Adblock not working on YouTube? Here’s how to solve it
Lots of people use ad blockers to make their online experience smoother and less annoying. Unfortunately, some noticed their Adblock not working on YouTube anymore. On top of seeing more ads on YouTube even with their ad blockers turned on, now they can’t escape the dreaded screen asking to turn off their adblock.
Some of the best YouTube ad blockers we used to swear by are now in a tight place with YouTube's latest moves. The company constantly throws different curveballs with fancy new detection algorithms and the infamous Manifest V3, not making it easy for team adblockers. But all is not lost, as there are quite a few tricks you can employ to block YouTube ads again.
In this article, we’ll give you our tested solutions on how to fix your current YouTube adblocker. Plus, you’ll learn why adblocks are struggling with YouTube and which ad blockers do and don’t work with YouTube right now.
Why is YouTube adblock not working?
Google has revamped its extension framework with a big update called Manifest V3. In a sense, boosts browser security, performance, and privacy. The bad news is that it now restricts how browser extensions can modify websites and requests, posing challenges for even the best ad blockers out there, especially on YouTube.
If that’s not enough, through recent changes, YouTube has been messing with some adblockers quite noticeably. Adblock and Adblock Plus users noticed their computers running slower since YouTube triggered Adblock's code to consume unusual amounts of CPU resources. Even though Adblock admitted it happened mostly due to a faulty update, it’s probably not the last time we see adblockers not working with YouTube properly.
As one of the biggest hubs for online advertising, YouTube is playing its aces on adblockers as well. YouTube uses various tactics to bypass ad blockers, including:
- Serving ads from the same domain as the video.
- Using encryption to hide ads.
- Randomizing ad URLs and parameters.
- Integrating ads into video content.
These tactics make it harder for ad blockers to do their job and Google's Manifest V3 update makes things even tougher. It's no surprise that users see more ads on YouTube and these despised ToS screens touting users to shell out their cash for YouTube Premium.
Adblock that works on YouTube in 2024?
Our experts investigated numerous ad blockers to see which still work with YouTube. During the research, we tested how well they block the ads as well as their ability to slip through YouTube detection. Here’s a quick summary of what we found.
| Adblock that works on YouTube | Adblock no longer works on YouTube |
| ✅ Total Adblock | ❌ AdGuard |
| ✅ AdLock | ❌ Ghostery |
| ✅ Surfhark CleanWeb | ❌ AdBlock Plus |
The ongoing YouTube battle against adblockers doesn’t give a break to both adblock developers and their users. Best YouTube ad blockers need to constantly tweak their tech, update their databases, and maybe even pull a few sneaky tricks out of their sleeves. Even the ol’ reliable blockers like uBlock Origin are often struggling to keep up, with developers having to adapt, like, all the time.
However, as Google continues to up its game, only the best blockers that stay a few steps ahead can keep your YouTube experience ad-free.
What to do when Adblock doesn't work on YouTube? A step-by-step guide
These days, even the most popular ad blockers have a tough time keeping YouTube ad-free. And even then, YouTube’s adblock detection systems can simply stop you in your tracks if your adblocker is not stealthy enough. However, if you notice your YouTube adblock not working, there are multiple troubleshooting steps you can take before throwing in the towel. Some of the best working solutions include:
- Upgrading your ad blocker
- Reinstalling your current adblock
- Clearing cookies and cache
- Rechecking incompatible extensions
Upgrade your ad blocker
By far, the easiest way to start blocking ads on YouTube again is to upgrade your current ad blocker. The cranked-up YouTube advertising system is nothing short of a fine filter that easily shows which adblockers are actually worthwhile. And let’s face it, if the adblocker you’re using is just bare-bones, there isn’t much you can do to make it bypass YouTube detection.
Since even the best adblockers are quite lightweight and don’t cost a pretty penny, making a switch to a proven tool is really easy. For example, while testing our favorite pick – Total AdBlock – it blocked almost 100% of ads and never got caught by YouTube. And the best part, you can see it in action with a 7-day trial and continue onward for only $1.59/month.
