While Google continues to crack down on ad blockers, here's the best way to keep blocking YouTube ads on Android

[Aleksandr/Alexander]

YouTube Revanced just block explicit version/implicit in music video,need assistance, regular video just to adjust

[Sony]

Woooo.  Half a page of instructions. My steps to block YouTube ads.
Step 1:
Download the brave browser.
Step 2:
Watch Youtube

Yeah, I tend to avoid installing apps if possible. Have to worry if it's from a trusted source or a telemetry vector. If the functionality I need is in browser, that's usually always my first point of call.

Unless the experience is significantly improved in app version I rarely ever download them.

From my limited experience using the official YouTube app it was just a downgrade and browser works just as good (if not better with brave or kiwi + ublock extension). So why on earth somebody would need to do or go through all this effort is beyond me.