How to Disable YouTube Video Thumbnail Images

Install AdBlock Plus: Go to https://adblockplus.org/ to install AdBlock Plus for your specific browser., Restart browser: Once installed, you will probably need to close out of your browser and reopen it before AdBlock Plus will take effect...

44 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install AdBlock Plus: Go to https://adblockplus.org/ to install AdBlock Plus for your specific browser.

Make sure you read about this free and secure add-on before installing to ensure that you are ready to proceed with the next steps.

Step 2: Restart browser: Once installed

You should notice that you no longer see intrusive advertisements, pop-ups, or commercials interrupting your web browsing. ,, It looks like this: , This opens a new window. ,, ,, Close out of the "Filter preferences..." window. ,,, This opens a new window. ,,,,, (Any YouTube video is fine.) ,,,, Close out of the "Filter preferences..." window. ,,,,,

Step 3: you will probably need to close out of your browser and reopen it before AdBlock Plus will take effect.

Step 4: Navigate to: the homepage of YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/

Step 5: Locate the AdBlock Plus button in your browser: It will be either at the bottom of your screen or in one of the top toolbars.

Step 6: Filter Preferences: Click on the drop down arrow next to the "ABP" logo and select "Filter preferences..." from the menu.

Step 7: Blocking Rules: On the left-hand side of the window

Step 8: ensure that "Ad Blocking Rules" is highlighted.

Step 9: Add Filter: On the right-hand side of the window

Step 10: click the button called

Step 11: "Add filter."

Step 12: Type: Copy and paste the following into the box: ||s.ytimg.com/yts/img/*

Step 13: Press enter.

Step 14: Result: Refresh YouTube; all of the image thumbnails for recommended videos

Step 15: recommended channels

Step 16: subscriptions

Step 17: and even the YouTube logo should now be invisible

Step 18: replaced by gray rectangles.

Step 19: Locate the AdBlock Plus button in your browser again.

Step 20: Filter Preferences: Click on the drop down arrow next to the "ABP" logo and select "Filter preferences..." from the menu.

Step 21: Blocking Rules: On the left-hand side of the window

Step 22: ensure that "Ad Blocking Rules" is highlighted.

Step 23: Find Filter: In the list of filters on the right-hand side of the window

Step 24: look for the filter you created called "||s.ytimg.com/yts/img/*" and un-check the box next to the filter.

Step 25: Close out of the "Filter preferences..." window.

Step 26: Result: Refresh YouTube; all of the image thumbnails for recommended videos

Step 27: recommended channels

Step 28: subscriptions

Step 29: and the YouTube logo should now be visible again.

Step 30: Navigate to: A YouTube video.

Step 31: Filter Preferences: Open the "Filter preferences..." window (see above) and ensure that "Ad Blocking Rules" is highlighted.

Step 32: Add Filter: On the right-hand side of the window

Step 33: click the button called

Step 34: "Add Filter"

Step 35: Type: Copy and paste the following into the box: |http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/

Step 36: Press enter.

Step 37: Result: Refresh the YouTube video and navigate to the end of the video

Step 38: allowing the time to run out; all of the image thumbnails for recommended videos and playlists should now be invisible.

Step 39: Filter Preferences: Open the "Filter preferences..." window and ensure that "Ad Blocking Rules" is highlighted.

Step 40: Find Filter: In the list of filters on the right-hand side of the window

Step 41: look for the filter you created called "|http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/" and un-check the box next to the filter.

Step 42: Close out of the "Filter preferences..." window.

Step 43: Result: Refresh the YouTube video and navigate to the end of the video

Step 44: allowing the time to run out; all of the image thumbnails for recommended videos and playlists should now visible again.

Detailed Guide