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What Are Safari Content Blockers and Should You Use Them

Countless websites on the web are littered with unwanted content. They could be flashy advertisements, annoying social media buttons, or clunky site elements, all of which make navigation a pain. Worse yet, they take ages to load . However, you don’t have to put up with them if you don’t want to. The solution—content blocking.

What Are Safari Content Blockers Featured

If you use Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then you can easily use an array of third-party content blockers to remove unwanted clutter from loading onto the browser.

But while content blockers are synonymous with ad blocking extensions, they work quite differently and have certain advantages and disadvantages. Let’s dig into them below.

How Do Safari Content Blockers Work

Content blockers are tiny apps that contain lots of rules, each with their specific triggers and actions. These rules notify Safari about the exact forms of content that need to be blocked. For example, a rule involving a certain type of advertisement would have a trigger that helps the browser identify it, with the resultant action being to stop the ad from loading.

What Are Safari Content Blockers 10

While most content blockers are designed to block ads, web trackers, and third-party cookies, some block various site elements such as social media plugins. Available features vary between content blockers. Some apps let you determine what you want to block, while some even let you create custom rules.

On the iPhone and iPad, Safari started supporting content blockers from iOS 9 onward and is the only way to block advertisements on the browser. On the Mac, Safari versions 9, 10, 11, and 12 support both ad blocking extensions and content blockers — but starting with Safari 13, the browser only supports content blockers .

Safari Content Blockers Help to Load Sites Faster

Once you start using a content blocker, websites will generally load faster in Safari since the browser doesn’t have to load and render certain forms of content. Usually, sites with lots of advertisements, trackers, and hefty social media plugins will display a remarkable improvement in performance.

What Are Safari Content Blockers 2

When it comes to Safari on the Mac, content blockers also allow websites to load even faster compared to ad blocking extensions. That happens due to two reasons. Firstly, Safari compiles the rules within content blockers so that it can read them easily. Secondly, Safari acquires these rules in advance so that it doesn’t have to communicate with the content blocker in real-time.

Safari Content Blockers Improve Privacy

Content blockers also play a part in preserving your privacy. For example, certain sites and advertising networks use tracking and fingerprinting scripts to track and profile user activity — content blockers that specifically target trackers and advertisements help put a stop to that.

What Are Safari Content Blockers 3

On the Mac, opting for a content blocker over an ad blocking extension also brings privacy-related benefits on its own. Unlike with ad blockers, Safari doesn’t access the rules within a content blocker in real-time. That prevents content blockers from profiling users by activity.

Safari Content Blockers Increase Security

In addition to improving your privacy, content blockers are very safe to use. They do not have access to your browsing activity since Safari loads all the rules in advance, hence preventing them from gaining access to sensitive information in any shape or form.

On macOS, content blockers once again take precedence over ad blockers in terms of security. With ad blockers, it’s the extension and not the browser that blocks the content. But when you use a content blocker, it’s the browser that does the hard part. Even if you use a reputed ad blocker for Safari, there’s always the chance for an extension to be hijacked. But with content blockers, that won’t cause an issue since they can’t see your browsing activity in the first place.

With ad blockers, it’s the extension and not the browser that blocks the content. But when you use a content blocker, it’s the browser that does the hard part.

Additionally, using content blockers that target advertisements can also enhance security. That is helpful when it comes to malicious code within advertisements . There is less chance of being infected in the event of a malvertising attack .

Limited Functionality of Safari Content Blockers

If there’s a downside to using content blockers, it’s the fact that they aren’t as versatile as ad blocking extensions. That is especially apparent on macOS, where the ability to whitelist sites is only available in a limited form. You can only do that for entire domains, and not to specific URLs. For example, this could be problematic if you want to support specific YouTube channels.

What Are Safari Content Blockers 6

Some content blockers don’t even have the means to whitelist in the first place. On iOS, however, you can override content blockers, and even whitelist sites via Safari’s site customization menu .

Limits Enforceable Rules

Another major downside to using content blockers is that there’s a maximum limit on the number of rules that it can enforce, which stands at 50,000. While that sounds like a lot, the filter lists used by certain ad blocking extensions well exceed that. Hence, you may see the odd advertisement creep through when using content blockers.

What Are Safari Content Blockers 8

However, this limitation does offer an advantage in terms of performance since developers often write rules in more effective ways to cover more ground. Certain content blockers may also counteract this by including multiple lists, though this could degrade any performance benefits.

Should You Use Content Blockers?

Content blockers bring a range of advantages. You improve the overall speed when loading sites in Safari, and also enhance both privacy and security. Using them can really help improve your browsing experience , and are quite indispensable on the iPhone and iPad.

But on the Mac, you may not want to ditch your ad blocker just yet since they have no limits on rules and offer better whitelisting capabilities, even though content blockers are superior in terms of performance and privacy. Furthermore, content blockers are also rather annoying since you need to open them separately outside Safari in case you want to make modifications to the content settings.

If you are already on Safari 13 (or if you upgraded to macOS Catalina), it’s either content blockers or none at all. Some of the better content blockers out there include Ghostery Lite (macOS only), AdGuard , and 1Blocker . However, you need to try them out to figure out what suits you the best.

Next up: On iOS, Safari isn’t the only browser that can block ads. Here are five other browsers with integrated content blockers.

Last updated on 03 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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Dilum Senevirathne

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

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Can't enable content blockers on your iPhone or iPad? Here's the fix!

safari content blocker settings

Whether you can't find the Content Blocker setting in Safari at all or you've found it and it's greyed out, here's how to troubleshoot and get you on your merry content-blocking way.

How to turn on the Content Blocker setting

If you can't find the content blocker setting, chances are you're either looking in the wrong place or you haven't yet installed a content blocker. For some reason, certain iPhones and iPads won't show the Content Blocker setting under Settings > Safari > Content Blockers until you've installed an applicable content-blocking app.

To do this, visit the App Store and pick any one of the content blockers currently on sale. (We really like Crystal and Purify

After you've installed the blocker, head back to Settings > Safari ; the Content Blockers menu should appear under the General subsection, below Block Pop-Ups .

How to fix greyed-out Content Blocker switches

If you've installed a content blocker and gone to enable it, only to find that the switch for doing so in Safari's preferences is disabled, you've likely accidentally enabled Restrictions for Safari. To check and see if you have (and disable such things), follow these steps.

  • Go to Settings > General > Restrictions and enter in your passcode.
  • Scroll down to the Allowed Content section. Do you have any restrictions set for websites other than All ? If so, you'll need to disable them in order to activate your content blockers. (Alternatively, just turn Restrictions Off .)
  • Return to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers .

