I'm seeing ads in YouTube videos

Updated February 17, 2023 21:35

Note for mobile devices: YouTube is now using a technology that prevents ad blocking in videos on mobile devices. It is no longer possible to block these ads. This only impacts YouTube and you should not be seeing ads on other sites. Likewise, YouTube ads should still be blocked using our desktop extensions and the AdBlock for Safari Mac app.

There are several reasons you may be seeing ads on YouTube. The steps listed below will help troubleshoot issues related to ads that appear in YouTube videos.

Are your filter lists up-to-date and syncing?

If you’re suddenly seeing ads on YouTube and didn’t previously see ads in videos before, there may be an issue with your filter lists. A good first step in troubleshooting filter list issues is to perform a manual update and confirm you do not see a synchronization error: How do I manually update my filter lists?

Are you subscribed to the proper filter lists?

For AdBlock to block ads on English-language websites, including YouTube.com, you need to subscribe to EasyList and Anti-Circumvention.

If you watch non-English videos, it's good idea to subscribe to the filter list for that language. For instance, if you watch videos in French, make sure French + EasyList is enabled in AdBlock's options located on the Filter Lists tab.

Is the site allowlisted or is AdBlock paused?

It seems like an obvious solution but it happens more often than you’d think! Check to make sure you didn't tell AdBlock not to run on YouTube or allowlist the channel you're watching. Find out more about how you can support your favorite content creators with AdBlock.

Try reinstalling AdBlock

If you’re having trouble with ads after trying the troubleshooting steps above, you might want to try reinstalling AdBlock. Reinstalling can help clear out small errors that prevent the extension or app from working correctly. Follow these steps to uninstall and reinstall AdBlock.

Try clearing your cache and cookies

Another step that can help ensure AdBlock is working correctly is to clear your browser’s cache and cookies: How do I clear my browser cache and cookies, reset my browser settings, and update my browser?

Try checking for incompatible extensions

Disable all your extensions except for AdBlock. Reload the page. Try to watch the video again. If you don't see any ads, then one of the extensions you disabled is somehow interfering with AdBlock. Re-enable each extension one-at-a-time until you find the one that makes ads appear. If you need to use one of these extensions, notify the extension's developers so they can fix the issue that's causing the interference.

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