YouTube Is Restricting Microsoft Edge Users with Specific Browser Settings

Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 02:13

Google has rolled out its anti-ad block strategy for YouTube in full fledge. While Google has been working on this for a while, it's just recently that the streaming platform can now efficiently detect users who use ad blockers. And when it detects ad-blocking software, the streaming platform refuses to serve any content.

Now, YouTube is blocking Microsoft Edge users who are using "Strict" online privacy settings on their browsers. Here, the "Strict" online privacy settings on the Edge browser aren't the same as using ad blocks. The settings basically block trackers, which makes sure that adverts have minimal access to user data.

When Google fails to get personal data from you, YouTube can't serve targeted ads. And as Google is blocking these users, it confirms that the platform has started implementing actions against the users who restrict personal data.

What to Do If You Can't Access YouTube with Microsoft Edge

If you have the "Strict" settings on Microsoft Edge tuned on and got blocked by YouTube, the only way to get unblocked is to adjust the options. Switching to the "Balanced" mode can make the platform start serving you content again. Here, the "Balanced" mode offers a degree of online privacy but doesn't entirely block trackers.

But not everyone using Edge is affected, though. In other words, YouTube may work fine on your end even if you have the "Strict" privacy settings turned on. This suggests Google is still testing the waters with YouTube's anti-ad-blocking policy. And Google may reverse the decision to block the users with "Strict" settings later down the line.

With this, it seems that Google has decided that this particular privacy choice of Edge meddles with YouTube's ad service too much. And for now, there are no reports about users of other browsers facing the same issue. But we will update you when more information regarding this matter is available.

Regarding the anti-ad-blocking actions, Google will naturally argue that watching content on YouTube for free needs to offer something in the way of monetization. That's basically where the ads come into play.

On that note, it's not like you can't watch YouTube videos without ads. The platform has a Premium tier, which gets rid of the ads and brings high-quality video streaming. This Premium tier starts at $13.99/month, and there is a discount for annual subscription.