We've found custom filters to block ads on some free streaming websites. In some cases, you will also need to use a userscript called "It's Not Important" to block ads that can't be blocked by filters. General instructions for creating custom filters in AdBlock and for installing the userscript follow. The custom filters for each website are provided in separate sections.
Warning: While the custom filters provided below will block ads and some pop-ups, you should never visit a free streaming site or a torrent site without first installing an anti-malware application. We like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Windows and Mac because it catches malware that other applications tend to miss, and it's free.
Note: If you're getting "You've got a virus!" warnings and other malware on your favorite free streaming website, we have some different advice for you.
How to create custom filters in AdBlock
The method is different if you use a different ad blocker, but the filters given later in this article should still work.
- Click the AdBlock button and select Options, then click the CUSTOMIZE tab.
- Click Edit to open the custom filters box.
- Paste the filters below exactly as given.
- Click Save.
- Reload the page you're trying to view.
If you're still seeing the ads after adding the custom filters and Tampermonkey+It's Not Important (see below), clear your browser cache and cookies, reset your browser settings, and make sure your browser is up-to-date.
How to install Tampermonkey and the "It's Not Important" userscript to block additional ads
(Instructions shamelessly lifted from Greasy Fork)
1. Install Tampermonkey (or the equivalent for your browser) and enable it.
- Firefox and related browsers: Greasemonkey
- Google Chrome, Chromium, and related browsers: Tampermonkey
- Opera (version 15 and later): Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey
- Opera version 12 and earlier supports user scripts natively. Violentmonkey provides a friendlier interface and better compatibility.
- Safari: Tampermonkey
- Edge: Tampermonkey
2. Visit the "It's Not Important" page and click the green Install this script button.
Custom filters for various free streaming websites
putlocker.com > watchfree.to
From this post on the EasyList forum.
||openload.co/*script
||openload.co/*license
@@||openload.co/*video
@@||openload.co/assets/js/jquery.min.js
@@|https://easylist.club/*.js|$script,domain=openload.co
onwatchseries.to
From this post on the EasyList forum.
(Updated December 3, 2016, with new filters)
Note: onwatchseries.to was previously known as the-watch-series.to, www.watchseries.ph, and www.watch-series.ag, and similar variations. The owner keeps changing the domain, apparently to circumvent ad blocking.
First, manually update your filter lists. EasyList released an update that helps to catch ads on the new domain.
@@||onwatchseries.to^$generichide
@@||cdn77.org/.adcenter.
(You might want to use a different site altogether. We saw a suggestion to try flixanity.watch and watchfree.to, which offer movies and TV series in HD. For TV specifically, try couch-tuner.ag as an alternative to the-watch-series.to.)
@@||gorillavid.in^$generichide@@||adcity.tech^$script,domain=gorillavid.in@@||advertisingwouldbegreat.com/ads/ad_forum_$script|about:blank$popup,domain=gorillavid.in||cdn.taboola.com^$domain=gorillavid.in@@||gorillavid.in/js/script-tony.js
@@||ajax.googleapis.com^$script,domain=movpod.in|daclips.in|http://$script,third-party,xmlhttprequest,domain=movpod.in|daclips.in|https://$script,third-party,xmlhttprequest,domain=movpod.in|daclips.in
(Updated March 15, 2017, with new filters)
@@||flashx.tv/js/advertisement.js@@||letsadvertisetogether.com/ads/ad_forum_@@||ruckusschroederraspberry.com/path/ads/ads.js||data.exhaustionlaurenbremsstrahlung.info$popup@@||adcity.tech/ads/ad_forum_@@||flashx.tv/*ad$script
||flashx.tv/js/code.js
@@/showad_.js$domain=flashx.tv
@@||educing.info/popunder.gif
@@/jquery2.js$domain=flashx.tv
Note: In the filters below, replace "$generichide" with "$elemhide" if you use Microsoft Edge, Opera, or Safari. These browsers don't use the $generichide element.
Anti-adblocking on Flashx.tv:|http://$popup,script,third-party,xmlhttprequest,domain=flash-x.tv|https://$popup,script,third-party,xmlhttprequest,domain=flash-x.tv@@||static.flashx.tv^$script,domain=flash-x.tv@@||flash-x.tv^$generichide@@||flash-x.tv/js/showad_.js@@||ad8k.com/ads/ad_forum_@@||ruckusschroederraspberry.com/path/ads/ads.js
##A[href^="http://t.mdn2015x1.com/"]@@||onetvgratis.com/assets/js/ads.js||nowwatchtvlive.co/*ads||geranew.info^$popup,third-party
||thevideo.me/mpaabpu/mttcd$popup
@@||mgid.com^$script,domain=thevideo.me
thevideo.me##.nativead
about:blank$popup,domain=thevideo.me
@@||thevideo.me/js/jspc.js?ab|$script
@@||rsc.cdn77.org/thevideo/js/pa.js?$script,domain=thevideo.me
Bonus tip: How to watch TV and movies on free streaming sites
While researching a different article, we stumbled across a site called HowToWatch.info. The site maintainers have put together a list of all the popular streaming sites, with guidance for each one on how to watch TV and movies while avoiding the ads and malware.