# ๐ซ YouTube Ads Blocklist for Pi-hole
**A community-maintained list of YouTube ad-serving domains โ add one link to Pi-hole and you're done.**
Last updated: **Oct 15th 2026** - **15,930 domains** in the list - works with **Pi-hole v5 and v6**, **AdGuard Home**, **pfBlockerNG**, **Technitium** and any other DNS blocker that accepts a hosts-style domain list.
[](https://paypal.me/KBoghdady?locale.x=en_US)
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---
## ๐ Table of contents
- [Option 1 ยท Add the list to Pi-hole (recommended)](#-option-1--add-the-list-to-pi-hole-recommended)
- [Option 2 ยท Run the script](#-option-2--run-the-script)
- [Other DNS blockers (AdGuard Home, pfBlockerNG, Technitium, Blocky)](#-other-dns-blockers-adguard-home-pfblockerng-technitium-blocky)
- [What it does and doesn't do](#-what-it-does-and-doesnt-do)
- [How it works](#-how-it-works)
- [The crowd list (optional)](#-the-crowd-list-optional)
- [Troubleshooting](#-troubleshooting)
- [Privacy](#-privacy)
- [Contributing](#-contributing)
- [Support the project](#-support-the-project)
---
## โก Option 1 ยท Add the list to Pi-hole (recommended)
The easiest way โ nothing to install. Pi-hole downloads the list itself and refreshes it every time gravity updates.
1. Open the Pi-hole web interface โ **Lists** (Pi-hole v6) or **Group Management โ Adlists** (Pi-hole v5).
2. Paste this address into the **Address** field and click **Add**:
```
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kboghdady/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/refs/heads/master/youtubelist.txt
```
3. Update gravity so the list takes effect: **Tools โ Update Gravity**, or from the terminal:
```bash
pihole -g
```
That's it. Pi-hole re-downloads the list on every gravity update (weekly by default โ run `pihole -g` any time to get the latest version sooner). The published list already excludes everything in `ignore.list`, so videos keep playing.
> ๐ก Using Pi-hole's default blocklist (StevenBlack hosts)? It blocks `s.youtube.com`, which breaks video playback. Allow it once:
> ```bash
> pihole allow s.youtube.com # Pi-hole v6
> pihole -w s.youtube.com # Pi-hole v5
> ```
---
## ๐งฐ Option 2 ยท Run the script
Prefer to have every domain as an exact entry in your denylist (visible under **Domains** in the web interface), add your own never-block entries, or pick up new domains every hour instead of at the next gravity update? Use `youtube.sh`.
Every time it runs it:
1. downloads the latest `black.list` from this repo,
2. drops everything that matches `ignore.list` (so videos keep playing),
3. adds **only the domains your Pi-hole doesn't have yet** โ the first run takes a few minutes, later runs finish in seconds,
4. reloads Pi-hole's lists so the new domains are blocked right away.
It works with **Pi-hole v5 and v6**, needs nothing beyond what Pi-hole already installs, and re-runs itself with `sudo` if you forget.
### Install
```bash
git clone https://github.com/kboghdady/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole.git
cd youTube_ads_4_pi-hole
sudo ./youtube.sh
```
You should see something like:
```
YouTube ads blocker for Pi-hole v6
[i] Downloading the latest YouTube ad list...
[+] 15855 domains in the list (0 skipped because of ignore.list)
[i] Adding 15855 new domain(s) to the denylist...
[i] This takes a few minutes the first time - later runs only add what is new
................................................................................
[+] Added 15855 domain(s)
[i] Reloading Pi-hole's lists...
[+] Shared 12 googlevideo.com hostname(s) from your query log - thank you!
[+] All done. Pi-hole is blocking 15855 YouTube ad domains.
```
### Keep it updated automatically
Add the script to root's crontab so it picks up new domains on its own:
```bash
sudo crontab -e
```
Add this line to run it every hour (change the path if you cloned somewhere else):
```
0 * * * * /home/pi/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/youtube.sh > /dev/null 2>&1
```
> Tip: [crontab.guru](https://crontab.guru) explains the schedule syntax if you'd like a different interval.
