YouTube has long tried to disable various ways to block ads while watching videos, but as soon as one method is blocked, a new alternative quickly appears. This time, the DuckDuckGo browser enters the story, known above all for its emphasis on user privacy.
DuckDuckGo announced on its official blog that its browser can now block most video ads, including YouTube ads. The feature relies on the uBlock Origin community’s open-source filters, which are used to identify and stop YouTube ads before they are shown.
In addition, DuckDuckGo adds its own filtering rules to improve compatibility and reduce the possibility of websites malfunctioning. The goal is not only the removal of advertisements, but also a more stable viewing experience within the browser itself.
The DuckDuckGo browser blocks most video ads, including YouTube ads
The company does warn, however, that turning on ad blocking can make videos take longer to load initially. In other words, before the recording starts, the user can wait a little longer. Once the video is loaded, the playback should flow without interruption and without inserting ads while watching.
The new YouTube ad blocking feature is already included by default in the DuckDuckGo browser for iOS, Mac and Windows. On the Android version, it currently has to be manually activated, but the company says that it will soon become enabled by default there as well.
An important limitation is that this protection only works within the DuckDuckGo browser. If the user opens YouTube through the official YouTube app, ads will still be displayed as before.
An additional reason for switching to DuckDuckGo among some users is resistance to the increasingly aggressive insertion of AI functions into search results. Those who want a simple and private search are increasingly looking for other options.
Therefore, it remains an open question how Google will react to the new DuckDuckGo feature. For now, all that’s clear is that YouTube ads have a serious opponent again, this time in a browser that users can install for free and use right away.