How to watch YouTube without ads for free

Some people prefer Spotify, but I’m more into sessions than playlists. That’s why, for listening to music, I’ve always preferred YouTube content.

Until a few years ago, the amount of advertising seemed acceptable to me: one ad at the start, another every hour, and another when moving on to the next video.

Ok, I’m enjoying content I like without paying; listening to a bit of advertising is reasonable.

The thing is, the current amount of advertising on the platform, for me, goes beyond reasonable. And that’s where the alternatives begin:

• Pay for YouTube Premium.
• Look for a free workaround.

And I’ve found one that works wonderfully, thanks to the Brave browser.

These are the steps:

#1. Install the browser

Download Brave on PC, on Android or on iOS.

#2. Make sure Brave Shields are enabled

If you haven’t touched anything in the settings, they’ll be enabled by default.

Here’s an explanation of what Brave Shields are, but basically, remember this: they block trackers and ads.

#3. Go to YouTube and enjoy

Open the platform with your shiny new browser (in my opinion, the best in the world) and enjoy it again like in the old days.

#4. Bonus: listen to audio with your phone screen off

This one is even better if what you want is to listen to YouTube from your phone, because the screen doesn’t need to stay on. You can keep listening with the screen locked.

To do that, enable "Background playback" in the Brave app settings and you’re done:

Settings icon (three dots) > Settings > Media

Done, you’ll now be able to listen to video audio with the screen locked (you’ll even see a few extra YouTube options there).

But wait, there’s more.

#5. Bonus 2: enjoy YouTube in the living room

This one is for the real geeks. Like me.

Because the next step is sending YouTube audio to your soundbar or sound system.

And yes, managing everything you want to listen to at any moment with one hand, using something you always have in your pocket, is a huge change when, for example, you have a baby. Which is my case.

So, if your equipment has Bluetooth, just connect your phone and that’s it.

But there are two important details: it has to be via Bluetooth or through one of the old Chromecasts, the ones that didn’t have apps installed.

If you try to do it with a normal set-top box with apps, like the latest Chromecasts or Xiaomi Mi Box devices, the trick won’t work: the YouTube app will open on the new device and you’ll have ads again.

The second drawback is that your equipment may be a bit old (like mine) and have no Bluetooth.

So, to solve it, all you have to do is buy a device like this:

View on AliExpress

Which, for less than €4 (and you can use coupons to lower it even more), works like a charm for this use.

All the power of YouTube:

• Without turning on the TV.
• Without ads.
• Always within reach.
• In your living room.

In short: enjoy YouTube again.

Oh, by the way, I’ve focused this on long music sessions, but if you want to watch your favourite videos without ads, using Brave works for that too.