I just tried to look up a specific video of a Nick Swardson stand up bit. All I searched was “Nick Swardson loitering”. There were 5 fucking ads before an actual user posted video, then one real human posted video that barely had anything to do with Nick, then 5 more fucking ads.
I knew they were forcing ads into videos but clogging the entire search feed with ads is unfuckingbelievable.
Is this really what it’s come to? Ads are more important than what I’m actually looking for? Are people really okay with this?
Because I don’t know how to do all that shit on my phone 😭
I’ve had several people try to explain but I just can’t fuckin do it. I’d need someone to sit down with me and show me while explaining every action.
Use your app store to install Firefox.
Install ublock origin Firefox extension.
Go to Youtube using Firefox.
This is literally all the steps.
From my experience, if you’re on iOS then Brave is the only browser I know of that includes a built-in adblocker (although I have my own issues with Brave).
If you’re on Android, should be able to just install Firefox (or a fork like Fennec), tap the three dots in the app > Extensions > uBlock Origin
If you’re otherwise using the YouTube app, I don’t have much to add in that respect as I usually use Invidious or NewPipe.
Plenty of adblocker extensions on iOS Safari.
For YouTube, I’d recommend Vinegar, although the more general adblockers will also work.
Yes! I happen to already have a good blocker but I use Vinegar Extract for some enhancement.
Does Vivaldi not have an iOS version? It’s made by the original Opera founder that didn’t go all crypto bro and paycheck advance scammer.
FYI Brave is about to start having issues with ad blocking due to the Manifest V3 shit since it’s Chromium based
MV3 only applies to extensions. Brave’s adblocker is implemented in their content filtering engine, which is part of the browser itself. This completely bypasses the extension system.
You can block YouTube ads with AdGuard in Safari as well.
This is what I use. Good to hear it’s not depreciated on more modern versions of the OS that my ol’ 6S Plus isn’t able to run.
Brave has agreements with some ad services.
Just use a good paid ad blocker. I have Adblock pro for years as a Safari extension and I never ever see an ad.
Does iOS Edge not have the adblocker? No Firefox extensions for iOS either?
Orion Browser also has a built-in ad-blocker that also gets rid of Youtube ads. It even has some support for Firefox extensions, including uBlock Origin.
iOS or Android?
Everyone is making suggestions assuming OP uses a certain OS but you are asking the real question here.
I mean, even or Symbian or one of those other simpler ones. Just need a place to begin right?
On Android Tubular is pretty awesome.
The best answer
Assuming you’re on android, you can use this download link on your phone to download the .apk for NewPipe. This link is a direct download to install the app. (If you don’t trust my link, you can got to newpipe.net yourself), so if you click it, it should immediately start downlaoading and you can follow the steps to install the app. It’s pretty self explanatory.
It’s a frontend for youtube that removes all ads. You can’t comment or like, but you can subscribe to channels via NewPipe, just like you’re used to in youtube. But no ads. You do not need to login, it is not tied to your youtube account.
Youtube doesn’t like ad dodging frontends, so every once in while the app won’t work and you’ll need to go back to youtube (or a different alternative) for a day or two until the folks at NewPipe fix it again. It’s kind of an arms race like that, but with advertising.
For Android, NewPipe is great. I think I prefer FreeTube now however. Mostly because of the ability to use the Invidious api, built in SponsorBlock, settings coss-compatibility with the desktop version, and a better way to organize and export data (IMO). However, freetube android does has a few rough spots that newpipe doesn’t have, so ymmv.
I prefer ReVanced because it’s close to the native YT experience without the bs (blasphemy)
Another revanced lover here. You’re not alone. It takes away nothing and adds so much.
I hate to say this, but you’re exactly the reason why Youtube and other services feel safe and comfortable enshittifying their services.
Realistically I don’t use YouTube very often at all unless I’m searching for a video I already know the full name of.
After all this shit I’m just not gonna be using it at all.
The internet with a proper ad blocker is a game changer. Take the five minutes to figure it out. You’ll save more as free time than that on your first day.
Ironically, you could also YouTube how to install Firefox, then unlock.
Removed by mod
I used to run a public TLS DNS server that would do some hardcore ad/tracking blocking. I shut it down when I switched myself, friends and family to a private Tailscale network with VPN on the exit nodes.
It was a little janky to manage but I still have the files laying around; my point is I could turn it back on. Since it’s DNS-based it applies to all websites and apps running on your devices, and with TLS it’s also encrypted so your ISP wouldn’t be able to track your DNS requests. You would however be trusting me, a random stranger with your queries.