# Looking for an ad blocker

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 25, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763 "2026-03-25T18:02:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763/21 "2026-10-13T18:44:52Z")

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Late to the party, but I’m finding ads on the YouTube app are making videos nearly unwatchable, and getting worse. Any suggestions for an ad blocker for the YouTube app on iOS, or a browser on iOS if the ad blocker won’t work with the YouTube app. Thanks in advance!

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763/22 "2026-10-13T19:04:19Z")

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Agreed. The last couple weeks have seen a step-change in unuseablility.

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**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 13, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763/23 "2026-10-13T19:13:19Z")

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I don’t think any method on iOS lets you directly block ads in YouTube’s own app, because iOS security mechanisms prohibit it. But there are workarounds (browsers or separate viewer apps).

The [Orion browser](https://kagi.com/orion/) ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/orion-browser-by-kagi/id1484498200)) has built-in ad blocking, including for YouTube.

You can also add the [SponsorBlock extension](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/sponsorblock/): open that link in Orion and install it from there. SponsorBlock skips over promotional segments within the video itself (like product placement or sponsor call-outs).

You can do something similar in Safari with [uBlock Origin Lite](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ublock-origin-lite/id6745342698) (free) + [SponsorBlock for Safari](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sponsorblock-for-safari/id1573461917) (a few bucks), but that probably won’t work quite as well as Orion.

If the browser methods don’t work, you can also try AdGuard: [How to block YouTube ads | AdGuard Knowledge Base](https://adguard.com/kb/adguard-for-ios/solving-problems/block-youtube-ads/) It adds several more ways to block ads, and for YouTube in particular, you would “Share to AdGuard” and have it re-open the video in its own player to block ads there.

IMHO, best method? If you can afford it, consider shelling out for [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) ($15.99/mo, no ads) or Premium Lite ($8.99/mo, no ads on most videos, but you’ll still see some on music videos, Shorts, and while searching/browsing). Money gets shared with the creators. There’s also a family plan ($26.99/mo for up to 6 people in the same household, but the checks aren’t very stringent).

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**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-ad-blocker/1028763/24 "2026-10-13T20:29:59Z")

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Thanks, @reply! My concern with subscribing is that the price will go up without limit, and I’ll end up with ads anyway. I’ll try at least one of the other approaches you suggested.

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