YouTube’s newest ad annoyance is testing the patience of mobile viewers

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• YouTube mobile users on Android and iOS are reporting ads in the bottom‑left corner that cannot be easily dismissed.
• The ads often remain after tapping “Dismiss,” forcing users to wait ~30 seconds or exit the video to clear them.
• The issue currently affects only free‑tier users; mobile browsers are a temporary workaround.

Background

YouTube has long fought against ad blockers, and its subscription tiers such as YouTube Premium Lite have recently been upgraded to provide better value. While many users are willing to sit through a few ads, a new persistent overlay ad has surfaced in the YouTube app this week.

User Reports

Reddit users have shared screenshots and complaints that the Android and iOS apps now display a small overlay ad in the bottom‑left corner of full‑screen videos. The ads are typically for third‑party apps or websites and persist even after repeatedly selecting Dismiss from the three‑dot menu. There is no “X” on the banner itself, so many users are unaware that dismissal is possible via the menu.

The only reliable way to remove the ad is to exit the video entirely; some users report that the banner disappears after about 30 seconds. More drastic measures, such as force‑closing the app, only provide a temporary fix before the ad reappears.

Who Is Affected?

The reports indicate that the issue is limited to free‑tier users. YouTube Premium subscribers do not see the persistent overlay, suggesting the ad format is tied to the ad‑supported tier.

Workarounds

• Subscribe to YouTube Premium to eliminate the overlay ad entirely.
• Use a mobile web browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari) to watch YouTube videos; the overlay has not appeared in browsers at the time of writing.

Outlook

We have contacted Google for clarification on whether these undismissible overlay ads are a bug or an intentional change. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.