It’s possible to block specific ads or types of ads on YouTube, both as a viewer (someone watching videos) and as a creator (someone uploading content).

For viewers: Block a specific annoying ad

If there’s one particular ad (like a Grammarly, mattress, or crypto ad) that keeps showing up, YouTube lets you block that exact ad:

  1. When the ad appears, click the small “i” icon (info button) in the lower-left corner of the video player, just above the play/pause button.
  1. A pop‑up titled “My Ad Center” will appear with details about the ad and why it’s shown.
  1. At the top of that pop‑up, click “Block Ad”.
  1. Confirm by clicking “Continue” ; YouTube will stop showing that specific ad to you, though you might still see other ads from the same advertiser.

This only blocks that one ad creative, not all ads from that company.

For viewers: Reduce certain types of ads

You can’t fully block all ads for free (unless you use an ad blocker), but you can reduce some categories:

  • Use YouTube Premium – This removes all ads from videos, the homepage, and the Shorts feed, and lets you watch offline.
  • Limit interest-based ads – In your Google account settings, you can turn off personalized ads, which makes ads less targeted and often less repetitive.
  • Use an ad blocker – Browser extensions like uBlock Origin or AdBlock can block most YouTube ads, banners, and recommended ads, but they only work in browsers and may not catch every ad (especially server‑side ads).

For creators: Block specific advertisers or categories

If you’re a YouTube creator and want to stop certain ads from appearing on your videos, you can do this in YouTube Studio or AdSense:

  1. Go to YouTube Studio → Settings → Channel → Advanced settings → Advertisements.
  1. Click “Ad categories” to manage what kinds of ads run on your videos.

You can block:

  • Specific advertiser URLs – Enter the website URL (e.g., example.com) to block all ads from that advertiser.
  • Sensitive categories – Block broad topics like Dating, Religion, Politics, Gambling, Alcohol, or adult‑related categories.
  • General categories – Block whole groups like Autos & Vehicles, Beauty & Fitness, or Underwear & Swimwear.

Keep in mind that blocking too many categories can reduce your ad revenue, since fewer ads are eligible to run on your videos.

Quick tips from forum discussions

From recent forum threads and YouTube guides, people often share these practical tips:

  • If you’re tired of the same pre‑roll ad, use the “Block Ad” option via the “i” icon – it’s the easiest way to stop that one ad.
  • For creators, blocking “Underwear & Swimwear” and “References to sex / sexual health” helps reduce “bare skin” style ads that many find annoying.
  • If you want to block all ads (not just certain ones), the most reliable options are YouTube Premium or a good browser ad blocker like uBlock Origin.

Bottom line:
As a viewer, use the “Block Ad” option on specific ads and consider YouTube Premium or an ad blocker for a mostly ad‑free experience.

As a creator, use Ad categories in YouTube Studio or AdSense to block specific advertisers or broad categories of ads on your videos.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.