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Install the extension

The extension is free. Its Chrome Web Store listing is coming soon. Until then you install it from a zip file with the browser's developer mode, which takes about a minute.

Download blockchannel.one 0.2.1 (.zip)

Version 0.2.1 · 385 KB · zip archive · free, no account

Get the folder ready

  1. Download the zip above.
  2. Unpack it. You'll get a folder called blockchannel-0.2.1 with manifest.json inside. Some unzip tools wrap it in a second folder; use the one that holds manifest.json.
  3. Put that folder somewhere permanent, such as Documents. The browser reads the extension from it on every start, so don't delete, move or rename it afterwards.

Now pick your browser:

Google Chrome

  1. Type chrome://extensions into the address bar and press Enter.
  2. Switch on Developer mode in the top right corner.
  3. Press Load unpacked in the bar that appears.
  4. Choose the blockchannel-0.2.1 folder and confirm.
  5. The extension shows up in the list. Reload any open YouTube tab.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Type edge://extensions into the address bar and press Enter.
  2. Switch on Developer mode in the panel on the left. In a narrow window the panel opens from the menu button.
  3. Press Load unpacked.
  4. Choose the blockchannel-0.2.1 folder and confirm.
  5. Reload any open YouTube tab.

Brave

  1. Type brave://extensions into the address bar and press Enter.
  2. Switch on Developer mode in the top right corner.
  3. Press Load unpacked.
  4. Choose the blockchannel-0.2.1 folder and confirm.
  5. Reload any open YouTube tab. Brave Shields can stay on.

Opera

  1. Type opera://extensions into the address bar and press Enter.
  2. Switch on Developer mode in the top right corner.
  3. Press Load unpacked.
  4. Choose the blockchannel-0.2.1 folder and confirm.
  5. Reload any open YouTube tab.

Pin the red icon

The icon opens the panel with the main switch, the word field and Hide Shorts. New extensions start out hidden in a menu, so pin it once:

  • Chrome and Brave: click the puzzle piece next to the address bar, then the pin beside Block YouTube Channels.
  • Edge: click the Extensions button, then the eye icon ("Show in toolbar") beside it.
  • Opera: click the cube-shaped Extensions button, then the pin.

Right after you install it, the browser opens a short welcome page with pictures of these steps.

The developer mode warning

Chrome and some other browsers may say something like "Disable developer mode extensions" when they start. You'll see it for every extension loaded from a folder, because the browser can't vouch for files that didn't come from its store. Close the message, or press Keep if it asks. Pressing Disable switches the extension off; you can switch it back on at chrome://extensions.

On some work or school computers developer mode is locked by policy and the switch is grey. There you'll have to wait for the Chrome Web Store listing.

Updating to a new version

  1. Download the new zip here and unpack it.
  2. Replace the files inside your existing folder with the new ones. Keep the folder where it is, because the browser recognizes the extension by its location and your lists stay with it.
  3. On the extensions page, press the reload arrow on the extension's card.
  4. Reload your YouTube tabs.

Removing it

  1. Want to keep your lists? Open the extension's settings and press Export first.
  2. On the extensions page press Remove on its card and confirm.
  3. Delete the folder. YouTube goes back to how it looked before.

The two permissions

When the extension loads, the browser lists what it may access:

PermissionHow the browser words itWhat it's used for
storageNo warning shownKeeps your channels, words, blocked websites, switches and PIN in the browser's extension storage.
Access to all websites"Read and change all your data on all websites"Hiding cards and adding the Block channel button on YouTube. Blocking websites you add to your list. With their switches on (both off by default), closing matching YouTube players embedded in other sites and hiding YouTube results in Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo. Nothing read from a page leaves your browser.

The extension has no analytics or tracking code. It doesn't load code from the internet or send anything to us. The privacy policy has the details.

Coming up

  • Chrome Web Store: coming soon. Once it's listed, installing takes one click and updates arrive by themselves.
  • Firefox: planned after the store release.
  • Phones and TVs: not planned. The YouTube apps don't support extensions.

Stuck somewhere? The help page covers the usual snags, or write to info@blockchannel.one.

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See also