-ons page for Firefox, or the Edge Add-ons store for Microsoft Edge. Once installed, they work automatically on every website you visit, not just YouTube.
Ad blockers work only in your web browser, not in the YouTube mobile app. If you watch YouTube mostly on your phone or tablet, an ad blocker will not help you there. You would need to watch through the browser version of YouTube on your phone instead, which is slower and less convenient than the app.
YouTube has begun detecting ad blockers and asking users to turn them off or upgrade to Premium. If you see a message saying ads are blocked, you have three choices: disable the ad blocker for YouTube, switch to a different ad blocker that YouTube has not detected yet, or upgrade to Premium. This is an ongoing arms race — ad blocker makers update their tools to evade YouTube's detection, and YouTube updates its detection in response.
Third-party YouTube apps: ad-free on Android and web
Third-party apps like NewPipe (Android), Invidious (web), and Piped (web) are built by independent developers and let you watch YouTube videos without ads. They work by downloading the video data from YouTube's servers in a way that skips the ad system entirely. They are free and often include features YouTube does not offer, like the ability to subscribe to channels without a Google account.
The catch is that YouTube does not officially support these apps. YouTube's terms of service say you cannot use tools that bypass their systems, and they regularly change their code to break these apps. When YouTube makes a change, the app stops working until the developer updates it — sometimes within hours, sometimes within days. You also cannot use these apps on smart TVs or gaming consoles, only on phones and computers.
These apps also mean creators earn nothing from your views, since the ads never load. If you use them regularly, consider supporting creators you like through other means — YouTube channel memberships, Patreon, or direct donations.
How to set up uBlock Origin on Chrome or Firefox
On Chrome: Go to the Chrome Web Store, search for "uBlock Origin", and click the blue "Add to Chrome" button. A popup will ask you to confirm — click "Add extension". The uBlock icon will appear in the top right of your browser. You do not need to configure anything; it blocks ads automatically.
On Firefox: Go to the Firefox Add-ons page, search for "uBlock Origin", and click "Add to Firefox". Confirm the popup. The icon appears in the top right. Like Chrome, it works automatically with no setup needed.
If YouTube asks you to disable the ad blocker, you can click the uBlock icon and then click the power button to turn it off for that site. The next time you visit YouTube, it will be on again. You can also right-click the uBlock icon, choose "Options", and add YouTube to a whitelist if you want it off there permanently.
How to install NewPipe on Android
NewPipe is not available in the Google Play Store because Google does not allow apps that bypass YouTube ads. You have to download it from F-Droid, which is a free app store for Android that hosts open-source software.
Go to f-droid.org on your Android phone, tap the blue "Download F-Droid" button, and install the app. Open F-Droid, search for "NewPipe", and tap "Install". Once it is installed, you can open NewPipe and log in with your YouTube account or watch without logging in. Videos play without ads, and you can download them to your phone.
NewPipe updates regularly when YouTube changes its code. You will see update notifications in F-Droid. If NewPipe stops working, check F-Droid for an update — the developer usually fixes it within a day or two.
What to do if YouTube blocks your ad blocker
YouTube has started showing messages to users with ad blockers active, asking them to turn off the blocker or upgrade to Premium. If you see this message, you have a few options. The simplest is to disable the ad blocker just for YouTube by clicking its icon and toggling it off for that site. You will see ads again, but the blocker will still work on other websites.
If you want to keep blocking ads on YouTube, you can try a different ad blocker. uBlock Origin is the most resistant to YouTube's detection, but even it may eventually be caught. You can also try Adblock Plus or AdGuard, though YouTube detects these more easily. None of these solutions are permanent — YouTube keeps updating its detection, and ad blocker makers keep updating their tools.
The most reliable way to avoid this cat-and-mouse game is to use YouTube Premium, which is the only method YouTube officially supports and cannot block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube Premium work on the YouTube app?
Yes. YouTube Premium removes ads on the app, the website, and YouTube Music. It works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs as long as you are signed into the same Google account. You can start a free trial on your phone to test it before paying.
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 mobile app does not support extensions. If you want to block ads on your phone, you would need to watch YouTube through your phone's browser instead of the app, which is slower and less convenient.
Will YouTube ban me for using an ad blocker?
YouTube will not ban your account for using an ad blocker, but it may ask you to turn it off or upgrade to Premium before you can watch. You can disable the blocker just for YouTube and keep it on for other sites. YouTube cannot see what software is running on your computer — it only detects that ads are not loading.
Do creators get paid if I use an ad blocker?
No. Creators earn money when ads play during their videos. If you block the ads, they earn nothing from your view. If you watch creators regularly with an ad blocker, consider supporting them through YouTube memberships, Patreon, or other direct payment methods.
Is NewPipe safe to use?
NewPipe is open-source software, which means anyone can read its code to check for security problems. It does not collect your data or show you ads. The main risk is that YouTube may change its systems in a way that breaks the app, leaving you unable to watch until the developer updates it.