Ad blocking, PiP and background mode: how to upgrade the web version of YouTube on iPhone, iPad and Mac

This year, iOS officially added support for extensions for Safari . While browser add-ons were available to users in the past, they weren't the same thing. They were spin-offs of classic apps and were quite limited in terms of features. However, with the release of iOS 15, a separate category of extensions officially appeared in the App Store, the purpose of which was solely to expand the functionality of Safari. One of them turned out to be very useful for YouTube fans, making it more convenient.

The web version of YouTube in Safari can be really convenient. One extension is enough

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The extension in question is called Vinegar(). Its installation changes the interface of the YouTube website , making it simpler and more convenient to interact with. For example, thanks to it, the playback window changes and begins to look almost the same as how videos embedded on third-party sites are displayed. Almost - because despite this, it does not lose key elements of playback settings.

What types of advertising exist on iPhone?

Based on its operating principle and format, it is divided into 3 categories:

• Simple. Mostly this is a stationary block on the side or bottom, which does not interfere with viewing the page or using the application, and does not move when scrolling. It is usually annoying only because it is placed in the middle of the text or simply catches your eye. There is generally no harm from such advertising.
• Pop-up. Already more dangerous, because it moves across the page while scrolling, and can appear at any time in the application (taking up the entire screen). This increases the risk of carelessly tapping on it and then automatically following the link. How dangerous it will be in terms of viruses, personal data theft, etc. depends on the content of the pop-up window.
• Blocking. These are malicious advertisements in the form of banners that pop up in Safari or other browsers and prevent you from continuing to surf the Internet. You can get rid of it only by closing the page - viewing the contents is impossible.

Based on the principle of creation, advertising on iPhone can also be divided into 2 groups:

• Targeted. It is formed based on user requests on the Internet. For example, after searching for beds in Moscow, advertising blocks for furniture stores appear. Such advertising appears mainly on websites, less often in applications.
• Regular. This is advertising that looks the same for everyone and is not clearly tailored to the target audience (central audience). It is widespread on YouTube and similar streaming services: in the middle of the video there are inserts of videos showing a Coca Cola train, etc.

To get rid of the first type of advertising, you need to ban tracking search queries and, in general, user activity on the Internet. There is no escape from the second one, because it is the same for everyone.

Installation in browser

Connecting the blocker is quite simple: enter the query “install Adblock extension” in the search bar and go to the official extension store for your browser, where you select the appropriate extension and click the “install” button. Everything else will happen automatically.

Unfortunately, Safari users are not so lucky - Apple offers their own blocker for them, but blocks all third-party extensions.

Benefits of ad blocking on iPhone

In addition to the fact that advertising content is often expensive on viral sites that can “kill” the system or at least deprive the user of part of their money, it has several other unpleasant disadvantages.

It’s worth turning off advertising for the following reasons:

• Saving traffic. Each additional media element on the page is 1–2 MB or more, and if we are talking about an embedded video clip, then all of 10–50 MB. When using cellular data and lacking an unlimited tariff, the numbers are critical.
• Saving battery consumption. This is also related to loading media data.
• Increasing Internet speed. The less content on a page, the faster it loads.

Annoying properties of advertising for users and benefits for channels

Firstly, a large number of advertising rates spoil the overall impression of watching a particular video material. Frequent interruptions for insertions of other, sometimes completely opposite, content (advertising for sunscreen while watching a dramatic story about Siberia) greatly reduce the overall immersion and distract from the storylines.

Secondly, such advertising content can significantly lengthen the video, especially if its duration exceeds 15-20 minutes. The longer the video, the more advertising can be used, because the likelihood that the user will interrupt the viewing halfway due to a short insert is extremely low. This is YouTube's position.

There is also a separate category of users who are indifferent to such actions by YouTube. Such people usually say the following words: “We get a huge amount of varied content for free and waiting a few seconds for this opportunity is not a problem.” Well, such an opinion does exist.

How to remove ads on iPhone using standard settings

The first and main caveat is that this is only possible on iPhones older than version 5: 4/4S and earlier models do not have built-in ad blocking capabilities. Also, the standard settings have truncated functionality, so they do not cope with all types of advertising. Mostly this is basic “cleaning”: pop-ups, malicious sites. Apple cares about the safety of users, but does not provide tools that can completely get rid of advertising banners and videos anywhere.

There are 2 options for standard blocking:

• Through Safari settings - works only for the browser. Does not affect applications.
• Through privacy settings, this means blocking targeted advertising by stopping the collection of personal data.

Important! You can also prevent the appearance of targeted advertising in your browser by using incognito mode: requests are not remembered and therefore are not processed later.

Advertising tracking is simply limited to:

1. Open “Settings”, scroll down to the “Privacy” block.
2. At the very end of the list, find the “Advertising” item.
3. Move the “Tracking Limit” slider to the right to enable the option.

These steps help block targeted advertising, but only in native Apple apps. The third-party software option does not affect. Additionally, you can get rid of advertising generated based on the user’s geolocation.

Scheme of work:

1. Go to “Settings” and to the “Privacy” block.
2. Open Location Services and scroll down to System Services.
3. Move the Apple Geo Advertising slider to the left so that it turns gray and the option will be disabled.

