If you're seeing ads, a web page isn't working or something else isn't quite right, the following information should help. If you're new to AdBlock for Safari, don't forget to check out our user guide.
I don't see the AdBlock icon on the Safari toolbar
If you don't see AdBlock on your toolbar, be sure it's enabled to appear in the Safari toolbar.
I'm seeing ads on every site I visit
If you are seeing ads on every site you visit, first try these steps as they are the most common reasons ads show:
- In the AdBlock app, go to the Ad Blocking tab and under "Change what AdBlock shows and hides" make sure the "Allow some non-intrusive ads" option is toggled OFF.
- In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Content Blockers and make sure the option "When visiting other websites" is set to ON.
- In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Extensions and make sure the AdBlock Engine is selected.
If those steps don't help, check for these other possible causes:
Click the AdBlock icon in the Safari toolbar. If you see a blue play button, it means AdBlock is paused. Click the blue pay button to unpause. Refresh any pages where you were seeing ads.
We hope add filter lists for more languages in the future. In the meantime, you may want to visit non-English sites in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, where AdBlock includes filter lists for non-English languages.
I'm only seeing ads on one site
The site may be allowlisted (that is, you have turned off ad-blocking on that site). There are two place you can allowlist websites: in AdBlock and in Safari itself.
Unlike in other browsers, the AdBlock icon in the Safari toolbar doesn't change when the website you're visiting is allowlisted, regardless of where it was allowlisted. The only way to tell is by looking at the AdBlock menu in Safari and at Safari's settings for individual sites.
1. Start by clicking the AdBlock icon in the Safari toolbar. If the site was allowlisted in AdBlock, you will see the "Site" or "Page" button in blue. Deselect it. Reload the page.
2. If the ads are still there, check that content blocking is turned on for the site in Safari's settings. Right-click the address bar and select Settings for This Website. If Enable content blockers is not selected, select it. Reload the page.
3. If the ads are still there, there is one more place to check. Close the page in Safari. Select Safari > Settings > Websites > Content Blockers. Select the site, then click Remove.
If the site isn't allowlisted in either AdBlock or Safari, then it may be using an aggressive form of ad technology that's particularly difficult to block. We see this used most often on free video and audio streaming sites and news sites. For some suggestions, see this article.
If nothing else has helped, you're welcome to open a support ticket. Please include a link to a page where you're seeing ads, a screenshot of the ads (please capture the entire screen including the URL/address bar), and what troubleshooting steps you've already tried.
A web page isn't working or doesn't look right
First try pausing AdBlock. If that fixes the problem, the culprit is most likely an overzealous filter list blocking something it shouldn't. Go ahead and do what you need to do while AdBlock is paused, and remember to unpause when you're done. (If you want to be a good web citizen, you can also report the issue to the filter list authors so that it can be fixed for everyone.)
If pausing AdBlock doesn't change anything, then something else is breaking the site. For more suggestions, see this article.
A site is telling me to disable AdBlock
Instead of disabling AdBlock, the better solution is to pause AdBlock or add the site to your allowlist: Allowlisting, Pausing, and Disabling AdBlock for Safari.
I need help with something else
Feel free to open a support ticket. If applicable, please include a link to a page where you're seeing the issue, a screenshot of the issue if possible (please capture the entire screen), and what troubleshooting steps, if any, you've already tried.