How to Block Dailymotion Video Ads: Best Extensions

Ad-Free Dailymotion: Fast and Lightweight BlockersDailymotion remains a popular video platform for creators and viewers alike, but ads can interrupt playback, slow page load, and drain bandwidth. This article explains how to get an ad-free Dailymotion experience using fast, lightweight blockers, compares options, covers installation and configuration, addresses compatibility and privacy concerns, and offers troubleshooting tips.

Why choose fast, lightweight blockers?

Not all ad blockers are created equal. Heavy extensions can consume CPU, increase memory use, and slow browser startup. Fast, lightweight blockers focus on efficiency: small codebases, minimal background processing, and targeted rules that remove ads without scanning every element on a page. Benefits include:

• Faster page loads — fewer resources for the browser to process.
• Lower memory and CPU usage — better performance on older devices.
• Reduced battery drain — important for laptops and mobile.
• Smaller attack surface — simpler projects tend to be easier to audit.

How Dailymotion serves ads (brief overview)

Dailymotion uses a mix of pre-roll and mid-roll video ads, banner placements, and third-party ad networks. Ads may be injected via:

• Third-party ad scripts that request video assets from ad servers.
• Inline elements in the page DOM that overlay or precede the video player.
• Network requests for ad manifests and tracking pixels.

A good blocker targets the ad requests and the DOM elements that host or trigger them, or uses a filter list that prevents ad script execution.

Best fast, lightweight blockers for Dailymotion

Below are several options organized by approach: browser extensions, standalone hosts-file/blocking apps, and advanced options for power users.

• uBlock Origin (recommended setup) — lightweight, open-source, and highly configurable. Use default filters plus specific regional or cosmetic filters for Dailymotion. Disable unnecessary dynamic filtering rules to keep it fast.
• Nano Adblocker + Nano Defender (if available) — forked solutions focused on performance; check current maintenance status before using.
• AdGuard Browser Extension (light mode) — choose minimal filter subscriptions to reduce overhead.
• Hosts-file / Pi-hole — blocks ad domains at the DNS level; extremely lightweight for whole-network blocking, including mobile devices.
• Script blockers (e.g., NoScript) — block third-party scripts and whitelist trusted domains. Very effective but requires manual configuration and can break site functionality.

Installation & quick configuration

1. Choose your approach:
   • For most users: install uBlock Origin (browser extension).
   • For network-wide blocking: set up Pi-hole or modify your hosts file.
2. Install and enable the extension or system-level blocker.
3. Apply or enable the following filter lists in your blocker (examples):
   • EasyList (general ad blocking)
   • EasyPrivacy (tracking protection)
   • uBlock filters — Annoyances
   • Region-specific lists if ads are localized
4. For Dailymotion-specific cosmetic issues, add a small custom filter rule if needed:
   • Example uBlock cosmetic rule format (enter into “My filters”):

     
     ! Hide Dailymotion overlay ad elements www.dailymotion.com###player-ads 

   • (Rule names/IDs change; inspect the page and adapt.)
5. If using DNS-level blocking like Pi-hole, add known Dailymotion ad domains to your blocklist. Be cautious — blocking necessary Dailymotion domains may break playback.

Performance tips

• Keep filter lists minimal: only enable lists you need.
• Avoid overly aggressive cosmetic rules that use complex CSS selectors.
• Use static blocking (filter lists, hosts file) instead of heavy dynamic filtering when possible.
• For uBlock Origin, use default settings and only enable advanced dynamic features if necessary.
• On mobile, prefer DNS-level blocking or native ad-blocking browsers (e.g., Brave) to reduce background resource use.

Privacy and legality

Blocking ads is legal in most jurisdictions, but consider these points:

• Ads are a revenue source for creators. Consider whitelisting channels or supporting creators via other means (subscriptions, donations).
• Some websites detect ad blockers and restrict access. In such cases, you may need to temporarily disable blocking or use per-site rules.
• DNS-level blocking may inadvertently block analytics and other non-ad services; review logs to avoid over-blocking.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Video won’t play after blocking:
  • Temporarily disable the blocker for Dailymotion and reload. If playback resumes, whitelist necessary domains or remove the problematic rule.
• Site shows “please disable ad blocker”:
  • Use element-blocking instead of script-blocking, or create a cosmetic rule that removes the detection element. Alternatively, try a different blocker or enable stealth features.
• High CPU/memory after installing an extension:
  • Disable unnecessary filter lists, or switch to a more lightweight approach (hosts file or Pi-hole).
• Ads still appear:
  • Update filter lists and your blocker. Inspect network requests (Developer Tools → Network) to identify ad domains to block.

Advanced: writing a Dailymotion-specific uBlock filter

1. Open Developer Tools (F12) and find the ad element or the network requests used by ads.
2. Create filters:
   • Network filter blocking ad domains: ||adserver.example^
   • Cosmetic filter to hide overlay elements: www.dailymotion.com##.ad-overlay
3. Add filters to “My filters” in uBlock Origin and test playback.

When DNS/blocking breaks features

If Pi-hole or hosts-file blocking prevents captions, recommendations, or login features, selectively whitelist domains required for those services rather than disabling blocking entirely. Use logs to identify those domains.

Summary (short)

• uBlock Origin is the best all-around fast, lightweight blocker for Dailymotion for most users.
• Pi-hole/hosts-file solutions are ideal for network-wide, low-overhead blocking.
• Keep filter lists lean, use targeted rules, and whitelist when necessary to avoid breaking functionality.