You should now be able to turn on your content blocker of choice. Once you've done so, you can reenable your Restrictions (by going to Settings > General > Restrictions > Websites ); the Content Blockers screen will be greyed out once more, but any blocker you set to activate will still be active.

Still can't get your content blocker of choice to work? Ping us in the comments and we'll try to help troubleshoot.

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Serenity Caldwell

Serenity was formerly the Managing Editor at iMore, and now works for Apple. She's been talking, writing about, and tinkering with Apple products since she was old enough to double-click. In her spare time, she sketches, sings, and in her secret superhero life, plays roller derby. Follow her on Twitter @settern.

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safari content blocker settings

safari content blocker settings

How To : iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Websites in Safari

iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Websites in Safari

Chances are, your favorite websites run on ads. That means the sites rely on those ads to fund their operations. Without ads, your laughs, news, and guides don't happen. That's why it's helpful to disable content blockers (often called whitelisting) for sites you support. In the past, it wasn't possible directly in Safari , but in-app whitelisting becomes a reality with iOS 13 .

It all has to do with iOS 13 Safari's new website View menu. The menu offers desktop-class options (not to be confused with the desktop-class browser iPadOS 13 introduces), so you can fine-tune your mobile web browsing experience. And its new site-whitelisting options for content blockers means you don't have to fiddle around with the content blocker's app itself. The option to disable adblockers, however, only appears if you have a content blocker installed on your iPhone .

  • Don't Miss: How to Block Popups in Safari on Your iPhone

Disable Content Blockers at the Same Time

In the Settings app, tap the "Safari" menu item, and you'll find "Content Blockers" under General up top. Tap that, then turn on one or all of the content blocker apps you have installed.

Next, go back to the "Safari" menu, then hit "Content Blockers" under the Settings for Websites section (confusing, we know) to change the behavior for all blockers. That section won't even appear if your content blockers are disabled in the first section.

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Here, you can disable all content blockers on your iPhone for all websites at once by turning off the toggle next to "All Websites." If you have more than one content blocker engaged, the option disables all content blockers for all websites. To do so before, you'd have to go into the other menu and disable them one by one.

If you're using content blockers in iOS 13, you'll probably want the setting turned on. That way, you can take advantage of the whitelisting feature in Safari directly.

iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Websites in Safari

Allow or Block Ads Once or Whitelist Sites in Safari

In the Safari app itself, there are two options for disabling content blockers on a webpage. The first just disables the content blocker for the webpage at hand, so it's better for one-time uses when you want to support a website. If you reload the page or visit another webpage from that domain, the blocker will restart itself.

To do it, tap the "AA" button on the left side of the search bar. Next, tap "Turn off Content Blockers" to quickly disable all content blockers you have on your iOS device for the website at hand. (Previous versions of Safari had the feature by long-pressing the refresh button and hitting "Reload Without Content Blockers.)

Likewise, if a site you usually allow ads for has a buggy section that prevents you from seeing the main content, you can tap the "AA" button and hit "Turn on Content Blockers." That way, you're still supporting the site on follow-up visits. (Older versions of Safari only supported turning off ads, not on, via the shortcut.)

The second method is the one you most likely want to know about, where you'll disable the content blocker for all webpages on that domain until you manually disable the setting. Whether you reload the same webpage or visit another on that domain, your content blocker will stop working. In the "AA" menu, tap "Website Settings," then ensure "Use Content Blockers" is disabled.

iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Websites in Safari

After whitelisting some websites, you can find all of your saved preferences back in the "Safari" menu in the Settings app. Go back to "Content Blockers" under Settings for Websites , and you'll see some differences.

Anytime you use the "Website Settings" menu to whitelist a domain in Safari, that domain will appear here for future access. Also, the main "All Websites" switch turns to "Other Websites" indicating that you have given certain domains special privileges.

You can return here later to block or unblock a domain whenever needed. To delete preferences for any websites, tap "Edit," check the site or sites, and hit "Delete." You can also tap "Clear All Settings" to wipe all preferences and start with a clean slate.

iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Websites in Safari

Just updated your iPhone? See everything that's new with Apple's latest iOS update:

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I have an iPhone X R iOS 13.1.3 and I do not have the options under Settings-Safari to adjust Content Blockers. I have gone into every option in Settings and Safari and can not find this option. I am an adult who owns my phone with no restrictions. Can you help me determine this issue? I checked and my phone says the software is up to date.

safari content blocker settings

Hi Munchi. Do you have any content blockers installed on your device? You won't see this option otherwise.

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How to Temporarily Disable Content Blockers in Safari for iOS

ios7 safari icon

Content blockers prevent ads like popups and banners from loading on websites you visit, and may also disable cookies, beacons, and the like to prevent online tracking and protect your privacy. Occasionally, however, they may unintentionally block a page element that you need access to, like a web form, for example.

If you suspect that a content blocker you installed is disabling a useful webpage element, or you just want to temporarily disable all blocking in your current browsing session, here's how to turn it off.

  • Launch Safari on your iOS device and navigate to the site in question.
  • Tap the "aA" icon in the top-left corner of the screen to reveal the Website View menu.

content blockers

If you only want to disable content blockers for a specific website, tap Website Settings in the aforementioned Website View menu, and then toggle the switch beside Use Content Blockers to the grey OFF position.

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How to Enable the Safari Pop-up Blocker

Block pop-ups on Mac, Windows, and iOS

safari content blocker settings

What to Know

  • To enable the pop-up blocker, go to Safari > Preferences > Websites > Pop-up Windows > choose how to handle pop-ups.
  • To block pop-ups on iOS, go to Settings > Safari > General > Block Pop-ups .
  • Another way to enable or disable pop-up blocker in Safari, select Preferences > Security > Block pop-up windows .

This article explains how to enable or disable the pop-up blocker within Safari. Instructions apply to macOS, iOS, and Windows.

You might need to disable the pop-up blocker for access to some sites. Alternatively, install plug-ins that suppress tracking and pop-ups for individual sites and browsing sessions.

The pop-up blocker for Mac computers is accessible through the Web content section of Safari's settings.

From the menu along the top of the Safari window, choose Safari > Preferences .

The keyboard shortcut to Safari's Preferences page is Command+, .

Select Websites .

Click Pop-up Windows .

Select the desired action for the current website. Block and Notify blocks pop-ups on the site and notifies you when it happens. Block blocks pop-ups without notifying you. Allow allows pop-ups.

To do the same when visiting other websites, select When visiting other websites in the lower-right corner of the window. If this checkbox is selected, Safari's integrated pop-up blocker is enabled.

In older OS X versions, select Windows > Preferences , then check the Block pop-up windows box.

Block Pop-ups on iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch)

You can turn the Safari pop-up blocker on and off on an iOS device too.

