How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions?

Posted by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @04:55AM
from the self-post dept.

Today was the first time YouTube showed me the message “Ad blockers are not allowed”. I am trying to find a way to bypass YouTube’s ad-blocking restrictions. This is partly for personal use, but I also have a browser extension that improves the YouTube experience and, among other things, blocks ads. How can I avoid my extension being recognized as an ad-blocker from YouTube? Some users have already reported seeing this warning because of my extension.

Is it possible? Any technical insight is appreciated.

p.s. The extension is Music Mode for YouTube™

( 12 comments | 2 points | on HN )

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by miladyincontrol on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:31AM (#46324279)

Update your ad blocker and it's filters. Use a better adblocker

Or what I'd really suggest if on a computer is to use an open source client like freetube. Much better experience, with integrated adblock, sponsorskip, and dearrow (de clickbait)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:57AM (#46324419)

The problem is that I own an extension that blocks ads and is detected as an ad blocker. So, I am looking for a technical solution on how to prevent YouTube from detecting my extension as an ad blocker.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by sgt on Friday December 19, 2025 @06:37AM (#46324689)

I don't think you can easily block those ads as they are part of the video...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @06:53AM (#46324817)

The problem is not blocking the ads. I already do that. The problem is how to prevent YouTube recognizing my extension as an ad blocker

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by sgt on Friday December 19, 2025 @10:19AM (#46326773)

I see. I'm quite impressed you were able to block those video ads in the first place. I thought they originated from the same domain as the regular videos.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by hotbit9 on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:04AM (#46324083)

Use Brave browser and turn on filters, nothing else.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:08AM (#46324124)

I got the same answer from a friend of mine :) That's good for my but it does not help with my extension. I cannot tell the users go and use Brave. I am trying to find a way to avoid my extension being detected as an ad blocker

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by delaminator on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:28AM (#46324260)

Best I managed with mine (which pressed Skip for you) was to make it mute ad-videos

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @05:55AM (#46324408)

So, you stopped blocking ads and muted them instead?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by delaminator on Friday December 19, 2025 @10:01AM (#46326576)

yeah, Google said this is an ad blocking extension when it got it to press the skip button. I was only making it for myself so I didn't want to risk get in my account banned by testing, testing, testing.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by exploraz on Friday December 19, 2025 @08:34AM (#46325673)

Try getting some inspiration from uBlock Origin's "Quick Fixes" filterlist[0] (GPL-3.0 licensed)

[0]: https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/blob/master/filters/...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to bypass YouTube ad-blocking restrictions? by thunderarea on Friday December 19, 2025 @10:39AM (#46326973)

Thank you very much. It seems very useful.

[ Parent | on HN ]