uBlock Origin is one of the best ad blockers out there, but recently, many users have noticed that it’s not working on YouTube. Ads are slipping through, pop-ups are showing up, and some videos won’t even play.
So, what’s going on? And more importantly—how do you fix it?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through why uBlock Origin isn’t blocking YouTube ads and the best fixes to get it working again.
Why Is uBlock Origin Not Working on YouTube? (Possible Reasons)
Google and YouTube have been fighting back against ad blockers, making it harder for tools like uBlock Origin to block ads. Here are the most common reasons why uBlock Origin might not be working for you:
- YouTube is detecting your ad blocker and blocking content.
- Your filter lists are outdated, so new ad patterns aren’t blocked.
- YouTube changed how ads are loaded (server-side ads bypass ad blockers).
- Your browser’s settings or extensions are interfering with uBlock Origin.
- Your ad blocker settings need tweaking.
- YouTube is testing new anti-adblocker measures.
Now, let’s go step by step and fix it!
How to Fix uBlock Origin Not Working on YouTube
1. Update uBlock Origin & Filter Lists
Outdated filter lists are the #1 reason why ads slip through. If uBlock Origin isn’t updated, it won’t recognize new ad formats.
🔹 Steps to Update uBlock Origin & Filters:
- Click on the uBlock Origin icon in your browser.
- Click the Dashboard (gear icon).
- Go to the “Filter lists” tab.
- Click “Purge all caches”, then hit “Update now”.
✅ Why This Works: This refreshes your ad-blocking rules and adapts to YouTube’s latest ad changes.
2. Enable uBlock Origin’s “AdGuard Annoyances” & “uBlock Filters – Annoyances”
These extra filters help block pop-ups, overlays, and YouTube’s anti-adblock messages.
🔹 How to Enable Additional Filters:
- Open uBlock Origin Dashboard.
- Go to the “Filter lists” tab.
- Scroll down to “Annoyances” and enable:
- AdGuard Annoyances
- uBlock Filters – Annoyances
- Click “Update now” to apply changes.
3. Disable YouTube’s Anti-Adblocker Pop-Up
YouTube has started displaying “Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube” messages. If you’re getting this, here’s how to bypass it.
🔹 Steps to Fix:
- Open uBlock Origin Dashboard.
- Click on the “My Filters” tab.
- Scroll to the bottom and add this rule: scssCopy code
youtube.com##+js(set, yt.config_.openPopupConfig.openPopup, noopFunc) - Click Apply changes.
✅ Why This Works: This blocks YouTube’s anti-adblocker message from appearing.
4. Switch to uBlock Origin’s Hard Mode (Strict Blocking)
By default, uBlock Origin uses standard ad blocking, but Hard Mode gives stronger protection.
🔹 How to Enable Hard Mode:
- Open uBlock Origin Dashboard.
- Go to “Settings” and check “I am an advanced user”.
- Click on the triple-bar icon next to it.
- Change the default blocking rules:
- Disable 3rd-party scripts
- Disable 3rd-party iframes
- Save changes and restart your browser.
5. Use a YouTube Ad Blocker Script
If YouTube keeps bypassing uBlock Origin, you can use a custom script to block ads manually.
🔹 Steps to Use a Script:
- Install the Tampermonkey extension (a script manager).
- Go to GreasyFork and search for “YouTube ad blocker” scripts.
- Install a highly-rated script.
- Restart your browser and check if YouTube ads are gone.
✅ Why This Works: Scripts work alongside uBlock Origin to block stubborn YouTube ads.
6. Use a Different Browser (Firefox Works Better!)
Google Chrome is owned by Google (which also owns YouTube), so it’s not surprising that they weaken ad blockers.
If uBlock Origin isn’t working, try using Firefox or Brave Browser, which have better built-in privacy protections.
🔹 Best Browsers for uBlock Origin on YouTube:
- Firefox – Open-source and more privacy-friendly.
- Brave Browser – Built-in ad blocker that works with uBlock Origin.
✅ Why This Works: Google Chrome limits ad blockers, but other browsers don’t.
7. Try YouTube Alternatives (No Ads!)
If YouTube is becoming too aggressive with ads, consider using alternative platforms that block ads by default.
🔹 Best YouTube Alternatives:
- NewPipe (Android) – Open-source YouTube app with no ads.
- LibreTube (Android) – Privacy-friendly YouTube alternative.
- Piped. video (Web) – Lets you watch YouTube videos ad-free.
- Invidious (Web) – Another YouTube front-end with no ads.
✅ Why This Works: These platforms let you watch YouTube content without ads or tracking.
8. Use a Pi-hole (Network-Wide Ad Blocking)
If you’re serious about blocking ads, consider setting up a Pi-hole—a device that blocks ads across your entire Wi-Fi network.
🔹 What You’ll Need:
- A Raspberry Pi ($35)
- Pi-hole software (free)
- 30 minutes for setup
✅ Why This Works: Blocks all ads on all devices, including YouTube ads on Smart TVs.
9. Try YouTube Premium (If Nothing Else Works)
If none of these fixes work and you absolutely hate ads, YouTube Premium might be worth considering.
🔹 YouTube Premium Benefits:
- No ads on YouTube or YouTube Music.
- Background play and offline downloads.
- Supports creators directly.
✅ Why This Works: If you watch a lot of YouTube, it might be worth paying to skip the frustration.
Final Thoughts: Get uBlock Origin Working Again!
YouTube is constantly trying to block ad blockers, but uBlock Origin still works—you just need to tweak it.
Quick Recap:
- Update uBlock Origin & filter lists.
- Enable extra filter lists (AdGuard Annoyances, uBlock Annoyances).
- Block YouTube’s anti-adblocker pop-up.
- Switch to Hard Mode (strict blocking).
- Use Tampermonkey scripts for extra protection.
- Try Firefox or Brave for better ad-blocking.
- Use YouTube alternatives like NewPipe or Invidious.
- Set up a Pi-hole for total ad-free browsing.
With these fixes, you should be able to block YouTube ads again and enjoy your videos without interruptions!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Why does YouTube keep detecting my ad blocker?
YouTube updates its ad system frequently. Updating uBlock Origin’s filters and enabling extra filters usually fixes it.
2. Can Google Chrome block ad blockers?
Yes. Google is working on a feature called Manifest V3, which weakens ad blockers. Firefox and Brave are better options.
3. Does YouTube Premium remove all ads?
Yes, YouTube Premium removes all ads and lets you play videos in the background or offline.
4. Is using an ad blocker on YouTube illegal?
No, but YouTube discourages it. However, many users prefer ad blockers for a better experience.
5. What’s the best browser for blocking YouTube ads?
Firefox and Brave work better with ad blockers than Chrome.