Advertising in YouTube on Android has become one of the main reasons for user irritation: videos interrupt viewing, increase traffic consumption and battery charge, and sometimes even block access to content without watching 30 seconds video. According to a study Statista for 2023, 68% of mobile YouTube users consider advertising too intrusive, but only 12% know about all the available ways to disable it.

In this article we will analyze all current methods - from legal (subscription YouTube Premium) to semi-official (restriction settings) and alternative (blockers, modified clients). Important: some methods may violate terms of use of YouTube or require technical skills. We will honestly tell you about the risks of each option so that you can choose the best one for yourself.

If you are looking for 100% working method without risks and restrictions, go straight to the about section YouTube Premium - this is the only officially supported method. Other solutions require compromises: from loss of functionality to possible account blocking.

1. Official method: YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium is the only legal way to completely remove advertising on Android, as well as gain access to exclusive content, background playback and video downloading. Subscription costs from 139 rubles per month (tariffs may vary depending on the region and promotions).

How to apply:

  • 📱 Open the application YouTube on Android.
  • 👤 Tap on your profile avatar in the upper right corner.
  • 💳 Select Get YouTube Premium → follow the payment instructions.
  • 🔄 After payment, restart the application - the advertising will disappear immediately.

Advantages Premium:

  • ✅ No advertising at all (including banners and pop-ups).
  • 🎧 Background playback (you can listen to the video with the screen).
  • 📥 Downloading videos for offline viewing.
  • 🎮 Access to YouTube Music Premium at no additional cost.
📊 What method of combating advertising have you tried?
YouTube Premium
Ad blockers
Modified clients
Restriction settings
Have not tried anything

Disadvantages:

  • 💰 Paid subscription (although there is one free trial period for 1 month).
  • 🌍 Not all features are available in some countries (for example YouTube Music may be limited).
⚠️ Attention: If you are using a family plan YouTube Premium (up to 5 people for 229 rubles/month), make sure that the main account does not violate the rules of the service. Google may block access if it is suspected of selling seats in a family group.

2. Restriction settings: for children and family viewing

If you want to reduce the amount of advertising (but not remove it completely), you can use restricted mode settings. This method does not block advertising entirely, but filters some intrusive videos, especially in children's videos.

How to enable:

  1. Open the application YouTube.
  2. Tap on the avatar → Settings → General.
  3. Select Restricted mode and move the slider to position On.

What is it gives:

  • 🛡️ Filtering some advertising (especially in videos for children).
  • 👶 Blocking 18+ content (if this is important for family viewing).
  • 📉 Reducing the number of targeted ads.

Restrictions method:

  • ❌ Does not remove advertising completely - only reduces its number.
  • 🔒 Some functions (comments, likes) may be limited.
  • 🔄 Settings are reset when you log out of your account.
💡

If limited mode does not help, try clearing the application cache YouTube in settings Android (Settings → Applications → YouTube → Storage → Clear cache). This sometimes resets intrusive advertising algorithms.

3. Ad blockers: AdGuard, Blokada and others

Ad blockers (for example, AdGuard, Blokada, DNS66) work at the network or system level, intercepting requests to ad servers. This is a semi-official method that does not directly violate YouTube rulesbut may conflict with some features.

How to set it up AdGuard:

Download AdGuard from the official website (not from the Play Market)|Install and enable protection|In the settings, select the "AdGuard Base" and "AdGuard Mobile Ads" filters|Reboot the device|Check the work in YouTube-->

Advantages of blockers:

  • 🚫 Block advertising in YouTube and other applications.
  • 🛡️ Protects against trackers and malicious sites.
  • 📱 Works at the system level (does not require root).

Disadvantages and risks:

  • ⚠️ Google may block accounts for using some blockers (for example, Vanced already banned).
  • 🔧 Requires configuration (not all filters work equally well).
  • 📶 May slow down video loading due to additional traffic filtering.
Blocker Type Efficiency Complexity of setup Risks
AdGuard Local VPN ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Average May conflict with other VPNs
Blokada DNS/VPN ⭐⭐⭐ Simple Does not block all advertising on YouTube
DNS66 DNS filtering ⭐⭐ Complicated Requires manual configuration of hosts
Pi-hole Network blocker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very complex Needs to be configured on the router
⚠️ Attention: Using ad blockers may result in playback errors in YouTube (for example, error code 403 or 500). If the video stops loading, temporarily disable the blocker and check if this is related to its operation.

4. Modified clients: YouTube Vanced and alternatives

YouTube Vanced was the most popular modified client for Android, but in 2022 the project was closed due to pressure Google. However, there are alternatives - for example ReVanced or LibreTubethat offer similar functionality: ad blocking, background playback and other features Premium without payment.

How to install ReVanced:

  1. Download APK from official website ReVanced (not from third-party sources!).
  2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
  3. Login to your account Google (optional, but needed to synchronize subscriptions).
  4. In the application settings, disable advertising and enable background playback.

Advantages of modified clients:

  • 🎯 Complete blocking of advertising (including banners and pop-ups).
  • 🎧 Background playback and downloading of videos.
  • 📱 No need to pay for Premium.

