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YouTube app no longer let's you skip commercials

spencecb

spencecb

Suspended
Original poster
Nov 20, 2003
1,187
215
Hi all,

Starting about two weeks ago, or so, the YouTube app on my AppleTV stopped allowing the option to skip commercials before playing the video that was selected. It doesn't even give the option. Has anyone else seen this problem and know what to do about it, or has this been a change YouTube made for some reason?

Using an AppleTV 4k that is up to date on the latest version of iOS and all my apps are autimatically updated.

Thanks!
 
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Pretty sure that’s something that’s set by the channel organiser as they get more money.
There most definitely are still skippable ads but it all depends on who’s videos you’re watching and if they’ve allowed the option to skip or not.
Here’s a YouTube Creator vid that promotes it.
 
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-Gonzo- said:
Pretty sure that’s something that’s set by the channel organiser as they get more money.
There most definitely are still skippable ads but it all depends on who’s videos you’re watching and if they’ve allowed the option to skip or not.
Here’s a YouTube Creator vid that promotes it.
Click to expand...
While I appreciate you responding to my post, I would hope you would think I wouldn't bother posting something like this unless something had CHANGED.

I fully understand how videos/channels work on YouTube. The entire point of this post is to ask people if they had noticed the same thing. Literally one day all of the videos on the YouTube app stopped letting me skip any single ad, period. It is clearly not working the way it did before either iOS was updated or since the YouTube app was last updated. Or, something else is entirely wrong, hence me asking if others had seen this behavior and what to do about it.

I have not changed a single thing on my end. These are the same channels that I subscribe to, and it has happened to my partner's account as well. And it ONLY applies to the AppleTV app. I can go watch the same video on my Mac and it lets me skip ads just as before. I totally know there are ads on occasion that will not let you skip. This is not what I am talking about. This is every single ad, on every single channel that I subscribe to. And it also applies to channels that I don't subscribe to, like when I am just browsing through suggested videos.
 
Lihp8270 said:
Works as normal here.

some ads are unskippable, some are after 5s, some instantly.

Not noticed any changes and I watch way too much YouTube.
Click to expand...
I wonder how I can get mine back to normal? I haven't tried logging out/back in or deleting the app and re-installing, so I guess that is what I need to do next.

As stated above, I know that some ads are not skippable and some only after a few seconds, but to reiterate my point, all of the ads have become un-skippable.
 
Same for me - some are skippable after 5 secs some are not skippable at all and can go on for about 15 seconds. I#ve noticed no difference.
These are placed automatically by YouTube/Google. Content creators have no input over whether skippable or non-skippable ads are used on their videos.
 
I have three AppleTVs and on one of them I'm seeing the same behavior as the OP where no ads are skippable.
 
I haven't noticed the lack of skip, but I am noticing the commercials are getting more invasive and consequently my recreational use of youtube has been declining.
 
Pay for it if you don't like it. Content creators also need to eat. Who knew. Realize that free is just a trick. Eventually you will have to pay or be zombified by ads or just go out into the sun and enjoy the day.
 
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philosopherdog said:
Pay for it if you don't like it. Content creators also need to eat. Who knew. Realize that free is just a trick. Eventually you will have to pay or be zombified by ads or just go out into the sun and enjoy the day.
Click to expand...
There was a bug with the recent tvOS update I believe where YouTube premium subscribers were still being served ads too
 
spencecb said:
Hi all,

Starting about two weeks ago, or so, the YouTube app on my AppleTV stopped allowing the option to skip commercials before playing the video that was selected. It doesn't even give the option. Has anyone else seen this problem and know what to do about it, or has this been a change YouTube made for some reason?

Using an AppleTV 4k that is up to date on the latest version of iOS and all my apps are autimatically updated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
No change for me. Can still skip ads. Using ATV 4K with latest tvOS
 
It worked fine for me earlier today. Yes, some channels, and ads (I believe) are always unable to be skipped. Usually too, it's the first ad that is not able to skip, but the second *usually* is. Usually, but not always. And sometimes I don't get a second ad at all.
 
spencecb said:
Hi all,

Starting about two weeks ago, or so, the YouTube app on my AppleTV stopped allowing the option to skip commercials before playing the video that was selected. It doesn't even give the option. Has anyone else seen this problem and know what to do about it, or has this been a change YouTube made for some reason?

Using an AppleTV 4k that is up to date on the latest version of iOS and all my apps are autimatically updated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yes!!! I did a quick search when I first started to experience it, but found no relevant hits online. Even now, yours is it for this particular problem. I hope it's a bug that can be fixed with a reinstall or update. I fear that it's Google test driving a new behavior on an account basis. tvOS is so locked down, and there is so little room for variation in hardware and software configuations on this platform, that I'm surprised more folks aren't experiencing this.

