The Best BlockTube Alternative in 2026
Last updated: August 2026
Quick answer: BlockTube never migrated to Manifest V3, so Chrome has disabled it. The closest modern replacement is Dehook: it blocks channels and keywords like BlockTube did, is built on Manifest V3, and adds what BlockTube never had: AI topic filtering that understands what videos are about instead of matching strings.
For years the answer to “how do I block things on YouTube” was simply: BlockTube. Then Chrome retired Manifest V2, BlockTube never made the jump, and thousands of carefully built blocklists went dark with it.
What to look for in a replacement
The BlockTube workflow was channels plus keywords. A worthy 2026 replacement needs those, Manifest V3 compliance so history does not repeat, and ideally something better than string matching. Dehook checks the three boxes and adds the piece keyword tools always lacked: a local AI that blocks a subject however it is phrased.
Honest comparison
| BlockTube (dead) | Dehook | |
|---|---|---|
| Channel blocking | Yes | Yes, no practical limit |
| Keyword blocking | Yes, with regex | Yes, word-boundary |
| Topic filtering by meaning | No | Yes, local AI |
| Language blocking | No | Yes, 16 languages |
| Shorts and length filters | No | Yes |
| Manifest V3 | No | Yes |
Migrate from BlockTube in 3 steps
- Install Dehook. Add the free extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Rebuild your blocklist, but smaller. Re-add your blocked channels via the popup or the ban button on any video. Your old keyword lists mostly collapse into a few AI topics: twenty political keywords become one politics topic.
- Add what BlockTube could not do. Language blocking, Shorts hiding, a video length filter, and homepage redirect: the modern toolkit BlockTube never had.
Dehook↑ the BlockTube workflow, modernized
Channel and topic blocking in the Dehook popup.
FAQ
Why did BlockTube stop working?
Chrome finished disabling Manifest V2 extensions, and BlockTube was never migrated to V3 by its developer. The extension itself was excellent; the platform moved on without it.
Can Dehook import my BlockTube filter lists?
Not directly today. In practice most BlockTube keyword lists shrink dramatically: the AI topic filter replaces whole categories of keywords with a single topic entry, so migration is usually minutes of work.
Did BlockTube do anything Dehook does not?
BlockTube supported regex rules and per-video-ID blocking for power users. Dehook covers per-video hiding via its hide button and replaces most regex use cases with semantic topics, but if you live in regex, you will notice the difference.
Is Dehook also free?
Yes, free like BlockTube was, and the AI runs locally in your browser so there is no account or cloud dependency.