Lately, many users think YouTube has started slowing down videos — especially if they use ad‑blockers. Some say that when they turn on ad‑blocker tools, video playback becomes slow or stutters.
Here are what people reported:
- With an ad‑blocker turned on, videos may start slowly or stop. Then YouTube shows a message: “Having trouble playing video? Check your tools.”
- Some thought the slowdown only affected accounts using ad‑blockers. But others say even people without ad‑blockers noticed slow playback.
Background: YouTube depends on showing ads to support creators and keep the platform free. If many users block ads, YouTube may try different ways to discourage that — which might cause slower video playback for some viewers.
Until now, YouTube has not officially confirmed whether the slowdown is intentional or just a side‑effect of detecting ad‑block tools.
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