You're settled in. The controller is charged, the headset is on, and you just want to watch a quick walkthrough or a 4K game trailer before jumping into Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring. Then it happens. A 15-second unskippable ad for insurance. Then another one for a movie you've already seen. It's jarring. On a PC, you'd just click an extension. On a phone, maybe you have a modified app. But figuring out how to remove youtube ads on ps5 is a whole different beast because the PlayStation 5 is a closed ecosystem. Sony doesn't exactly want you tinkering with the system files, and Google certainly wants their ad revenue.
Honestly, it’s frustrating. The PS5 is a powerhouse, yet the YouTube app feels like a locked door compared to the freedom of a web browser. People often think there’s a secret setting buried in the "Network" menu or a "magic" DNS code that will solve everything instantly. While some of those tricks have merit, others are basically urban legends that just end up slowing down your internet connection.
The Truth About DNS Ad-Blocking on Consoles
If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or tech forums, you’ve probably seen people suggesting you change your DNS settings to AdGuard or some other provider. The theory is simple: when the YouTube app tries to call the "ad server," the DNS realizes it’s an ad and sends back a dead end.
It sounds perfect. In reality? It’s hit or miss. Mostly miss.
YouTube is smart. They serve their ads from the same domains as the actual video content. If you block the ad domain at a DNS level, you often end up blocking the video itself. Or, the app detects the failure and just hangs on a black screen for thirty seconds—which is actually worse than just watching the ad. However, some users still swear by it for blocking trackers, even if the big video ads still sneak through. To try it, you go into Settings, then Network, and manually set your Primary DNS to 94.140.14.14. Just don't expect a miracle. It’s a "mileage may vary" situation.
Why standard ad-blockers fail here
Browser extensions like uBlock Origin work by looking at the code of a webpage as it loads. They see the "ad" container and tell the browser not to render it. The PS5 YouTube app isn't a browser; it’s a dedicated application. You can’t "inject" code into it. This is why the methods for how to remove youtube ads on ps5 are more about network-level filtering or account-level changes than just installing a plugin.
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The Pi-hole Option: A Technical Rabbit Hole
For the tech-savvy crowd, there’s the Pi-hole. This is a network-wide ad blocker that runs on a Raspberry Pi. It sits between your router and your devices. It’s the closest thing to a "pro" solution, but even the Pi-hole community will tell you that YouTube is their white whale.
Since YouTube weaves the ads into the video stream (server-side ad insertion), a Pi-hole can’t always distinguish between the "content" and the "commercial." You might successfully block the banner ads on the PS5 home screen, but the pre-roll ads are stubborn. It’s a lot of work for a partial fix. You have to buy hardware, flash an SD card, and configure your router. If you enjoy tinkering with Linux, go for it. If you just want to watch a video without being sold soap, it might be overkill.
The Most Reliable Method: YouTube Premium and Regional Pricing
I know, I know. Nobody wants to hear "just pay for it." But if we’re being 100% honest about how to remove youtube ads on ps5, this is the only way that works every single time without breaking the app or requiring a degree in networking.
YouTube Premium is tied to your Google account. Once you subscribe, the PS5 app recognizes your "Premium" status and simply stops requesting ad segments. It’s seamless. The downside is the cost. In the US, it's roughly $14 a month. That’s a lot just to skip ads on a console.
Some people use VPNs to sign up for Premium in regions where it’s cheaper—think Ukraine, India, or Turkey. While this has worked for years, Google has been cracking down on this recently, requiring a credit card issued in the same country as the account. It’s a cat-and-mouse game. If you go this route, you risk your account being flagged. Is it worth it? Maybe. If you find a way to get a family plan for $3 a month, it's a steal.
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The "Skip" Hack That Isn't Really a Hack
There is a weird little workaround that some users have found. It’s tedious, but it works for some. When an ad starts, you can click the little "i" icon (the "About this ad" button). From there, you can select "Stop seeing this ad."
- Press up on the D-pad during the ad.
- Select the "i" icon.
- Choose "Return to video" or "Block ad."
The catch? It doesn't work for all ads. Some high-priority campaigns don't give you the option. And honestly, by the time you navigate the menu, the 15-second ad is halfway over anyway. It’s more of a spite-move than a time-saver.
SmartTube and External Hardware (The "Niche" Way)
One thing people forget is that the PS5 has an HDMI-In... well, actually it doesn't. Your TV does. A lot of people who are serious about how to remove youtube ads on ps5 eventually give up on the PS5 app entirely. Instead, they buy a cheap Chromecast or a Fire Stick and sideload an app called SmartTube.
SmartTube is an open-source YouTube client for Android TV. It has a built-in ad blocker and, more importantly, SponsorBlock. SponsorBlock is amazing because it skips the "in-video" segments where the creator talks about a VPN or a mobile game for three minutes. You can't get this on the PS5. If you really hate ads, switching inputs on your TV to a $30 Fire Stick running SmartTube is actually a better experience than using the native PlayStation app.
It feels like a defeat for the PS5, but sometimes the best way to win is to stop playing the game Sony and Google have rigged.
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Dealing with "Ghost" Ads and App Glitches
Sometimes you might see ads even if you have Premium or a "fix" in place. The PS5 app is notorious for caching issues. If things aren't working right, you have to do the "Sony Shuffle":
- Clear the cache: Go to Settings > Storage > System Storage > Saved Data. Find the YouTube data and delete it. This won't delete your account, just the temporary files.
- Restore Licenses: This is a big one for Sony. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses. This syncs your purchases and subscriptions with the Sony servers and can sometimes "kick" the YouTube app into realizing you’re a Premium member.
The Future of Ad-Blocking on PlayStation
As we move further into 2026, the technology behind ad delivery is only getting more sophisticated. We’re seeing more "Server-Side Ad Insertion" (SSAI). This means the ad is literally stitched into the video file before it even reaches your house. When that happens, no DNS or Pi-hole in the world can stop it because there is no separate "ad request" to block.
This is why the discussion around how to remove youtube ads on ps5 is shifting. It’s less about "blocking" and more about "bypassing." Whether that's through premium accounts or third-party hardware, the days of a simple "trick" in the settings menu are mostly behind us.
Actionable Steps for a Cleaner Experience
If you're ready to tackle the clutter on your screen, here is the most logical path to follow. Don't try everything at once; start with the easiest and move to the most complex.
- Check your account status first. Make sure you aren't signed into a secondary "Brand" account on your PS5 that doesn't have the Premium benefits of your main email. This happens more often than you'd think.
- Try the AdGuard DNS. Even if it only works 20% of the time, it’s free and takes two minutes to set up in the PS5 Network settings. It might at least kill the annoying sidebar ads.
- Use the "Report Ad" shortcut. On those particularly long 2-minute unskippable ads, use the "i" icon to skip. It’s a manual process, but it’s a lifesaver for long-form content.
- Consider a secondary device. If you watch more than two hours of YouTube a day on your TV, a dedicated Android-based streaming stick with SmartTube is the only way to get a truly ad-free, sponsor-free experience without a monthly subscription.
- Keep your app updated. Sometimes Google changes their ad delivery method and the app needs an update to "align" things. Conversely, if an update breaks your ad-free experience, you might just have to wait for a patch.
The reality of the PS5 is that it’s a "walled garden." Sony wants the platform to be stable and profitable, which means they don't allow the kind of deep system access needed for a true, native ad blocker. You have to work around the system, not through it. Whether you're using a DNS tweak or just biting the bullet on a subscription, you now have the full picture of what's possible.