Disadvantages and risks:

  • ⚠️ High risk of account blocking — Google actively fights such clients.
  • 🔄 Regular updates are required (otherwise it stops working).
  • 🛡️ There is no guarantee of security - modified APKs may contain malicious code.
What will happen if Google the account is blocked?

If If you are blocked, you will lose access to all services Google (Gmail, Disk, Play Market, etc.) You can only restore it through an appeal, but the chances are low - especially if you used modified clients. It is recommended to create a separate account for such applications.

5. advertising

If you do not want to install additional applications or modified clients, you can use mobile browsers with built-in ad blockingFor example, Brave, Firefox with uBlock Origin or Kiwi Browser.

How to set up Brave to watch YouTube without wasting water:

  1. Download Brave Browser from Play Market.
  2. Open the website youtube.com and log in to your account.
  3. In the address bar, click on the shield icon (🛡️) and enable Aggressive blocking.
  4. Refresh the page - some of the advertising will be blocked.

Advantages of the browser method:

  • 🌐 No need to install a separate application.
  • 🔒 Less risks for the account (by compared to modified clients).
  • 📱 Works on any device, including old smartphones.

Disadvantages:

  • ❌ Does not block all advertising (especially embedded in videos).
  • 📱 Less convenient than the official application (no gestures, notifications, etc.).
  • 🔋 Drains the battery faster due to working in the browser.
💡

Browsers with ad blocking are the safest alternative method, but they will not replace a full-fledged application YouTube in terms of functionality.

6. Risks and consequences: what you need to know

Any unofficial method of disabling advertising on YouTube has potential risks. Here's what's important to consider:

1. Account blocking

Google can block an account for using modified clients (Vanced, ReVanced) or aggressive ad blockers. The risk is especially high if you:

  • 🔗 Use one account for YouTube Premium and modified clients.
  • 📥 Download videos through third-party applications.
  • 🛠️ Make changes to system files Android (for example, via Magisk).

2. Violation of YouTube rules

According to YouTube terms of use, it is prohibited:

  • 🚫 Bypass advertising display systems.
  • 🚫 Use automated tools to interact with content.
  • 🚫 Modify the official application.

3. Technical problems

Some methods can lead to:

  • 🐢 Slowdown YouTube (due to blockers).
  • 🔄 Constant playback errors (403, 500).
  • 📵 Loss of functionality (for example, the inability to comment).
⚠️ Attention: If you use root access to block ads (for example, through Magisk or Xposed), be prepared for that Google Pay, banking applications and some games (Pokémon GO, Netflix) will stop working due to a violation of the device’s security.

7. Comparison of all methods: what to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have compiled a comparative table of all methods of disabling advertising on YouTube for Android:

Method Efficiency Cost Risks Complexity Suitable for
YouTube Premium ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From 139 rubles/month No ➖ Anyone who wants a legal way
Limited mode ⭐ Free No ➖ Family viewing
AdGuard/Blokada ⭐⭐⭐ Free/Paid Average ➖➖ Users, ready to configure
ReVanced/LibreTube ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Free High ➖➖➖ Tech savvy
Browsers (Brave) ⭐⭐ Free Low ➖ For those who do not want to install applications

Recommendations optional:

  • 💰 If you are ready to pay → YouTube Premium.
  • 🛡️ If you want minimal risks → browsers with blocking.
  • 🔧 If you are ready to configure → AdGuard or ReVanced.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For children → limited mode.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

❓ Is it possible to disable advertising on YouTube without root access?

Yes, most methods (except some blockers like AdAway) do not require root. You can use YouTube Premium, browsers with ad blocking or modified clients like ReVanced (installed like regular APKs).

❓ Why after installing the blocker are there ads in YouTube has not disappeared?

Possible reasons:

  1. Not all filters are enabled (check the settings AdGuard or similar applications).
  2. YouTube has updated the advertising display system (blocker update required).
  3. You are using a VPN that conflicts with the blocker.

Solution: try clearing the cache YouTube, update the blocker or change DNS (for example, to 1.1.1.1 or 9.9.9.9).

❓ Is it legal to use modified clients like ReVanced?

No, this violates YouTube's terms of use. Google you can block your account, although mass blocks are rare. The risk is higher if you use one account for Premium and modified clients.

❓ How to disable advertising on YouTube on Smart TV or tidal devices?

On Android TV or Google TV limited options:

  • 💰 YouTube Premium (works on all devices).
  • 🌐 Use a browser with ad blocking (for example, Brave or Firefox s uBlock Origin).
  • 🚫 Modified clients on Android TV are more difficult to install and may not work.
❓ Why do ads appear more often after clearing the YouTube cache?

Clearing the cache resets personal targeting settings, and YouTube begins to show more general advertising (often more intrusive). After 1-2 days, the algorithms will adjust to your interests, and the amount of advertising may decrease. If this does not happen, try turning off personalized advertising in the settings Google (Settings → Google → Account Management Google → Data and personalization → Advertising settings).