### Options
| Option | What it does |
|--------|--------------|
| `--dry-run` | Show what would change without touching Pi-hole โ great for a first look |
| `--no-share` | Don't send `googlevideo.com` hostnames from your query log (see [Privacy](#-privacy)) |
| `--crowd` | Also block the unfiltered crowd list (see [The crowd list](#-the-crowd-list-optional)) |
| `-h`, `--help` | Show the help text |
The same settings live at the top of `youtube.sh` if you'd rather change them permanently.
To add your own never-block entries, put them in the `ignore.list` next to the script (one per line โ a full hostname or just a part of it, such as `n4v7sne7`). Your entries are merged with the latest `ignore.list` from this repo on every run.
---
## ๐ Other DNS blockers (AdGuard Home, pfBlockerNG, Technitium, Blocky)
`youtubelist.txt` is a plain list of hostnames, one per line, so it works with any DNS-level ad blocker that can subscribe to a domain list โ not only Pi-hole. Use the same address everywhere:
```
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kboghdady/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/refs/heads/master/youtubelist.txt
```
| Blocker | Where to add it |
|---------|-----------------|
| **AdGuard Home** | **Filters โ DNS blocklists โ Add blocklist โ Add a custom list**, paste the URL |
| **pfBlockerNG** (pfSense) | **Firewall โ pfBlockerNG โ DNSBL โ DNSBL Groups**, add a feed with the URL (format *Auto*) |
| **Technitium DNS** | **Settings โ Blocking โ Block List URLs**, add the URL |
| **Blocky** | Add the URL under `blocking.denylists` in `config.yml` |
| **OPNsense Unbound** | **Services โ Unbound DNS โ Blocklist**, add it as a custom blocklist URL |
Whatever you use, keep `s.youtube.com` and the hostnames in `ignore.list` allowed โ they are needed for videos to play.
---
## โ
What it does and doesn't do
**It does**
- Block the DNS lookups for known YouTube ad-serving hostnames, network-wide, on every device that uses your DNS server โ smart TVs, phones, consoles and browsers alike, with nothing to install on them.
- Stop many pre-roll and mid-roll video ads from loading at all, instead of showing a skippable ad.
- Stay current: the list is refreshed every day or two from the hostnames users report (see [Privacy](#-privacy)).
**It doesn't**
- Block every ad. YouTube serves ads and videos from the same `googlevideo.com` domains and rotates them constantly; some ads will always slip through, and new hostnames take a day or two to reach the list.
- Block ads that are stitched into the video stream itself (server-side ad insertion). No DNS blocker can โ that needs a browser extension such as uBlock Origin or SponsorBlock on the device.
- Remove sponsor segments, banners, or ads inside the YouTube app on devices that bypass your DNS (for example, with DNS-over-HTTPS enabled or a hard-coded DNS server).
- Track you. Option 1 sends nothing anywhere; Option 2 shares only the hostnames described under [Privacy](#-privacy), and you can turn that off.
For the best result, use this list on your DNS blocker **and** a browser extension on the devices where you can install one.
---
## ๐ง How it works
YouTube serves ads and videos from the same family of domains (`*.googlevideo.com`), so a normal blocklist can't tell them apart. This project keeps a curated list of the hostnames that only serve ads, and an `ignore.list` of the ones that break video playback. Both published lists are filtered against `ignore.list` before every update.
| File | What it is |
|------|------------|
| `youtubelist.txt` | The list to add to Pi-hole ([Option 1](#-option-1--add-the-list-to-pi-hole-recommended)) |
| `black.list` | The same list, downloaded by `youtube.sh` ([Option 2](#-option-2--run-the-script)) |
| `ignore.list` | Hostnames (or parts of them) that must **never** be blocked because they break videos |
| `crowed_list.txt` | Raw, unfiltered domains gathered from the community โ see [The crowd list](#-the-crowd-list-optional) |
| `youtube.sh` | The script behind Option 2 |
The list is refreshed every day or two.
