# How to Turn Off YouTube Commercials? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914 "2014-06-29T04:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/41 "2014-09-18T02:11:10Z")
This is getting spooky. It’s starting to happen like it did the last time – AdBlock or AdBlock Plus works fine for a few days, then slowly different websites start loading slowly or refusing to load until finally the Internet is unusable. But now … I can’t find the actual AdBlock software installed anywhere to uninstall it even though I clearly have the AdBlock symbol up above showing it’s working! It’s affecting the entire computer, even IE despite not having AdBlock installed for it. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/42 "2014-09-18T15:22:04Z")
Remember when pop-ups were the only annoyance on the interwebz? Lately I find myself longing for those days. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/43 "2014-09-19T02:59:25Z")
This is strange, but unable to find the AdBlock software on my PC to disable it, I thought of trying to download it again. Seems to have worked, at least for now. But I can’t find this new software that I downloaded either! There is nothing called “AdBlock” on my computer. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/44 "2014-09-20T21:24:56Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > What is this IE of which you speak? I never use it. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/45 "2014-09-21T02:43:14Z")
The computer seems to be slowing down again, and I may have to try downloading it yet again, for a third time, and see if that works. Has anyone else experienced any AdBlock-related computer problems? Could be too that we just finally need to get a new computer. this one is eight years old, maybe nine. We’ve been thinking of getting a new one for a couple of years now but just can’t get around to it. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/46 "2014-09-21T04:38:39Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Remember when pop-ups were the only annoyance on the interwebz? Lately I find myself longing for those days. [Never fear](http://www2.b3ta.com/realistic-internet-simulator/). (warning: sound) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/47 "2014-09-21T04:40:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The computer seems to be slowing down again, and I may have to try downloading it yet again, for a third time, and see if that works. Has anyone else experienced any AdBlock-related computer problems? > > Could be too that we just finally need to get a new computer. this one is eight years old, maybe nine. We’ve been thinking of getting a new one for a couple of years now but just can’t get around to it. Sorry, Siam Sam, but “the computer is slow” is like telling the doctor “hey, I don’t feel so well”. It’s impossible to diagnose something like that over the Internet ☹ Really doubt it’s directly caused by ABP, since many millions of people use it to speed things up. If you’ve tried everything in the sticky, maybe get a RL geek friend to take a look, take it to a computer store, or yeah, just buy a new one and donate that. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/48 "2014-09-21T04:51:12Z")
I prefer AdvertBan and Ghostery on Icecat/Firefox. AdBlock swallowed gigabytes of memory. Still I don’t know how any of them block adverts on YouTube, of which I’ve never seen. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/49 "2014-09-21T05:38:08Z")
Why is it I could find the AdBlock software to uninstall the first time, but now it can’t be found on the computer? It’s there somewhere, as the little AdBlock symbol is up there showing it’s working. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/50 "2014-09-21T05:51:12Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Really doubt it’s directly caused by ABP, since many millions of people use it to speed things up. All I know is I installed AdBlock on my wife’s laptop, and the Internet stopped working. I uninstalled it, and the Internet started working again. And on this PC, after uninstalling it the first time, the Internet came back. That time I could find something called AdBlock in the software downloads file, but now there’s nothing called that. I wonder if **Claverhouse’s** comment about AdBlock using up gigabytes is pertinent here. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/51 "2014-09-21T05:56:31Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Why is it I could find the AdBlock software to uninstall the first time, but now it can’t be found on the computer? It’s there somewhere, as the little AdBlock symbol is up there showing it’s working. If it’s AdBlock Plus for chrome or firefox, you uninstall it from the browser, not from Windows. In Chrome, you right-click on its icon and choose “Remove from Chrome.” In Firefox, you go to the extensions area and then remove it from there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/52 "2014-09-21T06:01:46Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > If it’s AdBlock Plus for chrome or firefox, you uninstall it from the browser, not from Windows. In Chrome, you right-click on its icon and choose “Remove from Chrome.” In Firefox, you go to the extensions area and then remove it from there. Thanks. Just did that in Firefox. Can’t find it in Chrome though. EDIT: :smack: D’oh! On the icon in Chrome. Got it. We’ll see how it works now. Already seems to have speeded up some. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/53 "2014-09-21T06:02:58Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > If it’s AdBlock Plus for chrome or firefox, you uninstall it from the browser, not from Windows. In Chrome, you right-click on its icon and choose “Remove from Chrome.” In Firefox, you go to the extensions area and then remove it from there. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Thanks. Just did that in Firefox. Can’t find it in Chrome though. Go to the url chrome://extensions/ (copy and paste it into your address bar) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/54 "2014-09-21T06:05:09Z")
Thanks. Got it. Now it’s working noticeably faster. It had been reduced to glacier speed earlier today. I can’t believe I’m the only one this has happened to. And on two computers, one of which, the laptop, is not very old. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/55 "2014-09-21T06:24:58Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Thanks. Got it. Now it’s working noticeably faster. It had been reduced to glacier speed earlier today. I can’t believe I’m the only one this has happened to. And on two computers, one of which, the laptop, is not very old. Very strange. Sorry it didn’t work out for ya. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/56 "2014-09-21T06:39:39Z")
I’ve mentioned it before, but after removing AdBlock Plus — which I had unthinkingly used for years — I came across this Ghacks **[article](http://www.ghacks.net/2014/05/14/firefox-using-lots-memory-adblock-plus-may-reason/)** on it’s effect. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/57 "2014-09-22T02:06:05Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Very strange. Sorry it didn’t work out for ya. > [@Claverhouse](#): > > I’ve mentioned it before, but after removing AdBlock Plus — which I had unthinkingly used for years — I came across this Ghacks **[article](http://www.ghacks.net/2014/05/14/firefox-using-lots-memory-adblock-plus-may-reason/)** on it’s effect. Thanks. I’ll take a look at AdvertBuster and Ghostery. Hadn’t heard of those before. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/58 "2014-10-01T02:50:51Z")
Found Ghostery but for some reason AdvertBuster wouldn’t come up on a Google search. Installed Ghostery though. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/59 "2014-10-02T04:31:26Z")
Just got a LOUD commercial on YouTube, so Ghostery doesn’t seem to be blocking those. I’ll probably have to reinstall AdBlock. It’s a vicious circle. I’ll install AdBlock, it’ll work fine for a week or so, then the Internet turns glacial. Then I uninstall AdBlock and the Internet works fine again, but I have those damned commercials again. So I reinstall AdBlock. Ad infinitum. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914/60 "2014-10-02T06:45:55Z")
> [@SiamSam222](#): > > Just got a LOUD commercial on YouTube, so Ghostery doesn’t seem to be blocking those. I’ll probably have to reinstall AdBlock. > > It’s a vicious circle. I’ll install AdBlock, it’ll work fine for a week or so, then the Internet turns glacial. Then I uninstall AdBlock and the Internet works fine again, but I have those damned commercials again. So I reinstall AdBlock. Ad infinitum. That’s gotta be super frustrating. Do you exit Chrome completely between uses? And how much RAM does your computer have? Maybe it’s time to throw another stick in there and see if that helps anything… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-youtube-commercials/691914.md?page=4)