From the home screen, open Settings .

Scroll down the list and tap Safari .

In the Safari screen, locate the General section.

Tap the Block Pop-ups toggle switch to turn it on or off. It turns green to indicate that Safari is blocking pop-ups.

Another way to enable or disable the pop-up blocker in Safari is to select Preferences > Security > Block pop-up windows .

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Quickly configure content blocking without leaving the browser

You might already know that a major part of 1Blocker relies on native Safari tools to deal with intrusive content: How 1Blocker protects you

Since these tools are tightly integrated into Safari, the browser provides a quick and convenient way to configure them.

A button to reload any page without content blockers right from the browser's address bar. This setting applies only to the current tab, so switching to another tab automatically re-enables content blockers.

You can also make it work permanently by adding an exception for a particular domain within your browser's settings.

How to quickly see a page without content blockers?

The following steps will only work if you have at least one content blocker installed and enabled on your device.

Open the website you want to see with no content blockers applied;

Tap aA button on the left side of the address bar;

Tap "Turn off Content Blockers".

The page will reload with all content blockers disabled.

Safari will re-enable them if you close the tab, open another tab, or tap "Turn on Content Blockers" in the address bar.*

Tap and hold the refresh button in the address bar;

Press "Reload Without Content Blockers".

The website will reload as a temporarily allowed site.

To enable content blockers again just close the tab, open a new tab, or press "Reload With Content Blockers" in the address bar.*

*The behavior was different prior to Safari 16.4, where content blocking would apply again the next time the page was reloaded.

How to permanently disable content blockers on a site?

Tap the button on the left side of the address bar;

Tap "Website Settings";

Turn off/on the switch "Use Content Blockers".

This will make the website invisible to all content blockers installed on your device.

You can find and manage the list of such sites in your iPhone's Settings > Safari > Content Blockers (under Settings for websites).

Right-click on the address bar;

Press "Settings for [site's name]";

Turn off/on the "Enable Content Blockers" checkbox.

This will make the website invisible to all Safari content blockers installed on your device.

You can find and manage the list of allowed websites in Safari > Settings > Websites > Content Blockers.

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Hands-on with content blocking Safari extensions in iOS 9

Glenn Fleishman

Call it anti-tracking and privacy software, bandwidth-reduction management, or ad blocking. By whatever name, it’s popular in desktop operating systems like OS X and Windows. A study released midyear found nearly 50 percent of U.S. and 40 percent of routine online newsreading consumers employed blockers. With the release of iOS 9, these kinds of filters can be installed in Mobile Safari.

Content Blocking Safari Extensions, as Apple calls them, are filters created by third-party apps. The apps either include a prefabricated and updated list, or offer options to configure which kinds of content to block, including whitelisting and blacklisting sites.

content blocking 1blocker webapp config

1Blocker allows users to configure sophisticated custom filters via its web site, then transfer them to iOS. (Click to enlarge.)

The filters start with a URL pattern using standard “regexp” (regular expression) pattern, which can match an individual page on a site, every kind of page or media of a certain kind, or patterns across all sites. An optional media type can be noted, too, like a document or video. Before Safari loads a page or item referenced on a page, it matches against these URL patterns. If there’s a match, the entire page or item may be blocked, or just an associated browser cookie or page elements defined by style sheets. Filters can also block content referenced on a webpage that originates from a domain other than that of the webpage.

This allows a lot of customization. Entire sites can be fully unavailable—blacklisted from loading. Or all bandwidth-consuming media (audio, video, and other types) can be suppressed on low-bandwidth or high-cost connections. Every app is approaching this differently.

Let’s roll up out sleeves and see what they can do.

(For the down-and-dirty details of how content-blocking extensions work, read “ What lies beneath: What you need to know about content blockers in iOS 9 Safari ” or the Apple WebKit team’s blog entry with even more technical talk.)

Install and manage content blockers

Apple doesn’t include content-blocking extensions in iOS 9; it just lets them happen. They aren’t full-blown extensions, such as are available in desktop browsers like Safari. Those kinds of add-ons or plug-ins can add new ways to view media or control basic browser behavior. Instead, content-blocking extensions are a list of patterns and behaviors that a third-party app passes to Safari, which collects and compiles them from all enabled apps into a fast-loading filter set.

First, you need to get one or more apps. Since I’m writing this on iOS 9’s release day, only four content blockers are available right now. I beta tested several, and will update this article with more detail as they can be purchased or downloaded.

(Note that not all iOS devices are supported that can run iOS 9: only those with 64-bit processors. This excludes the iPhone 4s, 5, and 5c; the iPad 2, 3rd-generation iPad, and 4th-generation iPad; 1st-generation iPad mini; and the 5th-generation iPod touch. All later devices work.)

You can have any combination of content blockers enabled—or none—at any given time, so you don’t have to choose the perfect one. I expect there will be many kinds with distinct purposes. You may easily have two or three, or ones you turn on and off depending on where you’re browsing, your available bandwidth, and even the cost and amount of data transfers when you’re roaming off network or internationally.

content blocking settings

Content blocker are enabled via Settings > Safari > Content Blockers.

Once you’ve installed one or more content blockers, you need to configure them if they offer configuration options. Launch the app to fiddle with settings, if any are available. Some apps will have no settings, but simply incorporate a list that’s updated remotely. Others will have huge numbers of options, down to letting you turn a filter on or off for particular sites.

Apple has a “firewall” of sorts in place: filters don’t feed information back to apps. The filters are passed from an app to iOS, which compiles them and uses them with Safari. But Safari and iOS don’t return that favor, as they don’t tell apps what items were blocked. Some apps offer Share extensions that you can use within Safari that let you opt into passing some data back, like whitelisting a site you’re on.

Finally, you have to enable filters individually for Safari. Tap Settings > Safari > Content Blockers, and you can flip a switch on or off for each installed extension. Whenever you do so, iOS quietly rebuilds the filters being applied—there’s no extra step.

Use Content Blockers

Content blockers can take a lot of different paths:

Remotely updated list. Block only items in a list that’s not configurable. That’s the approach of the Crystal app. The developer customized a set of tracking, advertising network, and other sites, and updates the list via the app. Adamant has a big on/off button, but it’s essentially the same.

Simplified. This category offers configuration options, but doesn’t fully expose what’s being blocked. The Purify app has an Ads and Tracking switch in its Preferences view, and additional lets you block images, scripts, and fonts—any or all of those. It also lets you whitelist sites. Blockr is similar, dividing categories into ads, media, and privacy, while Silentium has slightly different divisions but includes region-specific ad blocking. Blockr and Silentium can both also suppress those irritating European Union-required “cookie policy” messages.

