Mozilla is rolling out a built-in ad blocker for Firefox on iPhone and iPad, giving users a new way to reduce third-party ads and advertising trackers while browsing.
The feature blocks many ads before they load, which can make webpages cleaner and reduce unnecessary network activity. Mozilla has built the blocker directly into Firefox because iOS does not offer Firefox the same extension support available on desktop and Android.
Firefox uses the EasyList filter list together with Apple’s WebKit Content Blocker technology. This is the same WebKit framework used for content blocking in Safari, but Firefox includes its implementation directly inside the browser.
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When enabled, the blocker targets third-party advertising networks, ad-related trackers, many third-party website ads, pop-ups, and overlays. It works alongside Firefox’s existing Enhanced Tracking Protection features.
However, users should still expect to see some advertising. Firefox does not block ads shown on search engine results pages, including services such as Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Ads served directly by the website being visited can also remain visible.
Firefox’s own sponsored shortcuts and other sponsored content on the Home or New Tab page are handled separately and will continue to appear unless users change their homepage settings.
How to enable the ad blocker in Firefox
Mozilla keeps the feature turned off by default. To enable it:
- Open Firefox on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the menu button.
- Open Settings.
- Select Browsing.
- Turn on Ad Blocker.
Users can also access the Ad Blocker option through Firefox’s Site menu while browsing. Mozilla says the feature is rolling out globally, so users should update Firefox to the latest available version if the option does not appear.
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