YTD Video Downloader ads: what it is and how to remove it
YTD Video Downloader, developed by GreenTree applications, is software that offers downloading videos from the Internet sphere for free. However, some security experts have found out that this tool should be categorized as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) and adware due to the frequent ad display it causes.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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YTD Video Downloader ads: summary
| Name | YTD Video Downloader |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware |
| Sub-type | Potentially unwanted program |
| Developer | GreenTree applications |
| Price | Regular version – free. Advanced variant – $2.49 monthly |
| Purpose | To collect income from users by offering its services and displaying beneficial adverts |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Found in | On the official website or in software bundled |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | YTD Video Downloader |
| First seen | 23 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is YTD Video Downloader ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
YTD Video Downloader is a questionable tool that has earned the name of adware due to annoying ads it provides
YTD Video Downloader, developed by GreenTree applications, is software that offers downloading videos from the Internet sphere for free.
However, some security experts have found out that this tool should be categorized as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) and adware due to the frequent ad display it causes.
Additionally, if you manage a visit to the official page of YTD Video Downloader virus, you might be offered to purchase its PRO version for a monthly price of $2.49. To create even a better look, the tool suggests downloading videos from popular websites and networks such as Facebook, Bing, Yahoo, Daily Motion, College Humor, and many other similar sources.
This is the program that is not considered to be useful or good for the system. The shady PUP should be removed from the machine as soon as you can, so this article and the guide below lists all the tricks and tips for you. Do not forget about possible issues that these intruders can lead to and repair any damage using proper apps.
YTD Video Downloader is very likely to act as adware if you bring this tool to your computer. The potentially unwanted program might carry various different features but mostly it will supposedly relate to the frequency distribution of advertising content that is often pushed by third-party developers for revenue-gaining tasks.
If you ever run into YTD Video Downloader pop-up ads, they might appear to you in different forms. The most popular forms of ads are usually pop-ups, pop-unders, banner ads, sales coupons, in-text ads, and similar. If this potentially unwanted program starts dropping adverts on your computer, they can come with these and similar writings:
Some people may find those ads useful as they may deliver various deals, discounts, coupons, and similar things. However, this is just a trick used by YTD Video Downloader malware to collect more income from you. It is known that developers use tracking cookies for collecting browsing-related data that include the user's activities and some browser/computer settings.
You can remove the PUP by running a proper tool designed for security purposes. or can offer great help for the system cleaning because a detection-based app finds all the suspicious files and programs, so your machine is cleared from any intruders.
If you read the privacy policy provided by YTD Video Downloader, the developers of this tool do truly inform about the possibility of tracking activities and the technologies that might be used for this purpose. However, these people also claim that such tasks are carried out only for service improvement which is not quite true:
We have searched the Internet sphere for comments on YTD Video Downloader and found out some negative reviews on this tool. One user claims that he has been using this program for a while now and some type of additional malware has appeared along with it. Antivirus software claims that w32.downloader.gen is found.
Furthermore, YTD Video Downloader might start redirecting you to odd pages that are supported by the same developer. Redirects are more annoying than dangerous themselves but, in some cases, you might accidentally land on potentially infectious pages that might result in bad things, for example, secret malware infiltration.
YTD Video Downloader removal will decrease the risk of getting infected by dangerous viruses, so you should opt for this task right away. Besides, you will prevent the advertising flow from spreading further and keep the developers away from benefiting from you in unfair techniques such as the pay-per-click scheme.
Nevertheless, YTD Video Downloader ads might start interrupting your regular work and overload your computer's CPU. If the work of this processor increases and jumps over 90%, you might run into big trouble. The entire system might start struggling and crashing. As a result, even simple tasks would become hard to carry out.
In general, you should avoid installing and keeping programs that are spread using bundling and similar questionable techniques which is valid for this video-downloading tool also. Thus, if you have discovered this program on your computer, you should remove YTD Video Downloader without thinking for long. For scanning the computer, you can try using .
- Ads by YTD Video Downloader.
- Brought by YTD Video Downloader.
- Powered by YTD Video Downloader.
- YTD Video Downloader ads.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Secret PUP installation techniques
It's not surprising anymore that freeware is commonly spread filled with additional components.
However, sometimes it's still difficult to spot and deselect "optional downloads". We must admit that in some cases they are indicated in a misleading manner. Thus, if people skip them, they get installed by default. But don't you agree that people are still installing freeware inattentively?
We have noticed a tendency to opt for Quick or Basic installation and accelerate the process by clicking the "next" button all the time without reading notifications. Isn't the infiltration of various PUPs after such an installation surprising? We think that it's not. If you want to prevent installing unwanted programs, you should be more careful with your downloads and install them as carefully as possible.
Furthermore, before installing it, read its EULA and then select the Advanced or Custom installation option. Afterward, carefully read everything and uncheck ticks that notify about the installation of additional components. According to experts from Virusai.lt, you should always stick to these simple rules and you will maintain your computer's security.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on YTD Video Downloader
- You can get rid of the app manually or automatically.
- Besides, try for completing a malware scan
- When you visit our Services, we may send your computer or mobile device a cookie that uniquely identifies your browser.
- Cookies that we may use may only be read by the server that placed them there.
- Our use of cookies is primarily focused on improving the quality of our Services and your use of those Services.
How to remove YTD Video Downloader ads
How to remove the YTD Video Downloader extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall YTD Video Downloader
YTD Video Downloader is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select YTD Video Downloader, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of YTD Video Downloader that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
If you have found any components from YTD Video Downloader on your Windows machine, you can terminate them by completing the following steps:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Cleaning Google Chrome from various adware-related components manually is definitely a possibility. All you have to do is follow these guidelines:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Reverse all suspicious changes in your Mozilla Firefox web browser if the adware program has applied any during its active hours:
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Make sure to remove YTD Video Downloader virus properly
You can remove YTD Video Downloader manually and automatically.
The automatic elimination method requires only downloading and installing reliable antimalware software. By using these tools, you can succeed easily and get rid of the threat in a couple of minutes of times. Besides, this technique is much safer and effective than searching for a cyber threat on your own and risking making mistakes during the removal process.
However, if you believe that you have enough skills in the threat elimination field, you can opt for the manual YTD Video Downloader removal technique. We have provided you with simple instructing steps at the bottom of the article. These guidelines work for both Windows and Mac OS X systems. Also, you can clean and optimize infected browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
Questions about YTD Video Downloader ads
Is YTD Video Downloader a virus?
Most programs that appear the way YTD Video Downloader did are not viruses in the strict sense. They are potentially unwanted programs:
- real software that arrives bundled with other downloads and then shows offers
- changes browser settings
- starts with Windows
Some are harmless, some are annoying and a few carry adware. What makes it worth removing is that you did not choose it.
Uninstall it from Installed apps and check the startup list and the browsers for anything added the same day. If it refuses to uninstall or returns after a restart, treat it as more serious and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan.
YTD Video Downloader will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove YTD Video Downloader from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
Why didn't my antivirus catch YTD Video Downloader?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
How did YTD Video Downloader get on my computer?
In general, you should avoid installing and keeping programs that are spread using bundling and similar questionable techniques which is valid for this video-downloading tool also. Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites.
It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.
Will Fortect remove YTD Video Downloader?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For YTD Video Downloader, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)