DuckDuckGo updates its browser for iOS, Windows, and macOS to block most video ads by default, including those on YouTube, based on uBlockOrigin's filter lists

An unsubtle shot at Chrome. — DuckDuckGo announced that it can now block most video ads, particularly those on YouTube, when a video is playing in its browser.

Engadget 2026-07-08 Anna Washenko

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@forge_vijay Vijay on x
@Dexerto Finally, someone listened to the people. DuckDuckGo devs out here doing the Lord's work while YouTube keeps testing how many 15-second unskippable ads we can endure 😂
@savatwts Sava on x
@Dexerto Youtube premium watching this like [image]
@deephumor @deephumor on x
This is actually huge news, it seems like more and more browsers are adding adblocking by default
@aashilexe @aashilexe on x
@Dexerto bro the moment you go back to YouTube without premium 60 second ad. then another 60 second ad. Painfulllll DuckDuckGo really said “here's your freedom back” 😭
@comrade_dankbob @comrade_dankbob on x
@Dexerto I use to watch ads on mobile since I understood the tradeoff to help a creator, that was when there was just 1 ad in-a-row. I blocked them when I saw a “1 of 3” ads
@dexerto @dexerto on x
DuckDuckGo has announced that its browser now blocks most YouTube ads The devs were “tired of ads interrupting” their videos [image]
@lumizoomie Lumi on x
@Temhaterisback_ duckduckgo is basically google if it sucked 20% less. i literally had to stop using google because i kept getting half the page missing, AI results for every search, etc. i really could not care less about what SE i use but google literally stopped working for me

Chronicles

DuckDuckGo updates its browser for iOS, Windows, and macOS to block most video ads by default, including those on YouTube, based on uBlockOrigin's filter lists

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