BlockTube

WebExtension for Chrome and Firefox.
Filter and block unwanted content from YouTube™.

Extension features

• Block videos via: Video Title / Channel Name / Channel ID / Video ID
• Block comments via User / Comment content
• Block videos within YouTube using context menus
• Blocked videos do not appear anywhere on the site
• Support for m.youtube.com on Firefox for Android and Kiwi Browser
• Block complete channels
• Supports both keywords and raw Regex
• Does not break or limit any features of YouTube like playlist or autoplay
• Hide and block the Trending section
• Protect extension options with a password
• Filtering is done before any DOM rendering

Install

• Chrome Webstore
• Firefox AMO

FAQ

• What is the difference between "Channel ID" and "Channel Name"
  Channel names on YouTube are not unique and can be duplicated/changed
  whereas Channel ID is a unique identification string that never changes.
  If you want to block a specific single channel the preferred method is using it's ID,
  If you want to block multiple channels sharing similar name use it's name.

• How can I get a channel's ID?
  Channel ID looks like this: UCXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
  To get it, simply browse to a channel page and look at the URL /channel/UCXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
  If the URL is /user/BadChannelExample use This site to convert the username to the channel ID

• How to block comments from specific user?
  Blocked channels comments are removed as well, so just add the user's name/channel ID to your filters

• What is the behaviour when browsing blocked channel?
  User will be redirected to YouTube homepage.

• What is the behaviour when browsing blocked video?
  You can choose between two options:

  • Block the entire page and leave a custom message
  • Auto redirect user to the next video

• How can I ensure this extension cannot be bypassed?
  TODO

Development & Build

Ubuntu

# Install build requirements
sudo apt install nodejs npm
sudo npm install -g terser

# Clone Repo
git clone https://github.com/amitbl/blocktube

### Make your changes ###

# Build package
./tools/build.sh firefox
./tools/build.sh chrome

# Output packages locations
./dist/firefox/blocktube_firefox_VERSION.zip
./dist/chrome/blocktube_chrome_VERSION.zip

# Temporary installation / debugging
Firefox: https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/temporary-installation-in-firefox/
Chrome: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/mv3/getstarted/development-basics/#load-unpacked

Future work

• User-friendly options UI
• Sync options to cloud provider / enterprise policies
• Whitelist mode
• Dynamic rules (match multiple rules to block a video)

License

This project is licensed under the GPLv3 License - see the LICENSE file for details

Acknowledgments

• Extension Icon from: http://www.designbolts.com/2013/09/08/40-free-shaded-social-media-icons/