How to Demonetize a YouTube Video

Updated on:

May 4, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to turn off ads on a YouTube video in seconds.

Quick summary

Learn how to demonetize a YouTube video directly from YouTube Studio by disabling the monetization setting on any individual video. This process stops ads from serving on that video immediately after saving the change.

Steps

Go to studio.youtube.com and click Content in the left sidebar.
Find the title of the video you want to demonetize and click the dollar sign showing ON under the Monetization column.
Click the monetization dropdown and select Off.
Click SAVE to apply the change — ads will stop serving on that video immediately.

📌 Why this matters

Knowing how to demonetize a YouTube video gives creators precise control over which content earns ad revenue, which is critical when uploading sensitive, experimental, or sponsor-funded videos where YouTube ads could conflict with brand guidelines or platform policies. Disabling monetization on individual videos through YouTube Studio takes less than a minute and takes effect instantly, preventing unwanted ads from appearing before the content is reviewed. This level of granular monetization control helps YouTube creators protect their audience experience, comply with advertiser-friendly content guidelines, and avoid accidental policy strikes on their channel.

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