8 Legit Ways to Block Ads in the YouTube App 2026 (Android & iOS)

We tested the most reliable ways to block ads on the YouTube app on both iPhone and Android to see what still works in 2026. Below are the eight best methods, including the most consistent option: using Total Adblock, which blocks ads directly through its in-app player on both platforms.

Following YouTube's crackdown on ad blockers, our research showed a 336% increase in readers searching for YouTube ad-blocking alternatives. Only 11% of YouTube users say the crackdown made them less likely to use an ad blocker. 

Blocking YouTube ads is difficult enough after its crackdown on ad blockers. But on mobile, the challenge is even bigger: the YouTube app doesn’t allow standard browser-based ad blockers to work, leaving most viewers frustrated or feeling pressured into paying for YouTube Premium.

Luckily, there are several effective and safe ways to block or bypass YouTube ads on your phone, like trusted ad blocker apps, privacy-focused browsers, alternative YouTube frontends, and even network-based filters.

Note: These methods were hand-chosen for blocking ads in the YouTube app on Android and iOS. For desktop and general YouTube ad-blocking tools, see our guide on how to block ads on YouTube.

Featured YouTube app ad blocker

1. Use an ad blocker app

If you want to block YouTube ads, then what’s better than an ad blocker? We’ve tested Total Adblock with the YouTube app, and it works really well. 

To block YouTube ads with Total Adblock on your phone, you’ll need to open the video in the Total Adblock app. It’s a simple process we outline for you below:

1. Sign up for and download Total Adblock.
2. Sign in.
3. Open your YouTube app.
4. Choose your video.
5. Tap Share.
6. Scroll across to the More option and tap.
7. If Total Adblock doesn’t show up, scroll to the More option and tap.
8. Scroll down until you find Total Adblock and tap.
9. Enjoy your video ad free.

To see more options for both your desktop and mobile streaming needs, see our best YouTube ad blocker roundup.

2. Use an ad blocker browser extension

Depending on what browser app you use on your phone, you may be able to install an ad blocker extension right on your phone and watch YouTube videos from there instead of the app. This works on Safari, Firefox, and Edge — of the big names, only Chrome doesn't allow extensions.

We tested the Total Adblock extension on the Safari browser app on our iPhone. There are just a few short steps to turn on your extensions and have Total Adblock work on YouTube ads:

1. Sign up for and download Total Adblock.
2. Sign in.
3. Open your browser.
4. Open your extensions manager.
5. Turn on Total Adblock’s extensions.
6. Navigate to YouTube.
7. Enjoy videos ad-free.

3. Watch YouTube videos in the Brave browser

The Brave browser has built-in ad and tracker blocking, so YouTube ads never load in the first place. It works on both Android and iOS, and it's one of the more reliable free options since Brave's team pushes regular filter updates to keep up with YouTube's countermeasures.

Also, Brave supports background playback on both iOS and Android. That means audio keeps playing when you switch apps or lock your screen, no Premium subscription required.

We downloaded it on our iPhone and pulled up an ad-free YouTube experience. Here’s how:

1. Download Brave from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
2. Open Brave and navigate to youtube.com.
3. Sign in to your YouTube account if you want access to your subscriptions and history.

4. Watch videos ad-free.

If videos won't load or you get a playback error, Brave's filters may just need a refresh. Go to Settings > Shields & Privacy > Content Filtering and tap Update Lists. Reload YouTube after updating.^[1]

4. Subscribe to YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium is the only fully official, Google-sanctioned way to go completely ad-free on the YouTube app. It's the most reliable method on this list since it doesn't depend on third-party tools or workarounds that YouTube can break at any time.

YouTube Premium plans and prices

Plan	Price
Monthly	$15.99/mo
Annual	$159.99/yr
Family	$26.99/mo
Student	1-month free trial, $8.99/mo after

A few things worth knowing before you subscribe:

• Avoid signing up through the iOS app. The App Store version costs $5 more per month. Go to youtube.com/premium in a browser instead to get the $15.99 rate.
• Premium Lite is worth considering if you only want to skip video ads. It costs $8.99/mo and removes ads from most videos but doesn't include YouTube Music, offline downloads, or background play.

The problem is that YouTube Premium is already pricey and rumored to be getting even more expensive. Using an ad blocker is usually a cheaper option per month and blocks ads across the entire internet rather than just on YouTube. 

5. Use YouTube ReVanced

YouTube Vanced was shut down in March 2022 after legal pressure from Google. It no longer receives updates and can break at any time. 

More importantly, the shutdown created a flood of fake "Vanced 2026" APKs on third-party sites. These aren't from the original team and carry a real risk of malware. Don't download them.

