If you want to turn off ads on your YouTube channel, there are a few options you can try. The easiest way is to go into your YouTube Studio settings and disable monetization. This will stop all ads from running on your channel. However, it also means you won’t be able to earn any ad revenue. If you want to keep monetizing your channel but don’t want certain ads to show, you’ll need to work with Google AdSense directly to block specific ads or categories. There are also browser extensions that can block YouTube ads, though these will remove ads site-wide, not just on your channel.
Disable monetization in YouTube Studio
The quickest way to remove all ads from your YouTube channel is to simply disable monetization. When monetization is off, your videos will not show any ads, meaning viewers won’t see ads before, during, or after your videos play. To turn off monetization:
- Go to YouTube Studio and click on “Monetization” in the left sidebar.
- Toggle the “Monetize with ads” option off.
- Confirm that you want to disable monetization by clicking “Stop Monetization.”
Once this is done, monetization will be disabled for your entire channel. You will stop earning revenue from ads, but your viewers will no longer see any ads on your videos.
Block ads through AdSense
If you want to keep earning ad revenue from your YouTube channel but don’t want certain types of ads showing, you can block ads through your Google AdSense account. AdSense is the ad network that serves ads on YouTube to monetized channels. Blocking ads through AdSense allows you to disable specific ads or categories of ads, rather than removing all ads completely. To block ads on YouTube via AdSense:
- Go to your AdSense account and click “Block ads” in the left menu.
- Choose the ad types you want to block. You can block by ad category (like gambling or alcohol ads) or block specific ad clients individually.
- Save your ad blocking settings. The changes can take up to 1 day to take effect across your YouTube channel.
Blocking ads via AdSense gives you more granular control compared to disabling monetization entirely. However, it takes more effort to manage as you’ll need to monitor your AdSense block list over time. But it allows you to keep earning ad revenue while only showing ad types you feel comfortable with.
Use a browser extension to block YouTube ads
Another option is using a browser extension that blocks YouTube ads. Extensions like Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin will remove all ads from YouTube videos site-wide. While this prevents ads from showing on your own channel, it also blocks ads on all other YouTube channels you view. A few things to keep in mind with this approach:
- Browser extensions block ads for you as a viewer, not for your viewers. People visiting your channel will still see ads.
- Extensions usually block all YouTube ads, not just ones on your channel. Use it if you want to remove ads entirely from your YouTube experience.
- You’ll still earn revenue from ads running on your channel for your viewers.
Compared to the other methods, a browser ad blocker gives you the least amount of control. But it’s the easiest way to avoid seeing ads if you watch a lot of YouTube videos. Just keep in mind it won’t block ads just on your own channel.
YouTube Premium removes ads site-wide
One other option that removes ads from YouTube completely is getting a YouTube Premium subscription. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that removes all ads from YouTube for subscribers. This stops ads from showing both on channels you watch and your own channel. With YouTube Premium:
- Viewers won’t see ads before, during, or after your videos.
- You won’t see ads when watching other YouTube channels.
- You still earn ad revenue from premium viewers of your channel through a separate revenue share.
The main drawback of YouTube Premium is that it’s a paid subscription. But it lets both you and your viewers avoid ads entirely on YouTube. And you still earn revenue, just in a different way.
Using multiple methods for layered control
For the most control over turning off YouTube ads, you can also combine multiple methods:
- Block unwanted ad categories through AdSense.
- Use a browser extension when watching YouTube to avoid seeing ads.
- Encourage viewers to sign up for YouTube Premium which serves no ads.
Layering these options allows you to customize your monetization, remove unwanted ad types, avoid seeing ads yourself, and gives your loyal viewers an ad-free experience. Just be aware that these options do take more time and effort to manage compared to disabling monetization alone.
How turning off ads impacts your channel
Before disabling ads on your YouTube channel, it helps to understand how it can impact growth and visibility:
- You’ll lose ad revenue – By disabling monetization, you lose all income from ads. Blocking some ads through AdSense reduces it.
- Viewers may prefer an ad-free experience – Some viewers dislike ads. Removing them may improve retention.
- YouTube promotes monetized channels more – YouTube tends to boost channels that run ads, so turning them off may reduce exposure.
- Premium revenue replaces ad revenue – If Premium viewers watch your channel, you earn from their subscription fees.
Weigh the pros and cons of losing ad income vs. providing a better viewer experience. Test it for a few months to see if it helps retain and grow your audience. Just know that disabling ads comes with the cost of reduced promotion from YouTube’s algorithms.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide certain ads on my channel?
Not directly through YouTube Studio settings. But you can block specific ad categories or advertisers through your AdSense account which will prevent those ads from showing on your channel.
What happens to my videos if I turn off monetization?
Nothing will happen to your actual videos themselves. Disabling monetization simply stops ads from running against your content. Your videos stay intact and available.
Will turning off ads hurt my channel’s growth?
It might. YouTube tends to promote and recommend channels running ads more than non-monetized channels. Losing those promotions could slow your growth. But providing an ad-free experience may also help retain viewers.
Can I limit ads to only show on some of my videos?
Unfortunately no, monetization settings are all or nothing. The only way to enable ads on some videos but not others would be to split them across multiple YouTube channels.
What are my options if I want to avoid seeing ads site-wide?
Your options are 1) Use an ad blocking browser extension like Adblock Plus 2) Pay for a YouTube Premium subscription which removes ads channel-wide 3) Only watch channels from creators you want to support with ads.
In summary, turning off ads on your YouTube channel is a good way to provide an ad-free viewing experience for your audience. Be aware this will likely reduce impressions and growth from YouTube’s algorithm. But paired with options like YouTube Premium revenue, it may ultimately improve viewer satisfaction and retention on your channel if used strategically.