Can I turn off ads on my youtube videos?

If you are a YouTube creator and want to remove ads from your videos, you have a few options. YouTube allows creators to choose whether to monetize individual videos through its Partner Program. So you can keep ads running on some videos while disabling them for others. However, completely turning off all YouTube ads on your channel requires leaving the Partner Program.

Monetizing Individual Videos

The easiest way to disable ads on some videos is to use YouTube Studio. Here’s how:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and go to the Videos page.
2. Click the 3-dot menu next to a video and select “Monetization.”
3. Toggle the “Monetize with ads” option off.

This will immediately stop ads from running on that specific video. You can toggle monetization on and off for any video this way. So it allows picking and choosing which videos you do and don’t want to monetize.

The tradeoff is that non-monetized videos will no longer earn money through YouTube’s ad network. However, they can still generate revenue through channel memberships, Super Chat, sponsorships, affiliate links, and other methods.

Completely Disabling YouTube Monetization

If you want to disable ALL ads on your YouTube channel, you need to leave the YouTube Partner Program. This removes channel-wide monetization settings. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your Advanced settings in YouTube Studio.
2. Click “Monetization” and then “Leave the YouTube Partner Program.”
3. Confirm that you want to leave the program by clicking “Leave Program.”

Once you leave the Partner Program, your channel immediately loses the ability to earn any ad revenue. YouTube will no longer place ads on your content or pay you a share of the earnings.

What Happens When You Leave the Partner Program?

Here are some key things that occur when you un-partner a YouTube channel:

• All monetization settings are removed, so no more ads will show on videos.
• You can no longer use Content ID to manage copyright on YouTube.
• Channel analytics for estimated revenue and RPM will disappear.
• Any accrued earnings not yet paid out are forfeited.
• You lose access to YouTube Studio’s advanced monetization features.

However, your channel itself remains intact. Videos stay published, you keep subscribers, and all other channel features remain active.

Essentially, an un-partnered channel functions like any other YouTube account without access to monetization. But the videos, channel branding, subscribers, and everything else carries over if you choose to re-enable monetization later.

Other Ways to Make Money Without YouTube Ads

Disabling ads doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t generate income from YouTube. Some alternative money-making options include:

• YouTube Super Chat – Fans pay to have messages highlighted during live streams.
• Channel Memberships – Offer exclusive perks to paid subscribers.
• Sponsorships – Get sponsors to pay for endorsements or brand integrations.
• Affiliate Marketing – Earn commissions promoting other brands’ products.
• Crowdfunding – Use platforms like Patreon to accept donations.
• Merchandise – Sell branded clothing, accessories, and other merchandise.

These revenue streams rely less on ad placements, allowing you to earn money without YouTube monetization enabled.

Re-Enrolling in the YouTube Partner Program

Leaving the Partner Program doesn’t permanently shut off monetization. You can re-enable it anytime by reapplying. Just know that approval isn’t guaranteed.

YouTube re-evaluates channel suitability when reapplying to the program. So you may need to wait out a probationary period or undergo review before ads are enabled again.

To get back into the YouTube Partner Program:

1. Go to the YouTube Studio Monetization page.
2. Click “Re-apply for YPP.”
3. Accept the terms of service and follow the application steps.
4. Wait for YouTube to review your channel’s eligibility.

As long as your channel remains in good standing, approval is typically just a formality. But YouTube does reserve the right to refuse monetization privileges at their discretion.

Tips for Getting Approved

You can expedite re-approval to the Partner Program by making sure your channel meets all eligibility requirements:

• Follow all YouTube monetization policies and community guidelines.
• Have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months.
• Live in a country/region where YouTube monetization is available.
• Have a linked AdSense account in good standing.
• Don’t have any active Community Guidelines strikes.

Providing a channel with lots of high-quality content that attracts engaged viewers also helps demonstrate worthiness.

YouTube wants their biggest earners generating lots of views and traffic. So channels with large, growing audiences tend to get fast-tracked for monetization approval.

Removing Ads Without Leaving the Partner Program

One workaround for stripping ads without losing Partner Program benefits is using a free YouTube distribution service like DistroKid.

These services let you upload videos to YouTube on your behalf. But since they aren’t partnered, YouTube won’t run ads on the videos.

You can continue enjoying Partner Program perks on your main uploads. While sending some videos through an un-monetized third-party service to disable ads.

Just note that DistroKid and similar services take a cut of any YouTube revenue your videos generate through other methods like Super Chat. So it impacts your overall earnings, unlike fully demonetizing through leaving the Partner Program.

Why Would You Want to Turn Off YouTube Ads?

Here are some common reasons creators choose to disable YouTube monetization:

• Avoid being labeled as a commercially-driven channel.
• Prevent inappropriate or repetitive ads from displaying.
• Stop contributors from earning ad money on stolen content.
• Improve viewer experience by removing disruptive ads.
• Manage a channel focused on non-commercial purposes.

YouTube ads can be lucrative for popular creators. But not everyone wants or needs to monetize directly through the Partner Program. Disabling ads allows you to have full control over how commercial or non-commercial your channel presence is.

In Summary

• YouTube lets creators disable ads on individual videos through Video Manager settings.
• Fully removing all ads requires leaving the YouTube Partner Program, which forfeits monetization.
• Non-monetized channels can still leverage other income streams like sponsorships.
• Rejoining the Partner Program to re-enable ads involves reapplying for approval.
• Using a distribution service bypasses ads without losing channel monetization.
• Controlling ads allows creators to manage commerciality.

So you have options to fine-tune or eliminate YouTube monetization as desired for your channel’s needs.