ReVanced is the legitimate successor and it still works. It's an open-source, community-maintained project that patches the official YouTube app to remove ads, enable background play, and add features like SponsorBlock (which automatically skips sponsored segments). It's actively developed and regularly updated.

Note that this method requires sideloading, meaning you install an app outside the Google Play Store. It's more involved than the other methods on this list. 

If you're not comfortable adjusting your Android settings, one of the other methods will be a better fit. There's also no iOS version.

How to install ReVanced:

1. On your Android device, go to Settings > Apps > Special App Access > Install Unknown Apps and allow your browser or file manager to install APKs.
2. Download ReVanced Manager from the official source at revanced.app. Don't use third-party mirror sites.
3. Open ReVanced Manager. Under Patcher, tap Select an Application and choose YouTube.
4. Leave the default patches selected and tap Patch.
5. Before or after patching, install GmsCore (also called MicroG) from within ReVanced Manager. You need this to sign in to your Google account.
6. Once patching finishes, tap Install.
7. Open the patched YouTube app and sign in.

Note: If you already have the official YouTube app installed, you may need to uninstall it first to avoid a conflict. Your ReVanced app will need manual updates when new versions drop since it won't update through the Play Store.

6. Enable PiP mode and skip YouTube ads

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) isn’t just for YouTube Premium. You can activate it, although you may not be able to watch certain types of content (like music videos). 

If you want to activate PiP, we have iOS and Android instructions below:

iOS

1. On your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Picture-in-Picture.
2. To turn on, tap Start PiP Automatically.
3. Go to your YouTube app Settings.
4. Scroll to Playback.
5. To turn on, toggle Picture-in-Picture to ON.

Android

1. On your Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Picture-in-Picture.
2. Tap YouTube.
3. To turn on, tap Allow Picture-in-Picture.
4. Go to your YouTube app Settings > Playback.
5. Toggle Picture-in-Picture to ON.

7. Use third-party YouTube frontends

Frontends can help you avoid ads and Google tracking on your Android. There are a variety of uses, but some are built specifically for YouTube. Frontends like Invidious, Piped, FreeTube, and more can be installed to help you avoid ads on your phone.

We strongly urge you to be 100% certain that your download is from a trusted source before putting it on your device. We also recommend using a trusted antivirus on your phone to stop any potential malware.

1. Download from a trusted source (e.g., F-Droid).
2. Open the app and start watching ad-free content.

8. Use an ad blocking DNS service

To oversimplify a definition, Domain Name System (DNS) translates web addresses into IP addresses. By using a DNS service, you may be able to filter ads from YouTube by changing your location. This method isn’t reliable and may not always work due to the configuration of videos.

Services like AdGuard or NextDNS may be more reliable, but not guaranteed. Here's how to set up a DNS:

1. Go to your device’s network settings.
2. Change DNS to AdGuard or NextDNS.
3. Open YouTube.
4. Check if ads are filtered.

If you find this doesn’t work, we suggest one of the more reliable methods, like using an ad blocker or a privacy browser.

8 ways to block ads in the YouTube app compared

	Works on Android	Works on iOS	Reliability	Ease of setup
Total Adblock app			High	High
Total Adblock extension			High	High
Brave browser			High	High
YouTube Premium			High	High
ReVanced			Medium	Low
PiP mode			Medium	Medium
Third-party YouTube frontends			Low	Medium
DNS blocking			Low	Low

How to disable personalized ads on YouTube

If you want to support your favorite creators but the idea of personalized ads creeps you out, you can turn off the feature and receive ads that aren’t based on your browsing data. It’s an easy configuration and a good way to protect your privacy.

Turn off personalized YouTube ads on Android

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Channel.
4. Click Advanced settings.
5. Scroll to the bottom section Advertisements.
6. Check the box for Disable interest-based ads.

Turn off personalized YouTube ads on iOS

1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Tap Settings (the gear icon).
4. Select Privacy.
5. Tap My Ad Center.
6. You’ll be prompted to confirm your Google email address or input a passcode for 2FA.
7. In the Google My Ad Center, toggle off Personalized ads.

Bottom line: How to enjoy an ad-free experience on the YouTube mobile app

There are various ways to enjoy an ad-free experience on YouTube, but the choice depends on your level of tech expertise and monthly budget. We recommend using an ad blocker like Total Adblock, which is less expensive than YouTube Premium and blocks ads across the web. Third-party options will also work, but they may not always be legal.

The best ad blockers not only block ads and trackers but also offer whitelisting, so you can continue supporting your favorite creators. Not all ads are bad, but you deserve the choice of when you see them.

FAQs