Complex and highly configurable . Apps like 1Blocker let you drill way, way down, seeing not just every site or filter defined, but also the patterns used. It also lets you add rules for each kind of blocking: total, browser cookie, and page element (style sheet names, discussed next).

Another variable will be the source of block lists, whether it’s for privacy, advertising network, anti-phishing protection, or bandwidth reduction. Crystal’s developer adapted and reduced AdBlock Plus’s EasyList .

content blocking 1blocker

1Blocker exposes every site and pattern it uses to block. (Click to enlarge.)

Several apps I tested put items into the Share sheet for Safari, and use an embedded web view to load pages with different settings applied. The Safari View Controller is new in iOS 9, and is a full-featured embedded Safari browser that app developers can use—and which includes content-blocking filters—as opposed to the previous web views that were subsets of Safari’s abilities. (Some apps like Tweetbot have already updated to adopt this new controller.)

content blocking share extensions shown

Content blockers can use Share extensions in Safari.

Apple also built in a way to bypass all content filters, but only for a single page. After a page loads, press and hold down the refresh button. A pop-up or popover appears with Request Desktop Site, a previously available option hidden in a different place in Safari, and Reload Without Content Blockers. That reload only bypass filters for the current page. The next tap loads using the filters.

content blocking reload without

Any page can be reloaded in Safari without blockers by tapping and holding the reload button to get this set of menu items.

In testing, I looked at how rapidly pages were ready to use, rather than the complete load time. In many cases, because mobile versions of sites don’t include auto-play video or are already optimized for smaller screens and less available bandwidth, the difference was minimal; in others, it could take twice as long, but still be just a matter of seconds.

For the most part, behind the scenes is where the real action is happening. Blocking known trackers prevents privacy leakages of your actions, including your path across different sites. Blocking advertising networks can dramatically reduce bandwith consumed. At many sites, people are discovering, video loads in the background even when it never plays nor slows down the main page display. Some testers have found a 10MB to 15MB page load drops to 2MB to 3MB when content blocking is enabled, even when the loaded page shows omits one or two missing ads.

Updated: The Peace content blocker was originally referenced in this article and has been removed. Marco Arment, its developer, has opted to remove it from sale .

Author: Glenn Fleishman , Senior Contributor

safari content blocker settings

Glenn Fleishman ’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and iPadOS Privacy and Security , Take Control of Calendar and Reminders , and Take Control of Securing Your Mac . In his spare time, he writes about printing and type history . He’s a senior contributor to Macworld , where he writes Mac 911.

Recent stories by Glenn Fleishman:

  • How to tweak your Emergency SOS settings to match your intent
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safari content blocker settings

How to remove ads and annoyances in Safari using content blockers

  • by Tom Rolfe
  • February 3, 2023 February 10, 2024

safari content blocker settings

If your web browsing experience is ruined by the sheer number of ads that exist online these days, fear not. Ad-blocking is easy to set up on iPhone and iPad thanks to Safari extensions called content blockers.

These won’t just remove those annoying adverts from every website you visit, but they can also block other nuisances: web trackers, cookie permission pop-ups, slow-to-load comment sections, and more.

All this has the cumulative effect of speeding up your web browsing and reducing the amount of data you download. Because ads and annoyances are blocked at the source, rather than loaded and then hidden, it can greatly improve your experience using Safari. Here’s how to get started.

Natively block pop-ups

Apple bakes some simple ad-blocking features right into iOS, although they focus specifically on pop-up ads – arguably the most irritating type of ad known to man. Open Settings and tap Safari . Ensure Block Pop-ups is toggled on.

This is a great start, with no need to install third-party software – but we can do much better by downloading a full-on content blocker.

Content blocker extensions

There are plenty of these apps around, and most do broadly the same thing. Search “content blocker” or “ad blocker” in the App Store and choose one that looks good to you – be wary of anything with low/few app ratings, though.

Our favorite app for the job is 1Blocker , so we’ll be using that in our example screenshots here. Alternatively,  Ka-Block is a decent free alternative if 1Blocker’s $15/£15 yearly fee puts you off. (Read our full content blocker roundup if you need help choosing.)

Whichever you decide, install the app and open it to grant permissions and customize your settings. You’ll then need to head back to the Safari section of the Settings app and press Extensions . Turn on as many toggles as you wish to use from your content blocker to activate it. You can also open Safari and tap the Manage Extensions button from the aA menu to access these settings.

safari content blocker settings

Note that you’ll have to allow a content blocker permission to “view your browsing across all websites,” or it won’t be able to scan for ads. This is another reason it’s important to choose a trusted app with a good privacy policy . One of the reasons we like 1Blocker is that it doesn’t ask you to register, it doesn’t track your browsing, and it doesn’t store any personal details. Although the app itself can “view” what you’re browsing in order to filter it, none of that information is saved or seen by anyone.

We’d recommend starting with the default settings to see what difference it makes; you can always tweak the details later from the content blocker’s main app. Turning off extras like comment sections and social sharing links can speed up load times, but be mindful of whether you’d miss them when they’re gone.

safari content blocker settings

Whitelisting

Remember that many websites rely on advertising revenue to stay afloat, so it’s a nice gesture to disable your adblocker when visiting sites you want to support.

safari content blocker settings

This can usually be done by adding the web address to a ‘whitelist’ or ‘allow list’ from the main app of your content blocker. You can also toggle blocking temporarily within Safari with the Turn Off Content Blockers button in the aA menu. Just don’t forget to turn it back on later!

OS X Daily

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to disable content blockers for specific sites in safari for mac.

How to disable content blockers for specific sites in Safari for Mac

Some Mac users have content blockers installed into Safari, which are usually designed to prevent a part of a webpage from loading, things like preventing a remote javascript that tracks cookies or loads ads, or something that places a cookie into your browser, etc.

The very nature of how content blockers work can cause interference with certain webpages, and it’s not unusual for content blockers to completely break a website or webpage from functioning. Problems with content blockers are particularly common with finance and banking sites, wi-fi captive portals , and video sharing sites, so you may find yourself wanting to disable content blockers for a specific site as you browse the web in Safari on your Mac.

How to Disable Content Blockers for Individual Sites on Mac with Safari

It’s not unusual to need to disable content blockers for certain websites to work properly, so here’s how to do that:

  • Navigate to the site you want to disable content blockers for in Safari on the Mac
  • After the webpage has loaded, right-click on the website URL in the address bar, and choose “Settings for domainExample.com”

safari content blocker settings

  • Uncheck the box next to “Enable content blockers” to disable content blockers for this particular domain

safari content blocker settings

  • Refresh the webpage, and content blockers will now be disabled

With the content blockers disabled, the website should now load and function as intended.