I plan to delete the app and reinstall this weekend in the hopes that it helps. I'll post here if it does.

UPDATE: @spencecb, I'm very pleased to report that uninstalling YouTube, restarting the ATV, and reinstalling YouTube fixed the problem for me! I hope it does for you as well.
 
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How many are having an issue with the YouTube app seizing after playing an advert, and not playing the video afterwards.

It happens sometimes on the first video, and other times on the second, linked video, where the app will play the advert, and the screen will either freeze on the last frame, or go blank, either black, or the majority color from the advert.

Sometimes, if I hit 'play/pause', the video will play, but occasionally, the video trips out, and I'm left at either the previous screen, or the next video.

It's damned frustrating. I can try to dump the app and reinstall it. So what tripped it up. Hmm...

Restarting seems to keep it from happening as soon, but then it happens. And it's not very common, but annoying none the less.
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
How many are having an issue with the YouTube app seizing after playing an advert, and not playing the video afterwards.

It happens sometimes on the first video, and other times on the second, linked video, where the app will play the advert, and the screen will either freeze on the last frame, or go blank, either black, or the majority color from the advert.

Sometimes, if I hit 'play/pause', the video will play, but occasionally, the video trips out, and I'm left at either the previous screen, or the next video.

It's damned frustrating. I can try to dump the app and reinstall it. So what tripped it up. Hmm...

Restarting seems to keep it from happening as soon, but then it happens. And it's not very common, but annoying none the less.
Click to expand...

And non-skippable adverts seems to happen when 2 ads are queued up to suffer through. The first one is almost always required, with the second being escapable.
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
How many are having an issue with the YouTube app seizing after playing an advert, and not playing the video afterwards.

It happens sometimes on the first video, and other times on the second, linked video, where the app will play the advert, and the screen will either freeze on the last frame, or go blank, either black, or the majority color from the advert.

Sometimes, if I hit 'play/pause', the video will play, but occasionally, the video trips out, and I'm left at either the previous screen, or the next video.

It's damned frustrating. I can try to dump the app and reinstall it. So what tripped it up. Hmm...

Restarting seems to keep it from happening as soon, but then it happens. And it's not very common, but annoying none the less.
Click to expand...
I’ve not had any issues with adverts, but have had videos just randomly stop and then bring up the buffer circle on some of the more lengthier videos.
 
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-Gonzo- said:
Pretty sure that’s something that’s set by the channel organiser as they get more money.
There most definitely are still skippable ads but it all depends on who’s videos you’re watching and if they’ve allowed the option to skip or not.
Here’s a YouTube Creator vid that promotes it.
Click to expand...

Well, she is kinda cute, but the ones I've had to suffer through are not anywhere near as pleasant. 🤢🤢🤢🤢
 
SOLVED
Based on a comment above:
1. Delete the YouTube app.
2. Restart ATV4
3. Reinstall YouTube app

For those not experiencing this, it has nothing to do with channel ad settings. There isn’t even a countdown.
Nice to have that ‘Skip Ads’ back.
 
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spencecb said:
While I appreciate you responding to my post, I would hope you would think I wouldn't bother posting something like this unless something had CHANGED.

I fully understand how videos/channels work on YouTube. The entire point of this post is to ask people if they had noticed the same thing. Literally one day all of the videos on the YouTube app stopped letting me skip any single ad, period. It is clearly not working the way it did before either iOS was updated or since the YouTube app was last updated. Or, something else is entirely wrong, hence me asking if others had seen this behavior and what to do about it.

I have not changed a single thing on my end. These are the same channels that I subscribe to, and it has happened to my partner's account as well. And it ONLY applies to the AppleTV app. I can go watch the same video on my Mac and it lets me skip ads just as before. I totally know there are ads on occasion that will not let you skip. This is not what I am talking about. This is every single ad, on every single channel that I subscribe to. And it also applies to channels that I don't subscribe to, like when I am just browsing through suggested videos.
Click to expand...
To be honest I get full twitch episodes(2-4 hours long) full tv episodes and pilots, not to mention 20 minutes ads a lot of times. They are trying to force us to buy YT Premium, even with ad blocks and other software they will never ever be completely satisfied.
 
philosopherdog said:
Pay for it if you don't like it. Content creators also need to eat. Who knew. Realize that free is just a trick. Eventually you will have to pay or be zombified by ads or just go out into the sun and enjoy the day.
Click to expand...
I really wish you would take the time to actually read my post before trying to make me sound like an ******* trying to get everything for free on the internet. Sharpen up your reading skills, please.
 
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