YouTube Users Report Unskippable, Hours-Long Ads

Some YouTube users are complaining about being shown extremely long, unskippable ads—sometimes even longer than the videos they’re trying to watch. The issue was highlighted by Android Authority after a Reddit user posted a screenshot showing a 57-minute and 57-second ad playing on YouTube.

Other users chimed in, sharing similar experiences. One claimed to have seen a 10-hour ad, while another reported a 90-hour ad, though these claims were not backed up with evidence. However, another user did provide a screenshot of a 2-hour and 52-minute ad playing before a 49-minute video.

Ad Blockers and YouTube’s Response

According to Android Authority, most users didn’t specify whether they were using ad blockers, but one screenshot clearly showed that an ad blocker was active. The article suggests, “If you use an ad blocker, YouTube may detect it and show you absurdly long, unskippable ads. There’s also a chance the ad blocker itself is distorting the ads and their duration. Some comments mentioned that the ad blocker might have blocked the ‘Skip’ button and then failed to block the long ad, making things worse.”

Officially, Google states that standard unskippable ads on YouTube should be limited to just 15 seconds. However, users have previously reported ads as long as 1 minute and 28 seconds. When asked for comment, Google gave a vague response but confirmed that it is continuing its efforts to combat ad blockers on YouTube. It appears that these long, unskippable ads may be one of Google’s tactics.

“Ads are a vital source of income for creators, helping them run and grow their businesses. That’s why using ad blockers violates YouTube’s Terms of Service. We’re running a global campaign to encourage viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.”

The company also noted that it will continue working to detect users who block ads and reserves the right to disable video playback entirely for persistent offenders. While this is described as a last resort, Google is prepared to take this step if necessary.

Ongoing Battle Against Ad Blockers

Google has been fighting ad blockers on YouTube for a long time. Last year, developers experimented with embedding ads directly into the video stream. Users also reported that, when using ad blockers, YouTube videos might automatically skip to the end or play without sound, making them unwatchable.