DuckDuckGo has introduced a new YouTube Ad Blocking feature for its browser, allowing users to watch YouTube videos with most pre-roll and mid-roll advertisements removed.
According to DuckDuckGo, the new feature blocks most ads that appear before and during YouTube videos, offering an uninterrupted viewing experience without requiring users to install a separate browser extension.
However, the feature only works when watching YouTube through the DuckDuckGo browser. It does not remove ads in the native YouTube app, which remains unaffected.
On mobile devices where YouTube links automatically open in the YouTube app, users will need to open the YouTube website directly in the DuckDuckGo browser to benefit from the ad blocker.
The feature is now enabled by default for the DuckDuckGo browser on iPhone, Mac and Windows, while Android users can manually enable it through the browser’s settings. DuckDuckGo says the feature will be switched on by default for Android in a future update.
DuckDuckGo says its YouTube ad blocker relies on community-maintained filter lists from the open source uBlock Origin project. These filter lists are regularly updated to keep pace with changes to YouTube’s advertising system, while DuckDuckGo may also add its own rules to improve compatibility and minimise website breakage.
The company notes that users may occasionally experience slightly longer buffering times before a video starts playing, which it says is a common trade-off with browser-based ad blockers.
The new feature is separate from DuckDuckGo’s existing Duck Player, which lets users watch embedded YouTube videos in a distraction-free interface while preventing tracking cookies and personalised advertising. Videos watched through Duck Player also do not influence a user’s YouTube recommendations, although features such as playlist progress and watch position are not retained.
In comparison, YouTube Ad Blocking preserves the standard YouTube web experience, allowing users to continue using features such as watch history, playlists and playback progress while removing most video advertisements. Users can also enable both Duck Player and YouTube Ad Blocking simultaneously.
As with many browser-based ad blockers, there is no guarantee that the feature will continue working indefinitely, as YouTube regularly updates its anti-ad-blocking measures. Google has increasingly taken steps in recent years to discourage ad blockers on YouTube, meaning compatibility may change over time as both sides continue to update their software. It’s also perhaps worth pointing out that officially speaking, only a YouTube Premium subscription will remove ads from videos on the platform.
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