YouTube Is Updating Mid-Roll Ads to Make Them Less Interruptive for Viewers

YouTube

YouTube is updating mid-roll ads to make them less disruptive. Starting May 12, 2025, ads will appear at natural break points like pauses and transitions rather than in the middle of sentences or actions. Older videos (uploaded before February 24, 2025) with manual mid-rolls will be updated to include automatic ad slots at natural breakpoints.

Creators can opt out, but YouTube warns this may lower ad revenue. They can also use a new feedback tool in YouTube Studio to see if their ads are disruptive and enable automatic ad slots alongside manual ones for better optimization.

Why It Matters: These updates should improve the viewing experience by reducing disruptive ads, making viewers less likely to abandon videos. This can lead to higher retention and earnings for creators.

For creators who naturally incorporate pauses, the system should work well, but the feedback tool will help fine-tune ad placement. Those using standard mid-roll intervals should leverage both feedback insights and automatic ad slots for better optimization. Early tests show a 5%+ revenue increase when combining automatic and manual mid-rolls.

With TV being the most popular way to consume YouTube content in the US, more natural mid-roll ads will create a smoother, “lean-back experience,” similar to traditional TV commercial breaks.