The fastest way to hide videos you don't want to see

YouTube's built-in "Not Interested" button removes individual videos from your feed, but it doesn't block entire channels or let you see why the algorithm picked that video for you. A Chrome extension fills both gaps. The most common choice is Video Blocker, which lets you block channels permanently, hide videos by keyword, and see exactly which rule blocked each video. You install it from the Chrome Web Store in under a minute, then click the extension icon to set up your first block.

Other extensions like BlockTube and Unhook do similar work with different interfaces. All three are free, work without signing into anything, and store your blocks locally on your computer — YouTube never sees your block list. The choice between them comes down to how you prefer to organize blocks and whether you want extra features like hiding the comment section or disabling recommendations entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Video Blocker, BlockTube, and Unhook are the three most widely used free extensions for blocking YouTube channels and videos in Chrome.
  • You can block by channel name, by keyword in the title, or by individual video URL, depending on which extension you choose.
  • Blocks are stored only on your computer, not on YouTube or in your Google account, so they disappear if you clear your browser data or use a different device.
  • All three extensions work without logging in and do not send your block list to anyone.

How to install Video Blocker

Open Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store by typing chrome.google.com/webstore into the address bar. Search for "Video Blocker" — the one you want is made by Michael Trasente and has a red icon with a play button crossed out. Click "Add to Chrome" and confirm when the popup asks whether you want to add the extension.

The extension icon appears in the top right corner of Chrome, next to your profile picture. Click it once to open a small menu. You'll see options to block the current channel, block by keyword, or open the full settings page. Start by clicking "Block Channel" on any video from a creator you don't want to see again. That channel disappears from your feed immediately.

How to block channels and keywords

To block a channel, play any video from that creator and click the Video Blocker icon in the top right. Select "Block Channel" and the extension adds the channel name to your block list. Every video from that channel will be hidden from your feed, search results, and recommendations going forward.

To block by keyword instead, click the Video Blocker icon and select "Block by Keyword". Type a word or phrase — for example, "cryptocurrency" or "mukbang" — and any video with that phrase in the title gets hidden. This is useful for topics you want to avoid without blocking specific people. You can add as many keywords as you want, and you can remove any block by opening the extension settings and deleting it from the list.

BlockTube as an alternative with more control

BlockTube works similarly to Video Blocker but gives you more granular options. You can block by channel, by keyword, by video URL, or even by channel description. It also lets you hide the YouTube sidebar, disable autoplay, and remove the Shorts section if you want a cleaner interface.

Install BlockTube the same way: go to the Chrome Web Store, search for "BlockTube", and click "Add to Chrome". The icon appears in your toolbar. Click it to see your block list and add new blocks. BlockTube also shows you a count of how many videos it has hidden from your feed, which can be satisfying if you block a lot of content.

Unhook for hiding recommendations and comments

Unhook is designed for people who want to reduce YouTube's recommendation algorithm entirely, not just block specific channels. It hides the Home feed, Shorts, recommendations on video pages, and comments — you can toggle each one on or off. It also blocks channels and keywords like the other two, but its main strength is letting you use YouTube without the algorithmic suggestions.

Install Unhook from the Chrome Web Store and click the icon to open settings. You'll see checkboxes for each feature you can disable. If you want to keep recommendations but just block certain channels, uncheck everything except "Block Channels" and "Block Keywords". Unhook is useful if you find yourself falling down recommendation rabbit holes and want a way to use YouTube more intentionally.

What happens to your blocks if you switch devices or clear your data

All three extensions store your blocks only on your computer, in your browser's local storage. If you log into Chrome on a different computer, your blocks do not follow you — you'll have to rebuild your block list on the new device. If you clear your browser cache and cookies, your blocks disappear too.

None of these extensions sync your blocks to your Google account or to YouTube. That's by design: YouTube doesn't know you've blocked anything, so it can't learn from your blocks or change how it recommends videos to you. The trade-off is that you have to maintain your block list manually on each device where you use Chrome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can YouTube see what I've blocked with these extensions?

No. These extensions work entirely on your computer and never send your block list to YouTube or Google. YouTube sees only that you're not watching certain videos, not that you've actively blocked them.

Do these extensions work on YouTube's mobile app?

No. Chrome extensions only work in the desktop version of Chrome. If you use YouTube on your phone, you'll have to use YouTube's built-in "Not Interested" button, which removes individual videos but doesn't block channels.

What if I block a channel by mistake?

Click the extension icon and open settings or the full block list. Find the channel name and delete it. The channel's videos will reappear in your feed and recommendations immediately.

Can I block videos by the uploader's name instead of the channel name?

Video Blocker and BlockTube block by channel name, which is usually the same thing. If a creator uploads under a different channel name than their display name, you'll need to block the channel name as it appears on YouTube, not their personal name.

Do I need to pay for any of these extensions?

All three — Video Blocker, BlockTube, and Unhook — are completely free. None of them have premium versions or hidden costs.