This article is for creators in the YouTube Partner Program (including MCN affiliates) who want to make changes to the types of ads that run on their own content.
If you're a viewer, check out this article to learn more about ads on videos you watch.You might not want certain ads to show on or next to your YouTube channel or videos due to personal beliefs, business reasons, or content reasons. As a creator, you can block certain ads from appearing on or next to your YouTube content and channel, with blocking controls in YouTube Studio.
Blocking ads can have a negative effect on your earnings, so it's important to choose the control that balances your earning goals with your blocking requirements. We recommend you start with the control that blocks the fewest ads first, like blocking specific URLs.
Available blocking controls
Specific URLs
You can block ads that link to specific URLs. This may be useful if you don’t want ads that link to certain websites.
You can block up to 500 URLs. If you’ve reached the limit and need to block a new URL, you’ll have to unblock a blocked URL first.
General categories
You can block ads from general categories, like Apparel, Guns, or Vehicles. This may be helpful if you want to block ads related to a specific category.
You can block up to 200 general ad categories. If you’ve reached the limit and need to block a new ad category, you’ll have to unblock a blocked category first.
Sensitive categories
You can block ads from categories related to sensitive topics, like Dating, Religion, or Politics. This may be helpful if you don’t want ads related to sensitive topics.
Keep in mind that Gambling and Alcohol categories are blocked by default. If you want, you can also allow sensitive ad categories for your channel.
Block ads
Via Watch Page Ads Tab
- On your computer, to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, click Earn
.
- Click Watch Page Ads.
- Click Ad categories.
- To block specific advertiser URLs: Click the URLs tab in the horizontal bar across the top of the page. Enter 1 URL or multiple URLs, separated by a comma, in the box. Then click BLOCK.
- To block ads by general or sensitive categories: Click the relevant tab in the horizontal bar across the top of the page. Search for the category you’d like to block in the box. Then click BLOCK.
- Click SAVE. Changes should be reflected on your channel within 24 hours.
Via Settings Tab
- On your computer, to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, click Settings
.
- Click Ad categories.
- To block specific advertiser URLs: Click the URLs tab in the horizontal bar across the top of the page. Enter 1 URL or multiple URLs, separated by a comma, in the box. Then click BLOCK.
- To block ads by general or sensitive categories: Click the relevant tab in the horizontal bar across the top of the page. Search for the category you’d like to block in the box. Then click BLOCK.
- Click SAVE. Changes should be reflected on your channel within 24 hours.
Keep in mind that blocking controls only apply to ads serving on the Watch Page. They do not affect ads serving on Feeds or Shorts. Given the nature of ads in the Shorts feed, we cannot guarantee that specific ad categories won’t appear on or by your content. Learn more about how ads work in the Shorts Feed.