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Some Microsoft Edge users are blocked from using YouTube — here’s why

2025-04-26 23:37:41

Microsoft's goal of giving users privacy protections is bumping right up against Google's goal of making ad money.

According to Windows Latest, some users of the Microsoft Edge browser (which is the default browser on Windows PCs) are reporting that they can't watch YouTube videos anymore.

Attempting to watch videos on YouTube brings up a warning that ad blockers violate the platform's terms of service, which thwarts them from accessing the content they want to consume.

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It is, of course, very strange for a major web browser to suddenly lose access to one of the most popular websites for video consumption. However, Windows Latest discovered that Edge users are seeing these warnings because they've set their tracking-prevention mode to "Strict" rather than "Basic" or "Balanced."

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In case you aren't aware, Edge offers users the aforementioned three options to gain control over how websites track their behavior. "Basic" only offers minimal protection while "Strict," according to Microsoft, blocks most trackers across sites.

In addition, personalization across ads will be minimal. However, Microsoft warns that browsing Edge with under "Strict" mode may negatively affect websites' behavior. "For example, a video might not play, or you might not be able to sign in," the Redmond-based tech giant said.