There are also sites that you choose to not run content blockers on for other reasons, maybe so they function properly, maybe to support them (such as osxdaily.com please!), or maybe to even load them at all, since there are some examples where content blockers prevent a site from accessible at all.

By the way, if you’re using specific content blockers like an ad blocker , you may find it useful to know that you can also block ads by using a specific web browser , which would allow you to have a browser like Safari to skip having potentially problematic content blockers breaking your web experience.

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Related articles:

  • PSA: Content Blockers May Break Captive Portal Wi-Fi Login Pages
  • How to Block Ads on iPad and iPhone
  • Disable “Top Sites” in Safari for Mac OS X
  • How to Turn Off Split Screen in Safari for iPad? Exiting Safari Split Screen in iPadOS

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Cross site tracking enabled seems to cause issues as well with some web sites. I think it has improved over time, but still have to disable occasionally. I mostly just have Chrome installed to use when a web site gives me fits with Safari.

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How To Block Sites In Safari

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  • Software & Applications
  • Browsers & Extensions

how-to-block-sites-in-safari

Introduction

Blocking specific websites in Safari can be a valuable tool for managing screen time, enhancing productivity, and ensuring a safer browsing experience. Whether you want to limit access to distracting sites, safeguard children from inappropriate content, or prevent certain websites from tracking your online activities, Safari offers several methods to achieve these goals. In this article, we will explore three effective ways to block sites in Safari, catering to different needs and preferences.

By implementing these methods, you can take control of your browsing environment and tailor it to align with your priorities. Whether you're a parent seeking to create a safer online space for your children, an individual striving to minimize distractions, or a user concerned about privacy and security, the ability to block specific websites in Safari empowers you to curate a browsing experience that reflects your values and objectives.

Now, let's delve into the step-by-step instructions for each method, enabling you to make informed decisions about which approach best suits your needs. Whether you opt for utilizing Screen Time, leveraging Parental Controls, or employing a Content Blocker Extension, you'll gain valuable insights into how to effectively block sites in Safari, ultimately enhancing your browsing experience.

Method 1: Using Screen Time

Utilizing Screen Time to block specific websites in Safari provides a seamless and integrated approach for managing online activities. This method is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking to exercise self-discipline, parents aiming to regulate their children's browsing habits, or anyone looking to establish a healthier balance between screen time and other activities.

Step 1: Accessing Screen Time Settings

To initiate the process, navigate to the "Settings" app on your iOS device and tap on "Screen Time." Within the Screen Time settings, select "Content & Privacy Restrictions" to proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Enabling Content & Privacy Restrictions

Upon entering the Content & Privacy Restrictions section, tap on "Content Restrictions" and then select "Web Content." Here, you can choose to "Limit Adult Websites" or "Allowed Websites Only." Opting for the latter enables you to specify which websites are accessible, effectively blocking all other sites.

Step 3: Adding Websites to the Allowed List

To add specific websites to the allowed list, tap on "Add Website" under the "Never Allow" section. Enter the URL of the website you wish to block and repeat this process for any additional sites you want to restrict access to.

Step 4: Verifying the Restrictions

After adding the desired websites to the restricted list, exit the settings and open Safari to ensure that the specified sites are now inaccessible. By leveraging Screen Time's capabilities, you can effectively enforce these restrictions and promote a more focused and controlled browsing experience.

By following these straightforward steps, you can harness the power of Screen Time to block specific websites in Safari, aligning your digital habits with your personal or parental preferences. This method empowers users to proactively manage their online environment, fostering a healthier relationship with technology and promoting a more intentional and mindful approach to browsing.

Method 2: Using Parental Controls

Utilizing parental controls in Safari offers a robust solution for managing and regulating the online activities of children and young users. This method empowers parents and guardians to create a safe and secure browsing environment, ensuring that children are shielded from potentially harmful or inappropriate content while navigating the digital landscape.

Step 1: Accessing Parental Controls

Step 2: enabling parental controls.

Under the Content & Privacy Restrictions section, tap on "Content Restrictions" and then select "Web Content." Here, you can choose to "Limit Adult Websites" or "Allowed Websites Only." Opting for the latter enables you to specify which websites are accessible, effectively blocking all other sites.

After adding the desired websites to the restricted list, exit the settings and open Safari to ensure that the specified sites are now inaccessible. By leveraging parental controls, you can effectively enforce these restrictions and promote a safer and more controlled browsing experience for children.

By following these straightforward steps, parents and guardians can leverage parental controls to block specific websites in Safari, providing a secure online environment for children and young users. This method empowers adults to proactively manage and monitor their children's digital interactions, fostering a safer and more nurturing online experience.

Method 3: Using a Content Blocker Extension

Harnessing a content blocker extension in Safari presents a versatile and customizable approach to blocking specific websites and enhancing the overall browsing experience. Content blocker extensions empower users to exert fine-grained control over the content they encounter online, ranging from ad-blocking to restricting access to particular websites. By integrating these extensions into Safari, individuals can tailor their browsing environment to align with their preferences, whether it involves minimizing distractions, bolstering privacy, or fortifying security measures.

Step 1: Identifying a Suitable Content Blocker Extension

The initial step in utilizing a content blocker extension involves identifying a suitable extension that aligns with your specific needs and browsing objectives. Safari offers a diverse array of content blocker extensions, each designed to address distinct aspects of online content regulation. Whether you prioritize ad-blocking, site-specific restrictions, or comprehensive content filtering, conducting thorough research to pinpoint an extension that resonates with your requirements is crucial.

Step 2: Installing and Configuring the Content Blocker Extension

Once you have selected a content blocker extension that aligns with your preferences, proceed to install it via the App Store or Safari Extensions Gallery. After installation, navigate to Safari's preferences and access the "Extensions" tab to configure the newly installed content blocker. Here, you can customize the extension's settings, including specifying the websites you intend to block or tailoring the extension's filtering parameters to suit your browsing habits.

Step 3: Implementing Website Restrictions

With the content blocker extension configured to your specifications, you can proceed to implement website restrictions by adding the URLs of the sites you wish to block. By inputting the relevant website addresses into the extension's settings, you can effectively prevent access to these sites when browsing with Safari. This granular control over website access empowers users to curate a personalized browsing experience that reflects their values and priorities.

Step 4: Verifying the Extension's Effectiveness

After configuring the content blocker extension and implementing website restrictions, it is essential to verify its effectiveness by navigating to the specified websites using Safari. By confirming that the designated sites are inaccessible, users can ensure that the content blocker extension is functioning as intended, thereby fortifying their browsing environment in alignment with their preferences.

