Firefox for iPhone Now Blocks Ads: How to Use the New Ad-Blocking Tool

Firefox for iOS now comes with a built-in ad blocker to hide select online advertisements when browsing the web on your iPhone or iPad. The feature was introduced on Aug. 15, but Mozilla says it remains an "experimental" tool, meaning it's gradually rolling out to all users.

The ad blocker is optional and remains off unless you enable it. Mozilla says the blocker helps with privacy, such as limiting third-party tracking, and makes it easier to visit websites with intrusive ads, such as pop-ups or overlays.

Mozilla is using the EasyList filter, originally designed for AdBlock tools, to determine what types of ads to remove. However, it won't block everything, as Mozilla is intentionally making some exceptions. For example, ads shown in search engines won't be blocked, with Mozilla specifically referring to ads provided by Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Google, among other search providers.

Other sponsored content powered by Mozilla through its Firefox Home or New Tab pages will also continue to appear even when the tool is enabled. There's no way to remove either of these elements from Mozilla's web browser.

How to Use Firefox's Built-In Ad Blocker on iPhone and iPad

When available, you'll find the ad blocker in the settings. You won't need to sign up for the tool to appear, but Mozilla says it's happening on a gradual rollout, so it's unclear how long it will take to appear on your device.

To find it, head to Firefox for iOS and open the menu, then go to Settings> Browsing. You'll find a section called Content, where you can toggle Ad Blockerto turn it on. Mozilla's description says it "reduces ads and ad-related trackers" alongside a warning that "if a site looks broken, try turning this off."

If you visit a website with bad ads and the blocker is off, you can also activate it from the menu in the bottom-right corner of Firefox. You'll see a toggle under Contentcalled Ad Blocker to switch it on.

To tell if you have Firefox's blocker turned on, look for two icons at the top of the site menu labeled Protections and Ad Blocker. If it's turned on, these will appear with small green shield icons with ticks; when turned off, they'll appear orange with crosses.

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