The Real Reason It Happens — and Why Location Alone Isn’t Enough
Changing your location to Albania has become a well-known trick among YouTube users trying to reduce ads. For many people, it works. For others, it doesn’t — and that inconsistency is exactly what causes confusion.
If you’ve set your location to Albania and YouTube is still showing ads, it doesn’t mean your VPN is broken, and it doesn’t mean Albania has suddenly become an ad-heavy country. The truth is more subtle, and it sits in how YouTube actually decides who sees ads and when.
This article explains what’s really happening — without technical overload, without myths, and without pretending location is the only factor that matters.
The Albania Myth: Where It Came From
Albania gained attention because YouTube historically ran very few ads there. This wasn’t a special exemption or a public policy. It was simply a business reality: advertisers were not actively targeting that region.
Over time, this turned into an assumption:
“If I appear to be in Albania, YouTube won’t show ads.”
That assumption is incomplete.
YouTube does not operate on a single on/off switch based on country. Ads are the result of multiple signals being evaluated together, and location is only one of them.
Why YouTube Still Shows Ads Even When You’re “In” Albania
1. Your IP Address Is Only One Signal
Your apparent location matters, but it does not exist in isolation.
YouTube also looks at:
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Your Google account history
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How long you’ve been using that account
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Previous countries you regularly appeared in
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Your viewing habits and device patterns
If most of your usage history points to the UK, US, or another high-ad country, YouTube may continue serving ads even after a location change.
2. Your Google Account Often Overrides Your Location
This is the most common reason ads still appear.
If your Google account was created in, or primarily used from, a country with heavy advertising, that country can remain the dominant signal. In many cases, YouTube trusts account-level data more than temporary IP changes.
This is why:
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Logged-out users often see fewer ads
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Fresh sessions behave differently
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The same VPN works for one person but not another
3. Cookies and Cached Data Tell a Long Story
Browsers remember more than people realise.
Even after changing location, stored cookies and session data can reveal:
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Your usual country
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Your typical watch times
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Your device consistency
Until that data is cleared or naturally expires, YouTube may continue behaving as if nothing changed.
4. Not Everything That Feels Like an Ad Is a YouTube Ad
A crucial distinction many people miss.
YouTube only controls platform-served ads. It does not control:
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Creator-read sponsorships
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In-video brand promotions
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Affiliate callouts
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Sponsored segments baked into the video
These will appear regardless of country, including Albania, because they are part of the content itself.
5. YouTube Shorts Follow Different Ad Rules
Short-form content operates under a separate monetisation system.
Even if long videos appear ad-free, Shorts may still show ads because:
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They are monetised globally
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They are less sensitive to regional advertiser demand
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They rely more on engagement signals than location
This explains why users often report “ads only on Shorts.”
6. VPN Server Quality Matters More Than the Country
Not all Albanian servers are treated equally.
If a server:
YouTube may partially ignore its location or combine it with other signals. This doesn’t mean the VPN is failing — it means YouTube is evaluating credibility, not just geography.
Is Albania Still Mostly Ad-Free on YouTube?
In practice:
There is no guarantee, no promise, and no official status. Albania reduces ads for many users, but it does not eliminate them universally.
What Actually Works Better Than Just Changing Location
Relying on location alone is unreliable. A more realistic approach includes:
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Consistent browsing behaviour
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Clean sessions (especially after location changes)
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Understanding which ads YouTube controls and which it doesn’t
Trying to force the system by jumping countries frequently often makes ad delivery more unpredictable, not less.
The Bigger Picture
If you’re still seeing ads while set to Albania, it doesn’t mean:
It means YouTube is doing exactly what it was designed to do: combine signals instead of trusting just one.
Once you understand that, the behaviour stops feeling random — and starts making sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I still get YouTube ads when my location is set to Albania?
Because YouTube evaluates more than your IP address. Account history, cookies, device behaviour, and previous locations can all influence whether ads appear.
Is Albania officially ad-free on YouTube?
No. Albania simply has lower advertiser demand. YouTube has never declared it an ad-free country, and ad availability can change at any time.
Does being logged into my Google account affect ads?
Yes. Logged-in users are more likely to receive ads based on account history rather than current location alone.
Why do ads appear on YouTube Shorts but not on regular videos?
Shorts use a separate monetisation system and are less dependent on regional advertiser availability.
No. Sponsored segments inside videos are part of the content and will appear regardless of country.
Can browser cookies cause ads to keep appearing?
Yes. Cookies and cached data can reveal your usual behaviour and override your current location until cleared or refreshed.
Does YouTube Premium history affect ad behaviour?
It can. Accounts with past Premium subscriptions sometimes experience inconsistent ad delivery across sessions and devices.
Is using a VPN to reduce ads against YouTube’s rules?
Using a VPN for privacy is generally allowed. However, manipulating regional pricing or subscriptions is more closely monitored.
Will YouTube continue limiting ads in Albania?
There is no guarantee. Ad availability depends on advertiser demand and policy decisions that can change without notice.
