YouTube has always been an indispensable source for gamers to access reviews, walkthroughs, tips and tricks for games.
But increasingly aggressive ad block detection is disrupting the viewing experience with constant warnings and interruptions.
As a passionate gamer myself who relies on YouTube gaming content, I was motivated to find reliable methods to bypass this detection.
Through extensive testing of different adblock extensions, I found uBlock Origin to be the most effective open source option.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you how to install, configure and update uBlock Origin specifically to counter YouTube‘s ad blocking circumvention while gaming.
Why Gamers Should Use an Ad Blocker for YouTube
While I don‘t encourage outright blocking all ads that support creators, here are some benefits of an ad-free YouTube for gamers:
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No interruptions during speedruns or intense gameplay videos – Nothing worse than an untimely Liberty Insurance ad just as your favorite streamer executes that 1 in 1000 trick jump!
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Lightweight performance – Draining FPS with sluggish ad performance is unacceptable. Lighter ad blockers reduce memory and GPU resource usage allowing more frames for your game.
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Privacy against targeted gamer ads – Ad networks build an invasive profile with all our gaming interests to better target us. Time to level up privacy!
Of course there are ethical implications of blocking every single ad that threatens the livelihood of gaming creators on YouTube.
I would advise contributing via other means like channel memberships or merchandise purchases if you follow creators who don‘t push excessive ads. As gamers, we must support our community!
Now let‘s see how uBlock stacks up compared to alternatives when it comes blocking ads while maintaining performance for gaming.
Why Gamers Should Use uBlock Origin to Block Ads
uBlock Origin has some distinct advantages that make it the best choice for high performance gaming needs:
| Ad Blocker | Memory Usage | CPU Load | Bypass Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| uBlock Origin | Low | Very Low | Excellent |
| AdGuard | High | Moderate | Average |
| Adblock Plus | High | High | Weak |
Benchmarks by independent testing clearly show uBlock uses least system resources compared to others. This means higher FPS, smooth gaming and almost unchanged loading times for your games.
Another reason why uBlock works very well is the comprehensive filter lists maintained by an active open source community. These filter lists are updated rapidly in response to any new ad blocking countermeasures.
This agility is a life saver when YouTube makes its bi-weekly attempts to combat ad blocking! More on that next.
uBlock‘s low memory footprint compared to other ad blockers
How YouTube Detects & Bypasses Ad Blockers
YouTube employs some common techniques to detect and overcome ad blockers:
JavaScript Injection
This is the most common method used on YouTube web pages to continually check for ad blocking activity after page load.
The script tries accessing bait domains and ad spaces – failure triggers the anti ad block warning we are too familiar with!
WebRTC Leaks
Sneakier services fingerprint your local IP address via WebRTC leaks allowing YouTube to still serve geo-targeted ads in other ways.
Circumvention Scripts
These force ad un-hiding by modifying page layout or injecting layers over blocked content. Needs constant filter list updates to counter.
That‘s just a sample of obstacles in the way of a smooth ad-free YouTube gaming experience.
Now let‘s see how uBlock is equipped to emerge victorious in this back and forth battle!
How to Install uBlock Origin for Gaming
uBlock Origin is available on all major desktop and mobile browsers. Here are quick installation links:
Desktop
Mobile
- Firefox iOS
- Kiwi Browser (Chrome based)
Click the browser-specific link above, click Add/Install to pop it into your browser of choice. The additional steps to fully unlock gaming ad-blocking power are next!
Optimizing uBlock Origin Filter Lists for Gaming
The key is staying on top of uBlock‘s filter lists updates to rapidly block newer YouTube anti-adblock attempts.
Dashboard > Filter Lists
This is command central managing the various filter lists.
- Enable AdGuard URL Tracking Filter – Blocks utm trackers
- Enable Adblock Warning Removal List – Self-explanatory!
- Click Update Now frequently, daily if possible
Alternatively, set Auto-update filter lists to daily for hands-free updates.
Settings > I am an advanced user
Enabling advanced mode exposes more granular control including script blocking levels.
Set this to 2 or 3 to balance gaming performance vs adblocking effectiveness.
The best accessories for a gaming rig – uBlock Origin being one!
Bypassing YouTube Anti-Adblock Detection While Gaming
After setting up uBlock Origin properly, YouTube ads should already be blocked completely without warnings or distractions while gaming.
But web pages behave unpredictably at times. If you still face ad blocker detection issues, try:
- Clearing browser cache fully
- Forcing an filters update
- Disabling other extensions
- Checking for WebRTC leak exposure
- Reporting persistent issues to uBlock Origin GitHub
Usually a filter list update or two does the job after trying the above. This is why staying updated is critical.
I hope this guide brings an end to those pesky mid-roll ads interrupting your YouTube gaming binges!
Let your fellow gamers know about this always-working adblock method for buttery smooth 4K gameplay streams.