By following these steps, users can leverage a content blocker extension to block specific websites in Safari, customizing their browsing experience to align with their individual preferences and priorities. This method empowers users to exercise precise control over their online interactions, fostering a tailored and refined browsing environment that reflects their values and objectives.

In conclusion, the ability to block specific websites in Safari empowers users to curate a browsing experience that aligns with their values, priorities, and objectives. Whether it involves fostering a safer online environment for children, minimizing distractions to enhance productivity, or fortifying privacy and security measures, Safari offers versatile methods to achieve these goals.

By leveraging Screen Time, individuals can seamlessly manage their online activities, promoting a more focused and controlled browsing experience. This method is particularly beneficial for parents seeking to regulate their children's digital habits and for individuals striving to establish a healthier balance between screen time and other activities.

Furthermore, utilizing parental controls in Safari provides a robust solution for creating a safe and secure browsing environment, ensuring that children are shielded from potentially harmful or inappropriate content. This approach empowers parents and guardians to proactively manage and monitor their children's digital interactions, fostering a safer and more nurturing online experience.

Additionally, harnessing a content blocker extension in Safari offers a versatile and customizable approach to blocking specific websites and enhancing the overall browsing experience. By integrating these extensions into Safari, individuals can tailor their browsing environment to align with their preferences, whether it involves minimizing distractions, bolstering privacy, or fortifying security measures.

In essence, the methods outlined in this article cater to a diverse range of needs and preferences, enabling users to exercise precise control over their online interactions. By following the step-by-step instructions for each method, individuals can effectively block specific websites in Safari, ultimately fostering a tailored and refined browsing environment that reflects their values and objectives.

Ultimately, the ability to block specific websites in Safari empowers users to take control of their digital habits, promoting a more intentional and mindful approach to browsing. Whether it's for personal use or to create a safer online space for children, the methods presented in this article equip users with the knowledge and tools to curate a browsing experience that resonates with their individual needs and aspirations.

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InfoQ Homepage Articles Safari Content Blockers Under the Hood

Safari Content Blockers Under the Hood

Sep 23, 2015 9 min read

Alex Blewitt

At WWDC 2015, Apple introduced iOS 9. Although the new SDK does not introduce as many new or enhanced features as iOS 8, which included more than 4,000 new APIs, it does still provide a wealth of new functionality and enhancements. Along with the new SDK, iOS 9 is also marked by new developer tools to support some of its features, and new releases of Apple’s major programming languages, Swift and Objective-C.

This series aims at introducing all that is essential for developers to know about building apps for the latest release of Apple’s mobile OS. It comprises five articles that will cover what’s new in iOS 9 SDK, new features in Swift, Objective-C, and developer tools, and Apple’s new bitcode. This InfoQ article is part of the series “ IOS 9 For Developers  ”. You can  subscribe  to receive notifications via RSS.

With iOS 9, Apple introduced a content blocker mechanism  into Safari. Rather than provide a hook by which content blockers can provide a yes/no answer to each individual URL or resource as it loads, a content blocker is expected to serve up a configuration list — essentially, a set of URLs combined with a yes/no answer. This allows the web browser to compile this into the most efficient way of working with the format and to maintain a known good/bad list of websites to avoid consulting the blocker on each lookup. The next version of OSX, El Capitan, will have the same content blocker engine. 

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The other aspect is that this separates out the content blocker from the history or application state of the websites being browsed. A content blocker can say ‘Don’t go here!’ but it doesn’t get to track each site that you visit - if it did, there would be a strong desire for the content blocker itself to monetise the user’s personal browsing history.

Finally, by running the content blocker as an extension in a separate process, should the extension take up too much memory or be too slow to respond, it’s possible for the browser to arbitrarily terminate, relaunch or just disable the content blocker itself. In addition, by allowing people to audit the source code  it’s possible for users to have faith that the content blockers aren’t leaking personal information. (Safari is based on the open-source WebKit project.)

Configuration File

The content blocker configuration is a simple JSON file, with an array of rules at the top level. Each rule is represented as an object and has two fields; a trigger , which says when the rule is active (for example, based on the URL of the site you are visiting) and then a corresponding action , which says what Safari should do about it.

An iOS application has to be created to host the content blocker extension. This application typically also provides the place to configure the content blocker. Xcode 7 can be used to create a simple Single View application project to host an ad blocker:

safari content blocker settings

Once the host application project has been created, a Content Blocker Extension target can be added using the File → New → Target menu, and choosing the appropriate extension from the menu:

safari content blocker settings

This results in three files being added to the project: an Info.plist  for the content extension (which will give it the name used in the Safari Content Blocker list); an ActionRequestHandler  Swift class (which is called by the extension to return the configuration file) and a blockerList.json  file which contains a template for getting started:

Building and Running a content blocker

Once the template has been created, the application can be run using Cmd+R in Xcode. This will launch the dummy application and install the application content blocker at the same time. The individual extension blocker can be seen by going into the Settings app, then in the Safari option there is a Content Blockers seen when one or more blockers are installed.

Screenshot showing the content blocker under Safari preferences

To reload the JSON file, the content toggle must be turned off, and then turned on again. This triggers Safari to reload the list of blocked sites. Applications can also trigger this by calling the SFContentBlockerManager  method reloadContentBlockerWithIdentifier  and passing in the identifier for the blocker, as stored in the Info.plist of the blocker itself. To facilitate testing, add an automated reload to the AppDelegate method applicationDidFinishLaunching - this way, whenever the application executes the list will be reloaded automatically:

Not only is this the way ad blocker programs will ask Safari to reload the block list, it also provides a means to determine if there is any errors in the block list itself. There isn’t any easy way of debugging the ActionRequestHandler itself because it is running in a new process which isn’t attached to the debugger. Furthermore, log output (generated with print or NSLog ) will be routed through somewhere other than the Xcode console. The error returned by the callback will be nil if there are no errors, and will contain enough information to identify what the correct solution should be.

Blocking scripts and images outside a domain

The block list provides a number of other actions which can be done to limit certain types of resources. The url-filter is used as a quick test to determine if the rule may apply to a particular resource. Further tests can then be implemented to provide a way of blocking particular types of resource or whether it is loaded from the current site or not.

Since the url-filter is a regular expression, using a * on its own is not sufficient. The dot means ‘any character’ and * means ‘zero or more’ — so the .* will match any URL. If the type being loaded is a script or an image (i.e. loaded by the <script> or <img> tags) then this rule will fire. The load-type here can be either first-party (from the site itself) or third-party (from other sites). If a site uses a content delivery network (CDN) for its loads then this may cause problems; but for the most part, sites that have first-party loaded scripts will continue to work whilst third-party sites are often used by ad networks.

