YouTube is one of the most popular video streaming platforms, accessible to anyone with a phone or computer and the internet. The platform keeps itself free by showing non-premium users ads on videos. However, sometimes watching two 30-second ads back to back can get annoying.
YouTube allows users to skip ads after watching them for around five seconds; however, sometimes, the platform can throw unskippable ads your way. In this article, we’re looking at why you can’t skip ads on YouTube.
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Unskippable ads
The platform allows for unskippable ads that non-premium users must watch entirely before they can get to their video. These ads are limited from 6 to 15 seconds, so advertisers don’t exploit the feature.
If you’re watching an ad on YouTube that doesn’t have the Skip ad button, chances are you’re watching an unskippable ad, and you’ll have to watch the whole thing.
Browser extensions
Sometimes browser extensions, especially ones related to YouTube itself, can cause problems with skipping ads. Corrupt or malfunctioning extensions often cause many problems, including this one.
Head over to chrome://extensions and try disabling all your extensions to check if the browser starts functioning as normal again; if it does, enable them one by one until you have all the essential extensions working again.
Use an adblocker
On the contrary, using an adblocking extension can go a long way in blocking any annoying ads you see on the platform. Adblocking extensions can automatically detect and skip any ads the platform allows so that you can have a clean experience.
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Clear your browser’s data
Corrupt files in your cache or otherwise can cause this problem as well. Clear them out to see if you can get Chrome to work.
Step 1: Type in chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in your browser’s address bar and hit Enter.
Step 2: Select the cache and cookies options and ensure the Time range is set to All time. Click on the Clear now button to clear out all the data.
Reset your browser
Resetting your browser can fix all sorts of random bugs and glitches with the browser.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Step 2: Chrome will show you a warning prompt. Click on Reset Settings, and your browser will reset to default settings.
This should get the previews up and running again.
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Try another browser
One quick workaround for the problem is that you can try a different browser for the time being. This won’t fix the problem with your current browser, at least not until the next update rolls out, but it can help you access YouTube without any issues.
Get YouTube Premium
The most effective method of getting rid of ads on the platform and adding some extra functionality is just to get YouTube Premium. Not only will you not see any ads whatsoever, no matter how long or short the video you’re watching is, but you’ll also get extra features like picture-in-picture, background play and playing when the screen is locked, among others.
The pricing for YouTube Premium is as follows:
- Individual: $11.99/month
- Family: $17.99/month (includes up to five members)
- Student: $6.99/month (post-verification. Only applicable for eligible students)
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