Advertising in YouTube on Android has become one of the most annoying problems for users. Videos are interrupted for 5–30 seconds, banners cover the content, and paid subscription YouTube Premium is not available to everyone. Fortunately, there are legal and semi-legal ways to reduce the number of impressions or remove advertising completely - without rootrights, without payment and without the risk of blocking your account.

In this article we will analyze 7 working methods, from the simplest (changing settings DNS) to the more complex (installing modified clients). Each method has been tested on the current versions Android 12–14 i YouTube v19.0+. Important: some solutions may stop working after application or policy updates Google —this is normal for gray optimization. We will indicate where caution is required.

If you are willing to sacrifice convenience for the absence of advertising, read on. If you want a 100% risk-free guarantee, consider an official subscription (at least for a month on promotion). And now - to the point.

1. Blocking ads by changing DNS

The safest and fastest way is to use DNS servers with advertising filtering. They intercept requests to advertising domains Google and block them at the network level. Disadvantage: the method does not work with all types of advertising (for example, banners in the feed may remain), but the videos before the video will disappear.

How to set up:

  • 📱 Open Settings → Network and Internet → Private DNS (on some firmware the path may differ).
  • 🔧 Select "Private DNS Hostname" and enter one of the addresses:
    • dns.adguard.com (recommended)
    • doh.centraleu.pi-dns.com (alternative)
    • dns.nextdns.io (requires registration on the site)
  • 🔄 Restart your smartphone and check YouTube.

If the advertising remains, try a different DNS or clear the application cache YouTube (Settings → Applications → YouTube → Storage → Clear cache).

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For maximum effect, disable the YouTube option "Personalized advertising" in your account settings Google. This will reduce the number of targeted videos.

⚠️ Attention: Some DNS servers may slow down video loading. If YouTube begins to slow down, return the default DNS settings or try another server.

2. Using a browser with an ad blocker

If you do not want to change system settings, you can watch YouTube through a mobile browser with an ad blocking extension. The best options:

  • 🦊 Firefox + uBlock Origin (requires manual installation of the extension via about:config).
  • 🛡️ Brave Browser (built-in ad blocker).
  • 🌐 Kiwi Browser (supports extensions from Chrome Web Store).

Instructions for Firefox:

  1. Install Firefox from Google Play.
  2. Open about:config in the address bar and confirm the risks.
  3. Find the parameter extensions.webextensions.restrictedDomains and remove from it mozilla.org.
  4. Install the extension uBlock Origin from the site addons.mozilla.org.
  5. Open YouTube in Firefox and enjoy the absence of advertising.

Disadvantages of the method: there is no background playback, notifications about new videos and some functions of the mobile application. But there are no restrictions on regions or versions Android.

📊 Which browser do you use to watch YouTube?
Chrome
Firefox
Brave
Kiwi
Other

3. Modified YouTube clients (Vanced, ReVanced)

YouTube Vanced was the most popular ad blocking solution, but the project closed in 2022. However, forks appeared based on it, for example ReVanced - a modified application with removed advertising, background playback and other features.

How to install ReVanced:

Download APK from the official website [revanced.app](https://revanced.app)

Disable automatic YouTube updates in Google Play

Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security)

Delete original YouTube (or disable updates)

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After installation:

  • 🔧 In settings ReVanced enable the options:
    • "Block ads"
    • "Background playback"
    • "Disable short videos" (optional)
  • 🔄 Update micro-G (if required for login to your account).
⚠️ Attention: The use of modified clients violates the rules YouTube. Your account may be blocked for “atypical activity,” especially if you often interact with content (likes, comments). We recommend using ReVanced without authorization or with a spare account.
What to do if ReVanced does not work?

If after installation ReVanced videos are not loading or show an error, try:

1. Clear application data (Settings → Applications → ReVanced → Memory → Clear all data).

2. Install an older version of APK (for example, 17.30.36).

3. Disable VPN or change DNS to standard.

4. Check if the antivirus is blocking the installation (disable it temporarily).

4. Disabling advertising via ADB (without root)

If you are not afraid of the command line, you can disable advertising in YouTube using ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method does not require root, but you need USB debugging and a computer.

Steps:

  1. Enable Developer mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and click on "Build number" 7 times.
  2. Go back to Settings → System → For developers and enable USB debugging.
  3. Connect your phone to the PC, install ADB Tools (download from official website).
  4. Open the command line in the folder with adb.exe and execute: 
    adb shell pm block com.google.android.apps.youtube.music

    adb shell pm block com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids
    

    adb shell settings put global captive_portal_detection_enabled 0

  5. Restart your smartphone.

This method disables some services YouTuberelated to advertising, but does not guarantee 100% blocking. The effect may disappear after updating the application.

