YouTube Ad Skip Automator

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Ad Skip Automator is a browser extension that automatically scans the current webpage for YouTube video player elements, ad indicators, skip buttons, and countdown timers. It detects YouTube ad elements by examining class names, IDs, and data attributes for patterns like "ytp-ad", "ad-skip", and "video-ads". The extension adds a floating button that allows you to enable or disable auto-skip functionality, captures ad status and duration, and provides a panel where you can configure skip settings. When enabled, the extension automatically monitors for ads and clicks the skip button as soon as it becomes available, optionally waiting for a configurable delay. The extension maintains an ad skip database with skip history, ad types (Standard, Video, Image, Overlay), and statistics including total ads skipped and total ad duration. The main panel displays ad statistics, a toggle for auto-skip, skip delay settings, and an ad history log with timestamps and ad types. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your settings and history persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube viewers, power users, and anyone who wants to skip YouTube ads automatically while tracking ad frequency and patterns across different channels.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays video player elements, ad indicators, skip buttons, or countdown timers – including YouTube watch pages, embedded YouTube players, and any page with YouTube video content. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects ad elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube viewers who want to skip ads automatically and track ad patterns.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube video page. The extension automatically detects the video player and starts monitoring for ads. When an ad appears, the extension automatically clicks the skip button as soon as it becomes available (or after your configured delay). A floating button (⏭️) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the main panel. The panel shows the current auto-skip status, ad detection status, and statistics including total ads skipped and total ad duration. Use the "Auto-skip ads" toggle to enable or disable the feature. Set a skip delay (0-10 seconds) to control how long the extension waits before skipping an ad. The "Log ad history" toggle controls whether ad skips are recorded. The ad history section displays recent ads with timestamps, ad types, and durations. The "Clear Ad History" button removes all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension employs a multi-layered detection system that identifies YouTube ad elements with high accuracy. First, it scans the DOM using a comprehensive set of CSS selectors targeting common YouTube ad class patterns like "ytp-ad-player-overlay", "ytp-ad-skip-button", "ytp-ad-overlay-slot", and "video-ads". Second, the extension monitors the video player state using a setInterval (200ms) that continuously checks for ad presence and skip button availability. When an ad is detected, the extension records the ad start time and identifies the ad type (Standard, Video, Image, or Overlay) based on visible UI elements. The skip button detection identifies both modern and classic YouTube skip button variations. The skip countdown parser extracts the remaining wait time from button text (e.g., "Skip ad in 5..."). The extension can be configured to skip immediately when the button appears or wait for a user-defined delay (0-10 seconds). Each skip event is logged with ad type, duration, and timestamp. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when the video player changes, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The ad skip automation panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during video watching. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The settings and history are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your video viewing workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause ad detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. The extension stores all ad skip data, settings, and history exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. The extension does not block ads – it only automates clicking the skip button when YouTube provides one. Some ads may not have skip buttons and will not be skipped. You are responsible for backing up your ad history data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.