Transform YouTube into a distraction-free audio platform! YouTune hides videos, thumbnails, and visual clutter while preserving full audio functionality, perfect for music listening, podcasts, and educational content.
- Music Listening: Enjoy YouTube music without video distractions
- Podcasts & Education: Focus on audio content without visual clutter
- Bandwidth Saving: Reduce data usage by blocking unwanted video/image content
- Productivity: Minimize distractions while studying or working
- Accessibility: Create a cleaner, more focused viewing experience
- Hide/Show Videos: Toggle video visibility with one click
- Block Thumbnails: Remove video preview images across YouTube
- Hide Avatars: Remove channel profile pictures and user avatars
- Visual Clutter Removal: Clean up YouTube and YouTube Music interfaces
- Ad Skipper: Automatically skip YouTube advertisements
- Quick Access Buttons: Instant control buttons in YouTube's interface
- Per-Tab Settings: Different configurations for each browser tab
- Per-Page Settings: Temporary settings that reset when navigating
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Use
Ctrl+M(orCmd+Mon Mac) to toggle extension - Google Search Integration: Hide video thumbnails in Google search results
- Separate Platform Settings: Individual controls for YouTube, YouTube Music, and embedded videos
- Progress Bar Control: Always-visible progress bars when videos are hidden
- Control Buttons: Keep video controls visible even when video is hidden
- Live Video Quality: Automatically set live videos to 144p for bandwidth saving
- Theme Options: Multiple visual themes for the hidden video interface
- Visit the YouTune Chrome Web Store page
- Click "Add to Chrome"
- Confirm the installation
- The YouTune icon will appear in your browser toolbar
- Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/ao/YouTune_ChromiumExtension.git
- Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://extensions/ - Enable "Developer mode" in the top right
- Click "Load unpacked" and select the extension directory
- The extension will be loaded and ready to use
- Click the YouTune icon in your browser toolbar to open the popup
- Toggle the main switch to enable/disable the extension
- Customize settings for YouTube, YouTube Music, and embedded videos
- Use quick access buttons that appear on YouTube pages for instant control
Ctrl+M(Windows/Linux) orCmd+M(Mac): Toggle extension for current tab
- Right-click the extension icon and select "Options"
- Configure detailed settings for each platform
- Set up quick access buttons and advanced features
- Customize themes and visual preferences
- YouTube: Full control over videos, thumbnails, avatars, ads, and other images
- YouTube Music: Specialized settings for the music platform
- Embedded Videos: Control extension behavior on third-party sites
- Google Search: Hide video thumbnails in search results
- Progress Bar: Always visible progress bar when videos are hidden
- Control Buttons: Keep playback controls visible
- Live Video Quality: Auto-set live streams to 144p
- Continue Watching Prompt: Disable YouTube's pause prompts
- Extension Logo: Show/hide YouTune branding on videos
YouTune is designed with privacy as a core principle:
- No Data Collection: Zero user data is collected or transmitted
- Local Storage Only: All settings stored locally in your browser
- No External Servers: Extension operates entirely offline after installation
- No Tracking: No analytics, telemetry, or user behavior monitoring
- Open Source: Transparent code available for review
- declarativeNetRequest: Blocks video/image requests to hide visual content
- tabs: Manages per-tab settings and extension icon states
- storage: Stores your preferences locally in the browser
- unlimitedStorage: Handles extensive configuration options
- Host permissions: Modifies YouTube and Google pages locally
youtune-chromium-extension/
├── manifest.json # Extension manifest (v3)
├── src/
│ ├── background/ # Service worker
│ ├── content/ # Content scripts
│ ├── popup/ # Extension popup
│ └── options/ # Options page
├── styles/ # CSS files
├── assets/ # Icons and images
├── _locales/ # Internationalization
└── config/ # Configuration files
- Make your changes to the source files
- Test in Chrome by loading the unpacked extension
- Verify functionality across YouTube, YouTube Music, and Google Search
- Check console for any errors or warnings
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch:
git checkout -b feature-name - Make your changes and test thoroughly
- Commit your changes:
git commit -am 'Add new feature' - Push to the branch:
git push origin feature-name - Submit a pull request
- Chrome: Fully supported (Manifest v3)
- Chromium-based browsers: Compatible (Edge, Brave, Opera, etc.)
- Minimum Chrome version: 88+
Extension not working on YouTube
- Refresh the YouTube page after enabling the extension
- Check if the extension is enabled for the current tab
- Verify permissions are granted in Chrome settings
Settings not saving
- Ensure Chrome has sufficient storage permissions
- Try disabling and re-enabling the extension
- Check Chrome's extension management page
Quick access buttons not appearing
- Enable "Quick access buttons" in the options page
- Refresh the YouTube page
- Check if other extensions are conflicting
- Check the Chrome Web Store reviews for similar issues
- Review the extension options page for configuration help
- Disable other YouTube-related extensions to check for conflicts
- v15.6.3 (Current): Latest stable release with Manifest v3 support
- First Release: May 2, 2024
- Thanks to all users who have provided feedback and suggestions
- Special thanks to the Chrome extension development community
- Inspired by the need for distraction-free content consumption
- Chrome Web Store - Install YouTune
- Privacy Policy - Detailed privacy information
Transform your YouTube experience today - focus on the content that matters most! 🎵