DNDShield handles YouTube ads automatically — the only setup is installing the extension and keeping protection on. What happens during an ad depends on your plan.

How it works

The moment a YouTube ad starts, DNDShield detects it and acts in real time:

• Free plan — the ad is sped up and muted. It fast-forwards at high speed with the sound off, so you're back to your video in a second or two instead of sitting through it.
• Paid plans (Basic, Plus, Family, Pro, Business) — DNDShield auto-clicks the Skip button the instant it appears, so skippable ads end immediately. If an ad has no Skip button, the free speed-up + mute runs underneath as a fallback — so paid users are never worse off, only better.

A small pill appears in the player corner to confirm the action — "Ad sped up ⏩" on free, "Ad skipped ⚡" on paid. Dismiss it any time with the ×.

Auto-skip is a paid feature. On the free plan, ads are sped up and muted, not skipped. You don't sit through them, but the difference is worth knowing.

Turn it on

1. Install DNDShield and pin it to your toolbar.
2. Open the popup and make sure the shield is On (green).
3. Open any YouTube video — ad handling is automatic, with no per-site setup.

If you've added youtube.com to your allowlist, remove it — allowlisting pauses protection for that site.

Troubleshooting

• Ads still playing in full? Confirm the popup is On and youtube.com isn't allowlisted, then reload the tab.
• Want ads skipped, not just sped up? One-click auto-skip is a paid feature — upgrade to enable it.
• "Ad blockers are not allowed" popup? DNDShield auto-dismisses it; if it sticks, reload the page once.

Related: Getting started · Allowlist a site · How to Block YouTube Ads — full guide