Youtube Videos are not playing on the brave browser

Brave Browser
1

Description of the issue:
YouTube videos are not playing on Brave Browser when Shields/ad blocker is enabled. If I disable Shields, the videos play normally, but then I start getting YouTube ads. I want to use Brave Shields without ads while still being able to watch videos properly.

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Open YouTube on Brave Browser.

  2. Keep Shields enabled.

  3. Try playing any video.

  4. Video either keeps buffering, does not load, or shows a black screen.

  5. Disable Shields for YouTube.

  6. Video starts working normally but ads appear.

Actual Result:
Videos only work when Shields are disabled, which also enables YouTube ads.

Expected Result:
Videos should play normally with Brave Shields enabled and ads blocked.

Reproduces how often:
Every time.

Operating System and Brave Version:
Windows 10/11
Brave Version: 1.90.124

Additional Information:
I already tried restarting the browser and clearing cache, but the issue still happens. Is there any fix or specific Shield setting that allows YouTube videos to work properly without disabling ad blocking completely?

2

I have this same problem on my Mac.

3

I have the same exact issue!

4

For now, until they fix it, here’s what you can do (and it works):

  • Tap the video you want to watch WITHOUT having the shields enabled.

  • Once the video is playing (after the initial ad), turn the shields back on, and the video will play correctly.

With this trick, you avoid watching ads while you wait for a solution.

5

I don’t have Shields enabled(At least from what I can see, I’m still a new user of Brave) but I’m still having the same problem

6

Same issue. Just started today. I appear to be able to bypass just by refreshing the YouTube page when the initial load fails and the black screen with error message is displayed.

7

I Guess, Youtube has detected the brave shield(ad blocker).

8

Odd thing I’ve noticed though. It’s not happening on 100% of YouTube videos, but so far today the refresh trick seems to bypass whatever they are doing successfully every time.

9

Youtube did nothing. We already spotted that the cause is a change in uBlock filters yesterday. It seems Brave has a compatibility issue with a specific rule in the change. Whatever, a fix will be rolled out soon. Just wait for a minute and @fanboynz or any Brave staff will probably announce that.

10

Same here. It’s kinda funny to see “watch youtube in Brave” ads while literally we cannot see. lol

11

You don`t have to wait for the initial ad.
Just switch Shields on and directly off and the video will play.