The resource-type can include a number of other elements, including:

  • document - HTML content
  • style-sheet - CSS files
  • font - Font definitions
  • raw - any document or request type such as XHR requests
  • svg-document - loaded by the SVG tag
  • media - Sound, Video
  • popup - Pop-ups

If the value is omitted then this will apply to all requests. As a result, a Do Not Track can be effectively replaced with:

Thus, all third-party sites will fail to load any connections. Sometimes this isn’t desirable; for example, a site like InfoQ hosts a number of heavy resources (such as the videos and presentations) on a content delivery network at cdn.infoq.com . To enable these to be loaded, certain domains can be explicitly excluded from this rule:

Note that the unless-domain is a string, not a regular expression; and subdomains aren’t tested (so infoq.com would not have the desired behaviour). It’s also the name of the site you are on, as opposed to the site you are connecting to; in essence, it allows sites to opt-out of the load behaviour.

Selectively fixing sites

It’s also possible to use the content blocker to hide certain parts of a site. For example, navigating to anything on Blogspot currently shows a header saying how it’s important to enable Google to use cookies to track what you do. This can be filtered using a blocking rule as well:

This will match any one of the blogspot domains (people visiting blogspot.com tend to get redirected to a country-local suffix like blogspot.co.uk ) and then use the css-display-none action to simply hide that element from the display. This performs a similar rule to the way that some ad blockers work today by hiding elements with a known ID. Provided that the ID of the element in the DOM doesn’t change, this will remain stable. Multiple selectors can be provided as a comma-separated string, like how CSS works today, using the css selectors level 4  draft.

Content blocking in Safari provides a powerful way of determining what scripts a user is prepared to load, without exposing the content blocker to the URLs that the user is visiting. It uses regular expressions to match domains but can provide exclusions to allow certain sites to keep visiting. As with other ad blockers, a web page can selectively have elements cut out of them.

It’s unlikely that advertising networks will sit still. For example, they may request that ad sites host copies of the script (instead of dynamically including them remotely, as they do today) or ask the advertiser host to set up a network proxy that will route requests through. Using hard-coded hostnames as a blacklist (such as doubleclick.net) is unlikely to last; advertisers will simply burn through temporary domain names as a way of evading blockers. Starting with a blacklist that encompasses everything is likely to be the only way to prevent this from spreading, and then selectively enabling certain domains or sites. And whilst the JSON format and rebuild-when-you-want-to-change it won’t be appealing for many, the content blockers rising to the top of the store will provide user-friendly ways of configuring these rules in an easy-to-use manner.

About the Author

safari content blocker settings

This series aims at introducing all that is essential for developers to know about building apps for the latest release of Apple’s mobile OS. It comprises five articles that will cover what’s new in iOS 9 SDK, new features in Swift, Objective-C, and developer tools, and Apple’s new bitcode. This InfoQ article is part of the series “ IOS 9 For Developers   ”. You can  subscribe  to receive notifications via RSS.

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safari content blocker settings

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mfein123

Grayed out Safari Content blocker and history clear

I have screen time restrictions disabled however the settings safari content blockers are grayed out. Also under safari the clear history and website data is also grayed out.

mom running iOS 13 on an iPhone 11. How do I fix this? Seems to be some other setting causing the issue. All community sites have not addressed this or suggest to turn off screen time content blocking which doesn’t do anything... Any idea how to fix? Thanks.

Posted on Sep 22, 2019 6:49 PM

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chuck_3rd

Sep 24, 2019 2:26 PM in response to mfein123

Hey there, mfein123,

Thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities. I understand from your post that there are certain settings for Safari on your iPhone that you are unable to access, even though Screen Time restrictions are not enabled. I'm happy to help!

In addition to restrictions, a device that has a management profile on it, such as those issued by an educational institute or employer, may have certain restrictions in place. If you aren't sure if you have a profile installed, you can use the information in Install a configuration profile on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support to verify. Note that if you do not have a profile installed, you will not see the option for one in Settings.

If there isn't a profile installed, or you've reinstalled the profile and it still won't let you access the Safari settings, I'd recommend next checking for and installing any available updates to your device: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support .

Should you continue to have trouble don't hesitate to respond back.

About iOS 17 Updates

iOS 17 brings big updates to Phone, Messages, and FaceTime that give you new ways to express yourself as you communicate. StandBy delivers a new full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to view from a distance when you turn iPhone on its side while charging. AirDrop makes it easier to share and connect with those around you and adds NameDrop for contact sharing. Enhancements to the keyboard make entering text faster and easier than ever before. iOS 17 also includes updates to Widgets, Safari, Music, AirPlay, and more.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

This update provides bug fixes for your iPhone including:

Text may unexpectedly duplicate or overlap while typing

This update introduces additional security measures with Stolen Device Protection. This release also includes a new Unity wallpaper to honor Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

Stolen Device Protection

Stolen Device Protection increases security of iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID with no passcode fallback to perform certain actions

Security Delay requires Face ID or Touch ID, an hour wait, and then an additional successful biometric authentication before sensitive operations like changing device passcode or Apple ID password can be performed

Lock Screen

New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month

Collaborate on playlists allows you to invite friends to join your playlist and everyone can add, reorder, and remove songs

Emoji reactions can be added to any track in a collaborative playlist

This update also includes the following improvements:

AirPlay hotel support lets you stream content directly to the TV in your room in select hotels

AppleCare & Warranty in Settings shows your coverage for all devices signed in with your Apple ID

Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

This update provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

This update introduces Journal, an all-new way to reflect on life’s moments and preserve your memories. This release also includes Action button and Camera enhancements, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

Journal is a new app that lets you write about the small moments and big events in your life so you can practice gratitude and improve your wellbeing

Journaling suggestions make it easy to remember your experiences by intelligently grouping your outings, photos, workouts, and more into moments you can add to your journal

Filters let you quickly find bookmarked entries or show entries with attachments so you can revisit and reflect on key moments in your life

Scheduled notifications help you keep a consistent journaling practice by reminding you to write on the days and time you choose

Option to lock your journal using Touch ID or Face ID

iCloud sync keeps your journal entries safe and encrypted on iCloud

Action Button

Translate option for the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to quickly translate phrases or have a conversation with someone in another language

Spatial video lets you capture video on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max so you can relive your memories in three dimensions on Apple Vision Pro

Improved Telephoto camera focusing speed when capturing small faraway objects on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Catch-up arrow lets you easily jump to your first unread message in a conversation by tapping the arrow visible in the top-right corner

Add sticker option in the context menu lets you add a sticker directly to a bubble

Memoji updates include the ability to adjust the body shape of any Memoji

Contact Key Verification provides automatic alerts and Contact Verification Codes to help verify people facing extraordinary digital threats are messaging only with the people they intend