Another additional point that is also worth setting up has become available with iOS 12. This is advertising management in the “Screen Time” block.

Algorithm:

1. Go to “Settings”, find the line “Screen Time”.

2. Go to “Content and Privacy”, move the top slider to the right. The list below will become active.
3. Select the “Advertising” line and check the “No” box.

To get rid of ads in games and applications on your iPhone, just set it to “Airplane mode” or turn off WiFi and cellular data. Most pop-up windows are connected to the Internet.

How to remove ads in the browser on iPhone

The simplest thing is to do this using standard tools, but such actions will not be enough for all sites. Mostly pop-up banners are blocked, while static ones remain in place.

Algorithm:

1. Open “Settings”, go down to the “Safari” block.
2. Scroll to the “Basic” block and in the “Block. pop-up windows" move the slider to the right.

3. Scroll down to the “Settings for websites” section and enter the “Content blocking rules” item.
4. Enable the "All Websites" option.
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For maximum security, it is also recommended to review the “Privacy and Security” section. It should include the items “No cross-tracking” and “Warning: site spoofing.” This will not protect against advertising, but it will protect you from clicking on malicious links and subsequent banners that block the operation of Safari or iPhones.

How to remove ads from YouTube on iPhone

The first and easiest option is to sign up for a paid subscription to the service. The monthly cost is about $5. It’s also easy to avoid advertising if you download the video to your iPhone and watch it through a standard built-in media player: advertising is only present on the site, and not in the video itself. There are no standard tools in iOS for blocking annoying elements on YouTube - you need to turn to third-party applications.

You can open YouTube through Safari after the browser is configured to work without pop-ups. In this case, you will be able to avoid at least advertising before the start of the video, because it will be blocked by standard tools. However, this does not prevent inserts in the middle of the video.

How to disable advertising on iPhone using apps

Software that allows you to avoid pop-up windows, side or bottom ads, banners and other annoying (and sometimes harmful) elements is divided into several categories depending on functionality.

Applications can work as follows:

• Block ads directly. After downloading and launching, conditions are set in it: disabling pop-up windows, banners, etc. You can set exception sites and use official “white lists”. Such software can only work with advertising in browsers or also block unnecessary things in other programs and games.
• Change VPN and create a secure network connection. Such applications encrypt personal data and all user actions on the Internet. They are not as effective as blockers, but they are sufficient for YouTube and pop-up windows.

The most popular application from the classic blocker category is AdGuard. It is available in the regular version in PRO, which costs 149 rubles. For most types of advertising, free is enough: PRO adds only security filters, DNS privacy and its own URL filters.

It's easy to work with:

1. Launch the program, on the main page move the central switch to the right. This will enable protection for Safari.
2. Tap on the settings icon to adjust the work of AdGuard: add to the white list sites on which you do not need to block content, determine what exactly needs to be hidden - widgets, irritants, advertisements.

Also, after installing AdGuard, you can manage it in the “Safari” block (in “Settings”): in “General” the line “Content blocking rules” appears, where you can decide what will be loaded and what will not.

Best for preventing tracking: Disconnect Premium

What We Like.

• Real-time information and statistics about who is following you

What We Don't Like.

• You need to pay for the premium version
• Only blocks ads that violate privacy

Disconnect Premium is an extension that blocks attempts by marketing companies and advertisers to track your online activities. This includes invisible tracking and various threats that may carry malicious code on ad networks. Disconnect claims to improve page load times by up to 44% and show who is tracking you. Disconnect Premium also lets you encrypt your connections and works across all your apps.

Bonus: 5 Best Ad Blocking Apps for iPhone

To get rid of unwanted content on websites and videos, you can use the following free programs:

• AdGuard. Simple Russian-language software with a large number of settings: anti-phishing, anti-tracking, etc. Suitable for any browser.
• AdBlock. An English-language application that has fewer settings for Safari (3 rules versus 6 for AdGuard), and sometimes automatically blocks things that don’t need to be blocked.
• AdBlockPlus Safari. Russian-language simple software that cuts out 95% of advertising and is very easy to configure.
• 1Blocker. A young but increasingly popular application from domestic developers. In the free version, it is possible to enable 1 category of advertising and add sites to exceptions. Works only on iOS 13.
• VPN Super Unlimited Proxy. The VPN replacement program is in Russian and requires access to system settings. It copes with all advertising on YouTube even in the application, which is why users like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t54uUQ0zXtA

4.5/5 — (22 votes)

Best Custom Blocker: AdGuard

What We Like.

• Ability to add your own filters
• Offers a wide range of features at no cost
• Helps block fake news

What We Don't Like.

• Setup requires more technical knowledge
• Too much emphasis on downloading the full app

AdGuard is a free but sophisticated ad blocker that offers a high level of customization. In addition to blocking ads, you can remove social elements from web pages (like "Like" or "Share" buttons), remove nuisances like cookie notifications, and add your own custom filters. The list of what you can filter is extensive, although it will require more technical knowledge. But if you have time and want to block a lot of things, then this ad blocker is for you.