---
## ๐ฅ The crowd list (optional)
`crowed_list.txt` contains every `googlevideo.com` hostname reported by users of the script โ **including the ones that serve videos**. It blocks more ads but is far more likely to break playback.
- As a Pi-hole list: `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kboghdady/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/refs/heads/master/crowed_list.txt`
- With the script: `sudo ./youtube.sh --crowd` (or set `INCLUDE_CROWD_LIST=true` at the top of the script)
Only use it if you know how to find and allow a blocked hostname in Pi-hole's query log.
---
## ๐ Troubleshooting
Videos won't play, keep buffering or YouTube reloads in a loop
1. **Make sure `s.youtube.com` isn't blocked.** Pi-hole's default list (StevenBlack hosts) includes it, and blocking it breaks playback:
```bash
pihole allow s.youtube.com # Pi-hole v6
pihole -w s.youtube.com # Pi-hole v5
```
2. **Get the latest list.** Run `pihole -g` (Option 1) or `sudo ./youtube.sh` (Option 2) โ the hostname may already have been removed from the list.
3. **Find the culprit.** Open the Pi-hole query log while the video fails and look for a *blocked* `r?---sn-xxxxxxx.googlevideo.com` entry. Allow it in Pi-hole, then please [open an issue](https://github.com/kboghdady/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/issues) or a pull request adding the `sn-xxxxxxx` part to `ignore.list` so everyone benefits. Script users can also add it to their local `ignore.list` and run `sudo ./youtube.sh` again โ it removes the domain from the denylist for you.
Remove everything the script added
```bash
pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/gravity.db "DELETE FROM domainlist WHERE type = 1 AND domain LIKE '%googlevideo.com';"
pihole reloadlists # Pi-hole v6
pihole restartdns reload-lists # Pi-hole v5
```
If you also want the other ad domains gone (`doubleclick.net`, `googlesyndication.com`, โฆ), delete by the comment the script writes instead:
```bash
pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/gravity.db "DELETE FROM domainlist WHERE comment = 'YouTube ads (youtube.sh)';"
```
"The 'pihole' command was not found"
The script has to run on the machine (or in the container) where Pi-hole is installed โ it talks to Pi-hole through the `pihole` command. If Pi-hole runs in Docker, use [Option 1](#-option-1--add-the-list-to-pi-hole-recommended) instead.
Nothing happens when cron runs the script
- Use **root's** crontab (`sudo crontab -e`), not your user's.
- Use the full path to the script, e.g. `/home/pi/youTube_ads_4_pi-hole/youtube.sh`.
- Run it by hand once with `sudo ./youtube.sh` to see any error messages.
---
## ๐ Privacy
Option 1 sends nothing anywhere โ Pi-hole just downloads a text file from GitHub.
To keep the list up to date, the **script** (Option 2) shares the `googlevideo.com` hostnames that your Pi-hole has seen in the **last 24 hours**. That's all it sends โ no IP addresses, no client names, no other domains. The hostnames are collected through a Google Form and reviewed before anything is added to the list.
Don't want to share? Run the script with `--no-share`, or set `SHARE_LOGS=false` at the top of `youtube.sh`. Everything else works exactly the same.
---
## ๐ค Contributing
- **Found an ad domain that isn't blocked?** Open an issue / pull request against `youtubelist.txt` and `black.list` โ or run the script with log sharing on and it will reach the list.
- **A domain breaks video playback?** Open a pull request that adds it to `ignore.list`.
- **Something in the script or docs is unclear?** Issues and pull requests are very welcome.
---
## โ Support the project
Keeping the list current takes daily work. If it saves you from a few ads, consider buying me a coffee:
[](https://paypal.me/KBoghdady?locale.x=en_US)
[](https://buymeacoffee.com/xmh7j53o1)
| Coin | Address |
|------|---------|
| **Bitcoin** | `36fD957SDWHJYYzuH2xmceJ6T2qE9vNiV4` |
| **XRP** | `rw2ciyaNshpHe7bCHo4bRWq6pqqynnWKQg` |
Thank you! ๐