If you are wondering why YouTube is slow and laggy in your laptop or computer browser, we have the answer. The Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) subsidiary is doing this on purpose, but there is a solution.

What Happened: Amid reports of YouTube being throttled in the browser and users claiming that it is slow and laggy, the Google subsidiary has now confirmed these issues.

See Also: YouTube Premium Prices Skyrocket In More Countries Around The World, Almost Doubling For Some

YouTube is doing this on purpose, according to a statement given to Android Authority.

"To support a diverse ecosystem of creators globally and allow billions to access their favorite content on YouTube, we've launched an effort to urge viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad free experience," a YouTube spokesperson said.

YouTube's ad blocker crackdown is well-known now, so that doesn't say anything new. The clincher is in the line below.

"Users who have ad blockers installed may experience suboptimal viewing, regardless of the browser they are using," YouTube added.

What does this mean?

Essentially, suppose you have an ad blocker installed in Google Chrome or Firefox or other web browsers. In that case, your YouTube experience is going to be "suboptimal" – YouTube will perform worse, lag more and there will be delays.

How To Fix Slow YouTube

YouTube needs ads to run, so making the experience worse for ad-block users makes sense from a business point of view.

By making the user experience worse for ad-block users, YouTube is sending a message – either disable the ad blocker or pay up for a YouTube Premium subscription.

This crackdown also comes at a time when YouTube Premium prices have been increased drastically – some plans cost twice as much now.

There are three possible solutions to fix slow YouTube at the moment:

1. Use YouTube In Incognito Or Private Window

We have observed that the YouTube delays have not been implemented yet if you open the website in an incognito or private window.

It's important to note that we've tested this method by not logging into our Google accounts.

This means your playlists, favorites, and subscriptions will not be available – you will have to search for them manually.

That said, this is the simplest solution for the time being, and it lets you continue using an ad blocker.

2. Disable Ad Blocker

Ads are essential for services like YouTube and other websites to make money.

YouTube has been trying to get this point across, while users have reported that ads on the video streaming service have progressively worsened.

All said and done, though, you might want to consider disabling your ad blocker for YouTube to solve the throttling issues.

3. Pay For YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium offers a completely ad-free experience, so you might want to consider subscribing to it if you are tired of this cat-and-mouse game.

YouTube Premium now costs $13.99 per month in the US, so keep that in mind before taking the leap.

Photo by Chubo – my masterpiece on Shutterstock

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