How To Block Twitch Ads, In 3 Steps

Key Points

• Twitch ads can be blocked using ad blockers like uBlock Origin, Adblock, and AdGuard, which are browser extensions that prevent ads from showing up on Twitch and other platforms.
• Using a VPN service like NordVPN or CyberGhost can also help block ads on Twitch by hiding your IP address and changing your server location to a country with restrictions on ad-related content.
• Subscribing to Twitch Turbo, a premium subscription service, provides an almost completely ad-free viewing experience while still supporting your favorite streamers.

Twitch is a fantastic platform for watching live gaming streams, but it has annoying in-stream ads. These ads can appear before, during, or sometimes over the content you’re watching. While ads help support creators and the platform, the constant interruptions can be frustrating and dampen your watching experience. Luckily, you can block ads on Twitch. Keep reading to learn the three steps to block Twitch ads.

Understanding Twitch Ads

Twitch ads are part of the gaming platform. You’ll encounter three types of ads when watching streams on Twitch: pre-roll, mid-roll, and display ads.

Pre-roll will start before the video begins and is often a primary source of revenue for Twitch streamers. These ads are pretty common on sites like YouTube. Next, we have mid-roll ads that appear during a video stream. They can come in various formats, including video or display advertisements. Streamers can use their discretion to determine when these ads play.

We also have display ads, which appear on different areas of the Twitch website, like on the sidebar and banner area. Sometimes, you’ll even see these ads within the content itself, depending on where you are on the site.

Why Do Twitch Ads Exist?

Twitch ads do more than make money for Twitch and its streamers. Primarily, they are primary income earners for streamers besides subscriptions and donations. Twitch also uses revenue from ads to invest back into the community and grow the platform.

Most Twitch ads are highly targeted. Brands and companies in the gaming space use Twitch ads to promote new game releases, events, products, and more. Twitch ads sometimes act as a discoverability tool, promoting Twitch channels and other content creators.

How to Block Twitch Ads

Now that you know why Twitch ads exist and their purpose, let’s look at the steps to prevent these ads from showing up.

Step 1. Using an Ad Blocker

Ad blockers are browser extensions that block ads on Twitch and other platforms. Some popular ad blockers include uBlock Origin, Adblock, and AdGuard. In this article, we’ll show you how to use AdBlock in the Chrome browser. Anyway, these steps will be similar for any ad blocker and browser combination you choose.

First, go to the AdBlock extension page and click the “Add to Chrome” button. Then click “Add extension” in the popup that appears.

Next, you’ll be asked to make a contribution to support the extension. Then, click the “Checkout Now” button.

After that, navigate to Twitch, and the extension automatically blocks any ads. Click the AdBlock extension icon in your browser toolbar to see how many ads are blocked. You may have to restart your browser for the extension to work.

Step 2. Use a VPN

Another way to block ads on Twitch is by using a virtual private network (VPN) service. A VPN hides your IP address, and you can change your server location to a country like Romania or Poland, which have restrictions on ad-related content. A lot of VPNs also have built-in ad-blocking features. Some popular VPNs include NordVPN and CyberGhost. We’ll use NordVPN for the steps below, but feel free to use any other VPN.

First, head to the NordVPN site and sign up for an account if you don’t have one.

You can download the app after entering your email address and payment details.

After that, install the app just like you would any other. Then, open up the NordVPN app. Now, you have a few different options for blocking ads. First, you can enable “Threat Protection” by clicking the “Shield” icon and then clicking the toggle to turn on threat protection.

Alternatively, click on the “Globe” icon and then choose a server location restricting ad-related content. Here, we’ll select “Romania.”

Step 3. Subscribe to Twitch Turbo

If you want to block Twitch ads but still support your favorite streamers, upgrade to Twitch Turbo. Twitch Turbo is a premium subscription service that provides an almost completely ad-free viewing experience on the platform. You’ll also get perks like a unique chat badge, an extended emoticon set, custom chat username colors, and extended broadcast storage.

Signing up for this service is easy. Simply navigate to the Twitch Turbo website and then click the “Subscribe” button.

Then, all you need to do is enter your payment details, and your account will automatically be upgraded.

Supporting Streamers While Blocking Ads

Blocking ads might improve your viewing experience but can be detrimental to your favorite Twitch streamers. Here are a few ways to block ads but still support your favorites.

Donating Directly to Streamers

One great way to support your favorite streamers while blocking ads is by donating directly to them. Many Twitch content creators have set up donation links or buttons on their channels. By making direct donations, you can ensure that your contribution goes straight to the streamer while blocking ads.

Utilizing Ad-Free Viewing Options

Another approach to enjoying an ad-free Twitch experience while supporting content creators is subscribing to their channels. When you subscribe to a channel, you won’t see most ads on that channel. Subscriptions come in different tiers, offering additional benefits such as Twitch chat badges and emotes. Remember that most of your subscription fee goes to Twitch, but the streamer benefits the most.

For Amazon Prime members, linking your account to Twitch gives you access to Prime Gaming, which offers one free channel subscription per month. This option allows you to support your favorite content creators without extra cost.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, you can block Twitch ads on your favorite streams in different ways. Think about your budget and the impact blocking ads has on Twitch. Again, here are the key steps you can take to block ads:

1. Install an ad blocker on your web browser.
2. Use a VPN with an ad blocker or change your server location to a country with ad restrictions.
3. Sign up for Twitch Turbo to support your favorite creators while blocking ads.

Summary Table

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