PSA: Fix YouTube Ad Block Detection

Brave Browser Ad-Blocking
1

Explanation after, but steps are below. Sometimes can resolve just in the first step. If not, go to second.

Step One

  • Make sure Brave is updated.
  • Go to brave://components and hit Check For Updates on everything.

If you have any update errors on components, then you likely need to follow instructions as you can see at Brave doesn't start when I run it as administrator and Brave Shield doesn't work - #41 by clifton

Step Two

  • Go to Settings - > Privacy & Security → Site And Shields Settings → View Permissions and Data Stored Across Devices
  • Search for Google and delete. Then search YouTube and delete all of those.

The above steps will log you out of Google and YouTube products completely and clear cookies. You may have to exit the browser completely. But then when you open again it should be good. You’ll need to login but then all typically is back to how it should be.

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The above will fix the issue most times.

Don’t forget to also check brave://settings/shields/filters, which is also Settings → Shields → Content Filtering

Ideally you want Fanboy’s Annoyances + uBO Annoyances enabled. You may also wish to try Brave Experimental Adblock Rules

Also would advise you leave Trackers & ads blocking on Strict.

2

For those unaware or who have forgotten, this is going to happen to people no matter what browser you use. You can find things like the uBlock Origin megathread at https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/1jbv1xn/youtube_ads_detection_breakages_2025_megathread/

This has been big in motion by Google and YouTube since 2023, though it’s a constant back and forth. There’s no failing or winning. They will change detection and then people who manage the adblock scripts, such as Fanboynz, work together to bypass it again.

YouTube is experimenting with more account based detection and flagging, but for now it’s still primarily stored in cookies. Account based suspensions or banning would be a big step and potential huge loss, so I doubt they’ll do it.

Worst case scenario if they do focus on account based restrictions, then you just would have to watch while not logged in.

Always Remember:

  • Use as few extra content filters as you can, as each extra one can use more RAM, cause compatibility issues, trigger adblock detection, etc.

  • Limit extensions to what’s necessary. Not only is this big for privacy, but there have been a lot of extensions that trigger adblock detection even though they aren’t adblockers. Such as Enhancer For YouTube.

  • Don’t freak out when you see notices like YouTube gives. Always try basic troubleshooting like testing in a private window or doing the steps like I mentioned in the original post.

  • Please look for existing posts when reporting problems. There’s never a good reason to have hundreds of new topics on the same problem. It just is annoying.

  • If reporting an issue, make sure to include all details like your OS, if you have tried everything as I already mentioned, which specific version of Brave you’re using, what filters you have enabled, etc.

And if doing all of the above doesn’t fix it, sometimes you just have to wait for a fix to arrive.