SponsorBlock for YouTube: Skip Sponsor Segments Automatically
SponsorBlock for YouTube · for Windows, macOS and Linux
Developer: Ajay Ramachandran (opens in a new tab)
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
The download link points to the program’s official source; the file is not hosted on this site. Link address: chromewebstore.google.com
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SponsorBlock is a free, open-source, crowdsourced extension by Ajay Ramachandran that skips sponsored segments and other marked parts of YouTube videos. Its database is public, and it is installed from the Chrome Web Store.
Sponsor reads, long intros and “don’t forget to subscribe” reminders can add minutes to a video. SponsorBlock jumps over them for you, using start and end times that other viewers have submitted.
How the crowdsourcing works
Anyone with the extension can mark the start and end of a segment in a video. Once one person submits a segment, everyone else using SponsorBlock skips it automatically. Other users can vote on submissions, which helps keep the data accurate.
Besides sponsorships, the project lets you skip other segment types such as intros, outros and subscription reminders, as well as non-music sections of music videos. You decide in the settings which kinds are skipped.
Privacy and openness
- The extension needs access to youtube.com and youtube-nocookie.com so it can modify the video page.
- When you install it, it creates a random user ID that is attached to your submissions and votes; this is how the leaderboard and reputation work.
- The code is open source, and the whole segment database is public.
Getting started
- Click Download to open SponsorBlock on the Chrome Web Store.
- Add it to Chrome and open any YouTube video.
- When a segment that someone has marked starts, it is skipped automatically.
SponsorBlock is also available for Firefox; links are on the official site, sponsor.ajay.app. To speed through what’s left of a video, add Video Speed Controller.
Pros
- Skips sponsor reads without any manual work
- Open-source code and a public database
- You choose which segment types to skip
Cons
- Only works on videos the community has already marked
- Only covers YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
What if nobody has marked a video yet?
Then nothing is skipped. You can submit the segment yourself, and other users will skip it after that.
Can I choose which segments are skipped?
Yes. In the settings you can decide how each category, such as sponsors, intros or subscription reminders, is handled.
SponsorBlock for YouTubeOpen source
Download (opens in a new tab)
