Block adverts on YouTube

This article applies to organisations with a 'Hybrid' setup (both On-Premise Appliance and Cloud), as well as On-Premise only and Cloud only setups.

 

Support for advert blocking on YouTube

As of May 2025, the YouTube - Remove Adverts Content Modification blocks ads on a best-effort basis, without a guarantee of success. While we may block some advertising content on YouTube as a result of blocking ads on other sites, this functionality is subject to change without notice. Our other YouTube Content Modifications continue to work as normal.

This is due to YouTube’s business model and continuous updates designed to detect ad-blockers:

  • YouTube states that blocking ads violates its Terms of Service.
  • YouTube content creators rely on advertising revenue to fund their work and sustain the platform.
  • YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that can stop adverts being shown. However, this can only be purchased on an individual basis, not for an entire organisation.

We recommend that teachers review their Google Ad Personalization Settings to prevent their browsing activity from influencing adverts if videos are shown in class.

Smoothwall remains committed to protecting your privacy. We will continue to block malicious and inappropriate content and never share or use your browsing data for advertising purposes. To learn more about YouTube’s data usage and advertising policy, visit Google Privacy Policy.

Use the YouTube - Remove Adverts Content Modification

Important

  • YouTube Content Modifications are not supported for devices using Smoothwall Browser or Android Filter App.
  • The Remove Adverts Content Modification is in the list of available Content Modifications in On-Premise Appliance, but using it has no effect.
  • You can’t block Adverts using Domain or URL blocklists because they are served from the same location as the video.

 

Should you still wish to use the YouTube - Remove Adverts Content Modification:

  1. Sign in to Cloud Portal > Filter.
  2. Remove any policies that could override your Content Modification, such as any Allow Web Filter Policies for YouTube.
  3. Block non-video adverts such as popups and featured links using a Web Filter Policy to Block the Adverts category.
  4. Create the content modification policy and select YouTube - Remove Adverts.