We all know how incredibly annoying ads can be on social media, especially YouTube. You’re watching something incredibly interesting and you’re completely invested in it, when suddenly an ad pops up and feels like it goes on forever!

Now imagine that ad is in a completely different language.

Unfortunately, this is something that happens on YouTube. Viewers suddenly start getting Spanish ads out of the blue, even when they’re nowhere near a locale that speaks the language!

So what can you do when this happens? This post will provide you with effective methods to stop those Spanish ads on YouTube. Plus, I’ll give you a quick rundown of the reasons why you might be seeing them in the first place.

Reasons Why You’re Getting Spanish Ads

Here are the top 5 reasons why you’re encountering Spanish ads on YouTube:

You Live in a Multilingual Country

If there are a large number of Spanish speakers in your country, there’s a good chance you’ll see Spanish ads on YouTube. For instance, the US is the fourth largest Spanish-speaking country, so if you’re from the US, you will definitely encounter Spanish ads. The same goes for Argentina and Mexico.

Advertisers Did Not Select a Language

When setting up a YouTube ads campaign, advertisers have the option to target specific languages or all languages. If the advertiser hasn’t chosen Spanish as the language, non-Spanish speaking individuals like us will still see the ads if we search for the target keywords. Some advertisers, especially beginners, forget or overlook language settings and end up targeting everyone.

You’ve Engaged with Spanish Content on YouTube

Social media platforms pay close attention to how users engage with their platforms to customize their experience and keep them coming back. They analyze the content users interact with and the genres they’re interested in. If you engage with Spanish content, there’s a high chance that you’ll start receiving Spanish-related content and ads. For example, if you’ve recently started learning Spanish and watched a few Spanish learning videos, the YouTube algorithm will pick up on that.

You’re Using a VPN

Many of us use VPNs for various reasons while browsing the web. However, using VPN addresses from different regions and countries can significantly impact your online experience, particularly on social media platforms like YouTube. If you’re using a VPN and have selected a Spanish-speaking region as your VPN host, you’ll undoubtedly receive Spanish-related content and ads while using YouTube. Furthermore, your entire trending page will be filled with top content from that region. YouTube also tracks IP addresses, so if a previous user with the same IP engaged with Spanish content, that could also be a reason for the ads. This is especially true if you’re using other IP-changing tools like RDPs. If the server location is in Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country, you’ll see Spanish ads.

Your Language Settings Have Been Changed

If your language settings have been switched from English to Spanish, your content, including ads (mostly the sidebar ones on the web version), will also be in Spanish. However, if your skippable ads are also in Spanish, it might be due to any of the previously mentioned reasons.

How to Stop Getting Spanish Ads on YouTube

Change Your Language Settings and Ad Preferences

To stop receiving Spanish ads, you can start by changing your language settings and ad preferences. Simply click on the three dots next to an ad on YouTube and go to My Ad Center (you can also do this through your browser). From there, you can select the topics and genres you’re interested in for your ads and choose the “stop ad personalization completely” option. By doing this, YouTube will no longer base its ad recommendations on your content interactions, though you’ll still see ads that are not related to your activity.

Change Your VPN or Server to an English-Speaking Country

If you’re using a VPN or RDP, check the management dashboard to see if the default country selected is a Spanish-speaking one. If it is, switch to a country that speaks English, like the UK. This will signal to YouTube that you’re now located in an English-speaking locale, prompting a change in the content and ads you receive.

Clear Your Cache

Clearing your cache can also help. By removing everything that YouTube has saved about your interactions while using the app, you can reset your preferences. On Android, go to your phone’s settings, click on Apps, find the YouTube app, and select the clear cache option at the bottom. On a browser, open Chrome, click on the three dots on the right-hand side, then go to “More Tools” and select “clear browsing data”. Choose a time range or select “all time”, check the “cache images and files” box, and click delete. After clearing your cache, make sure not to log in to the same account.

Bottom Line

Receiving sudden Spanish ads on YouTube can be frustrating, but there’s usually a logical reason behind it. From VPN usage to language settings and ad preferences, there are several factors you can explore by using the YouTube app on your phone or the web browser on your desktop. In the end, you’ll be able to resolve the issue and say goodbye to those Spanish ads on YouTube.