Reinstall adblocker extension
If you find your adblock not working on YouTube, reinstalling the browser extensions can often help resolve the problem. There are various reasons why you might need to reinstall an extension, such as software updates, conflicts with browser versions, corrupted extension files, or cache and cookie-related issues. To reinstall an extension, follow these steps:
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Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner
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Select "Extensions", then "Manage Extensions"
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Find your YouTube adblocker and click on "Remove" to uninstall it
- Head to the Chrome Web Store and search for your adblocker
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Click "Add to Chrome" and finish the installation
- Enjoy your freshly reinstalled adblocker!
Get rid of YouTube ads with Total Adblock
Clear cookies and browser cache
Internet cookies and your browser’s cache store a lot of information on what you’re using, including your adblocker extensions. On top of potentially ratting you out to Google, these can also sometimes cause interference and make it so your adblock doesn’t work on YouTube properly. Luckily, clearing your cache and cookies is really simple and requires no advanced IT knowledge. Start off with these steps:
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Launch Chrome and select the three-dot button
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Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu
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Click the three-line button on the top left corner and select “Privacy and Security”
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Choose the “Clear browsing data” option
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Select a time range (“All time” is recommended) and finish by clicking “Clear data”
- That’s it!
Check for incompatible extensions
Overloading your browser with numerous extensions can cause serious problems and adblockers are no exception. Whether it’s Safari, Firefox, or Chrome adblock not working on YouTube, there’s a high chance that another extension is clashing with it. This requires some easy troubleshooting, but keep in mind that the more extensions you use, the longer this will take.
Follow these steps to expose the problematic extension:
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Start Chrome and click on three dots
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Find "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions"
- Identify any problematic extensions that may interfere with the YouTube adblocker
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If you can’t find it, disable one extension at a time and check if the issue with YouTube persists
- Once identified, try updating the incompatible extension. If updates are unavailable, consider removing it
Block all YouTube ads effortlessly
Final thoughts
Whether you’re using Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, adblockers not working on YouTube are becoming a more common sight by the day. Despite the infamous Manifest V3 and increasingly aggressive YouTube countermeasures, there are quite a few solutions you can try to squeeze some more life out of your current adblocker. However, if it’s not beefed up enough, it might be time to upgrade your adblock solution to bring the fight to YouTube’s door.
Total AdBlock is the best ad blocker for YouTube ads, enhancing privacy and providing an ad-free viewing experience by blocking trackers. You can also website notifications and customize your browsing experience by whitelisting acceptable sites. Plus, it extends ad-free browsing to other online services, websites, social media, and more.
Have you been caught by the infamous YouTube adblocker screen? Do you know any more tricks on how to make your adblock work with YouTube again? Share them by leaving a comment!
You may also like to read:
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FAQ
Why am I getting ads on YouTube with adblock?
YouTube implements various techniques to circumvent ad blockers, complicating their ability to detect and block ads effectively. Some of them include serving ads from the video’s domain, randomizing ad URLs, and using encryption to hide the ads. While these methods make simple adblocks ineffective, the best YouTube ad blockers quickly adapt to such changes.
Why is Adblock Plus not working on YouTube?
Adblock Plus is not equipped enough to bypass YouTube detection. According to its developers, Adblock Plus users should add YouTube as a whitelisted website. While this means it still blocks ads on other sites, it’s not a good ad-blocking solution if your main goal is to stop YouTube ads.
Is YouTube banning adblock?
Yes, as of September 2023, YouTube no longer allows adblockers on the website. After major adblock detection updates, viewers who don’t use top YouTube adblockers are met with a message asking to disable adblock while on the site. If you’re caught three times, your YouTube account can be suspended.
What ad blockers work on YouTube?
Best ad blockers that still work on YouTube are Total AdBlock and NordVPN Threat Protection. Other effective YouTube adblockers are AdLock and Surfshark CleanWeb. While there are more adblocks that may be fit for the job, not all of them can do it as consistently as the ones mentioned earlier.
What is the best YouTube ad blocker?
Total AdBlock is the best ad blocker for YouTube in 2024. This ad blocker receives regular updates, allowing it to effectively combat YouTube ads with almost no downtime. Additionally, it offers advanced features like script-blocking, malware filtering, and other personalization features.
