Nearly all ad blockers, including AdBlock, use rules to determine what should be blocked and hidden on web pages you visit. These rules are also known as filters, and they are provided in collections called filter lists.
The filter lists are maintained by filter list authors, some of whom volunteer their time to keep the filter lists updated. With a few exceptions, the list authors are not affiliated with the developers of ad blockers. This is why we refer you to the list authors for help when a filter breaks a web page or an ad slips through a filter list. Whenever possible, the list authors will fix the filter or adjust the blocking rules and release an update to the filter list, resolving the issue for everyone.
The most widely used filter lists are available as selectable options in AdBlock's settings. While some filter lists are found in all versions of AdBlock, not all lists are available in AdBlock on every device. Where noted below, the desktop extensions for AdBlock include only AdBlock for Chrome, AdBlock for Firefox, and AdBlock for Edge.
Where to Find AdBlock Filter Lists
Ad Blocking Filter Lists
The Acceptable Ads filter list blocks intrusive, annoying ads while allowing ads that abide by Acceptable Ads standards. The intention is to support websites that try to be good internet citizens. You're welcome to disable it at any time. This list is enabled by default when AdBlock is installed. The optional "Only allow ads without third-party tracking" feature can be enabled when Acceptable Ads is selected.
Acceptable Ads is available in: All versions of AdBlock
“Only allow ads without third-party tracking” is available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock
Note: If you are subscribed to this list, you won’t be able to manually block Acceptable Ads. Allowlist filters such as those in the Acceptable Ads list always override blocking filters.
EasyList is the primary list of ad-blocking filters that the majority of ad blockers use. If EasyList is disabled, AdBlock will not be able to block ads. EasyList is enabled by default when AdBlock is installed.
EasyList is available in: All versions of AdBlock
The anti-circumvention list only blocks ads that EasyList cannot block. It uses experimental features to prevent ad blocker detection and circumvention, ad reinsertion, and other malicious techniques that advertisers and publishers use to ensure ads appear. It can be thought of as a companion list to the blocking filters available in EasyList.
Available in: All desktop versions of AdBlock
If you visit websites in languages other than English, you can subscribe to filter lists for those languages (otherwise, only ads in English will be blocked). In some cases, these lists are enabled by default based on your computer’s language and location settings.
Available in: All versions of AdBlock except the AdBlock for Safari Mac app
If you need a language that's not in AdBlock’s list of language filter lists, you can find other language lists on the Adblock Plus Subscriptions page or Fanboy's Regional Lists page.
To subscribe to a filter list, click the "Subscribe" link on the Adblock Plus page or the "Add List" link on the Fanboy's page and click OK. The list will appear on AdBlock’s Filter Lists page under the Custom Filter Lists section.
Other Filter Lists
I Don't Care About Cookies is the filter list we use to prevent website cookie warnings from popping up as you browse. Cookie warnings are the notifications that many websites must get from users before installing cookies, which are used for a number of things, from advertiser tracking to maintaining your login information for you. When subscribed to the I Don't Care About Cookies filter list, you will be hiding these notifications and neither allowing nor denying permission (in most cases when the notification is hidden, the website will only install cookies that are required in order for the website to function properly.)
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock
The Adblock Warning Removal list hides requests to disable ad blockers on websites you visit, but does not circumvent anti-ad blocking measures.
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock, AdBlock for Android
The Antisocial filter list removes social media buttons that track your browsing activity on web pages.
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock, AdBlock for Firefox (Android)
Note:
1. Subscribing to this list can break some website functionality such as links to social media sites or sign-in options that rely on Facebook or other social media.
2. If you subscribe to Fanboy's Annoyances, it’s unnecessary to also subscribe to Antisocial.
The Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) Mining Protection List will prevent devices from being used unknowingly to mine for bitcoin or any other eCurrency by cryptocurrency miners (otherwise known as cryptocurrency mining). This list is enabled by default when AdBlock is installed.
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock
EasyPrivacy is an offshoot of EasyList that prevents ads from tracking your online activities by blocking the trackers advertisers use to know what sites you visit.
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock, AdBlock for Samsung Internet (EasyPrivacy+EasyList), AdBlock for Firefox (Android), AdBlock for Mobile (iOS)
Fanboy's Annoyances blocks in-page pop-ups (the kind that prompt you to subscribe to a site's newsletter or email list), social media and related widgets, and other annoying things on web pages.
Available in: All desktop extensions of AdBlock, AdBlock for Firefox (Android)
Note:
1. As with Antisocial, enabling this list can break some website functionality that relies on Facebook and social media sign-in options.
2. If you subscribe to Fanboy's Annoyances, you don’t need to also subscribe to Antisocial.
A few filter lists that you can subscribe to by URL in the desktop versions of AdBlock are available as selectable options in AdBlock for Samsung Internet:
- Adware filters and Malware Domains help to protect you from sites known to host adware and malware
- I don't care about cookies and Prebake prevent you from seeing notices about cookies on websites that use them
- Spam404 helps to protect you from spamming websites
Subscribing to Additional Filter Lists
The option to subscribe to additional filter lists has been temporarily removed in AdBlock for Chrome Version 6.0 and later. To learn more, refer to the message at the top of this article.
You may run across specialized filter list that are not listed in AdBlock. Some filter lists provide a "click to subscribe" link. To add them to AdBlock, click the provided link and then click OK to confirm. Here are some examples: Known Adblock Plus subscriptions.
Another way to subscribe to specialized filter lists is via an Internet address (URL). You can find these on the EasyList forum or you may want to create your own custom filter list.
To subscribe via URL:
1. Click the AdBlock toolbar icon and then on the gear symbol.
2. On the Customize tab, under Custom Filter Lists, paste one of the links provided below in the box containing “enter a URL”
3. Click Subscribe and wait for AdBlock to fetch the filters.
Viewing Filter List Content
In some cases, you may want to see the contents of a filter list. This option is only available in desktop versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. To do this, use these steps:
- Click the AdBlock toolbar icon and then on the gear symbol.
- On the General tab, select I'm an advanced user, show me advanced options.
- Click the Filter Lists tab.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Show links to the filter lists.
- Click the list icon that appears to the right of the filter list name. A new page will open, showing the contents of the filter list.