💡

ADB commands do not delete data and do not violate the guarantee, but require re-execution after resetting the settings or updating the firmware.

5. YouTube

If modified clients seem risky, try it alternative applicationsthat use API YouTube legally, but without unnecessary water. The best options:

Application Pros Cons Link
NewPipe Without excess water, background playback, downloading videos No account Google, sometimes lags newpipe.net
SkyTube Open source, no tracking Outdated interface, no Stories skytube-app.com
LibreTube Works via Tor, anonymity Slow loading, no comments libretube.dev

NewPipe —the most balanced option. It not only removes ads, but also allows Download video in different resolutions, view history without an account Google and even subscribe to channels. Disadvantage: no synchronization with the main account YouTube.

Install NewPipe can only be done manually (APK from the official website), since Google Play it is not available. Updates come through the built-in updater.

6. Limiting YouTube background activity

If ads appear even when you are not watching the video, the problem may be in background processes the application. YouTube constantly loads advertising banners and notifications, which consumes traffic and battery power.

How to limit:

  • 📵 Go to Settings → Applications → YouTube → Battery.
  • 🔋 Select "Limited" background mode.
  • 📶 Disable "Autostart" and "Background Data" (if there are such options).
  • 🚫 In the notification settings, turn off all notifications from YouTube.

This will not remove advertising completely, but will reduce its number and speed up the application. This is especially true for smartphones with a small amount of RAM (2–4 GB).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI, ColorOS), limiting background activity can lead to crashes YouTube when switching between applications. In this case, add YouTube to the battery optimization exceptions.

7. Resetting your Google Account Ad Settings

If your ads have become too intrusive, they may have Google collected too much data about you to target. You can reset advertising profileto reduce the number of impressions.

Instructions:

  1. Open Advertising settings Google in the browser.
  2. Sign in to your account, if prompted.
  3. Scroll down and click "Opt out of personalized ads."
  4. Under Ad Control, select "Reset Advertising ID."
  5. Confirm the action.

This method doesn't remove ads completely, but it does make them less relevant (and perhaps less annoying). We also recommend disabling search and browsing history in YouTube:

  • 🔍 Go to Settings → History and privacy.
  • 🗑️ Disable "Search History" and "Browsing History".
💡

Resetting the advertising profile may temporarily increase the number of impressions of “random” advertising, but after 1–2 weeks the algorithms Google adapt.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

❓ Why did advertising return after the YouTube update?

Updates YouTube ad blocking methods often “break”, especially if you use modified clients or ADB commands. Solutions:

  • Roll back to the old version YouTube (download APK from APKMirror).
  • Update ReVanced or NewPipe up to the latest version.
  • Try another DNS server (see section 1).
❓ Is it possible to remove ads without risking your account?

Yes, safe ways:

  • Using DNS (section 1).
  • Viewing through NewPipe or SkyTube without authorization.
  • Browser with ad blocker (section 2).

Modified clients (ReVanced) and ADB commands carry minimal risk, but theoretically can lead to a ban.

❓ Why is NewPipe missing some YouTube features?

NewPipe uses an unofficial API YouTube, so some features may be missing:

  • 📌 Bookmarks and playlists (local only).
  • 💬 Comments under the video (in some versions).
  • 🔔 Notifications about new videos (manual verification required).

But here there is something that is not in the official client: video downloading, background playback without Premium and no advertising.

❓ How to remove advertising in YouTube Kids?

In YouTube Kids advertising is built in at the service level, and it is more difficult to remove it. Possible methods:

  • Use DNS servers (section 1) - part of the advertising is blocked.
  • Install ReVanced Extended (modified version with support YouTube Kids).
  • Watch videos via NewPipe (there is a section for children).

Officially you can remove advertising only through YouTube Premium Family (paid subscription).

❓ Do these methods work on Android TV?

On Android TV most methods are also applicable, but there are nuances:

  • 📺 DNS works (configuration via a router or manually in the TV network parameters).
  • 🖥️ ReVanced can be installed, but requires manual APK download via Send Files to TV or adb install.
  • 🌐 Browsers with an ad blocker (for example, Firefox) work, but are inconvenient to control from the remote control.

The best option for Android TV — SmartTubeNext (analog ReVanced for TVs).