Precipitation amounts help you stay on top of rain and snow conditions for a given day over the next 10 days

New widgets let you choose from next-hour precipitation, daily forecast, sunrise and sunset times, and current conditions such as Air Quality, Feels Like, and wind speed

Wind map snapshot helps you quickly assess wind patterns and access the animated wind map overlay to prepare for forecasted wind conditions for the next 24 hours

Interactive moon calendar lets you easily visualize the phase of the moon on any day for the next month

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

Siri support for privately accessing and logging Health app data using your voice

AirDrop improvements including expanded contact sharing options and the ability to share boarding passes, movie tickets, and other eligible passes by bringing two iPhones together

Favorite Songs Playlist in Apple Music lets you quickly get back to the songs you mark as favorites

Use Listening History in Apple Music can be disabled in a Focus so music you listen to does not appear in Recently Played or influence your recommendations

A new Digital Clock Widget lets you quickly catch a glimpse of the time on your Home Screen and while in StandBy

Enhanced AutoFill identifies fields in PDFs and other forms enabling you to populate them with information such as names and addresses from your contacts

New keyboard layouts provide support for 8 Sámi languages

Sensitive Content Warning for stickers in Messages prevents you from being unexpectedly shown a sticker containing nudity

Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models

Fixes an issue that may prevent wireless charging in certain vehicles

This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.

In rare circumstances, Apple Pay and other NFC features may become unavailable on iPhone 15 models after wireless charging in certain cars

Weather Lock Screen widget may not correctly display snow

This update introduces the ability for AirDrop transfers to continue over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range. This release also includes enhancements to StandBy and Apple Music, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

New options to control when the display turns off (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library

New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist

Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen

Home key support for Matter locks

Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices

Fixes an issue that may cause the Significant Location privacy setting to reset when transferring an Apple Watch or pairing it for the first time

Resolves an issue where the names of incoming callers may not appear when you are on another call

Addresses an issue where custom and purchased ringtones may not appear as options for your text tone

Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive

Fixes an issue that may cause display image persistence

https://support.apple.com/HT201222

This update provides important bug fixes, security updates, and addresses an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected.

This update provides important bug fixes, security updates, and fixes an issue that may prevent transferring data directly from another iPhone during setup.

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.

Contact Posters let you customize how you appear on other people’s devices when you call them with a customized poster

Live Voicemail displays a live transcription as someone leaves a message and allows you to pick up the call

Stickers iMessage app brings all your stickers into one place including Live Stickers, Memoji, Animoji, emoji stickers, and your third party sticker packs

Live Stickers can be created by lifting the subject from photos or videos and stylizing them with effects like Shiny, Puffy, Comic, and Outline

Check In automatically notifies a family member or friend when you arrive at a destination safely and can share helpful information with them in case of a delay

Audio message transcription is available for audio messages you receive so you can read them in the moment and listen later

Search improvements help you find messages faster by allowing you to combine search filters such as people, keywords, and content types like photos or links to find exactly what you are looking for

Swipe to reply to a message inline by swiping to the right on any bubble

One-time verification code cleanup automatically deletes verification codes from the Messages app after using them with AutoFill in other apps

Leave a video or audio message to capture exactly what you want to say when someone does not pick up your FaceTime call

Enjoy FaceTime calls on Apple TV by using your iPhone as a camera (Apple TV 4K 2nd generation and later)

Reactions layer 3D effects like hearts, balloons, confetti, and more around you in video calls and can be triggered with gestures

Video effects allow you to adjust the intensity of Studio Lighting and Portrait mode

Full-screen experience with glanceable information like clocks, photos, and widgets designed to view from a distance when iPhone is on its side and charging in places such as your nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk

Clocks are available in a variety of styles including Digital, Analog, Solar, Float, and World Clock, with elements you can personalize like the accent color

Photos automatically shuffle through your best shots or showcase a specific album you choose

Widgets give you access to information at a distance and appear in Smart Stacks that deliver the right information at the right time

Night Mode lets clocks, photos, and widgets take on a red tone in low light

Preferred view per MagSafe charger remembers your preference for each place you charge with MagSafe, whether that’s a clock, photos, or widgets

Interactive widgets let you take actions, like mark a reminder as complete, directly from the widget by tapping it on the Home Screen, Lock Screen, or in StandBy

iPhone widgets on Mac enable you to add widgets from your iPhone to your Mac desktop

NameDrop lets you exchange contact information with someone new by bringing your iPhones close together

New way to initiate AirDrop allows you to share content or start a SharePlay session over AirDrop by bringing your iPhones close together

Improved autocorrect accuracy makes typing even easier by leveraging a powerful transformer-based language model (iPhone 12 and later)

Easier autocorrect editing temporarily underlines corrected words and lets you revert back to what you originally typed with just a tap

Enhanced sentence corrections can correct more types of grammatical mistakes when you finish sentences (iPhone 12 and later)

Inline predictive text shows single and multi-word predictions as you type that can be added by tapping space bar (iPhone 12 and later)

Safari and Passwords

Profiles keep your browsing separate for topics like work and personal, separating your history, cookies, extensions, Tab Groups, and favorites

Private Browsing enhancements include locking your private browsing windows when you’re not using them, blocking known trackers from loading, and removing identifying tracking from URLs

Password and passkey sharing lets you create a group of passwords to share with trusted contacts that stays up to date as members of the group make changes

One-time verification code AutoFill from Mail autofill in Safari so you can log in without leaving the browser

SharePlay makes it easy for everyone to control and play Apple Music in the car

Crossfade smoothly transitions between songs by fading out the currently playing song while fading in the next so the music never stops

Intelligent AirPlay device list makes finding the right AirPlay-compatible TV or speaker even easier by showing your devices in order of relevance, based on your preferences

Suggested AirPlay device connections are proactively shown to you as a notification to make it even more seamless to connect to your preferred AirPlay devices

Automatic AirPlay device connections are made between your iPhone and the most relevant AirPlay-compatible device so all you have to do is tap “Play” to begin enjoying your content

Adaptive Audio delivers a new listening mode that dynamically blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency to tailor the noise control experience based on the conditions of your environment (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)

Personalized Volume adjusts the volume of your media in response to your environment and listening preferences over time (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)

Conversation Awareness lowers your media volume and enhances the voices of the people in front of the user, all while reducing background noise (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)

Press to mute and unmute your microphone by pressing the AirPods stem or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max when on a call (AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), or AirPods Max with firmware version 6A300 or later)

Offline Maps allow you to select an area you want to access, search, and explore rich information for places to download for use when your iPhone doesn’t have a Wi-Fi or cellular signal

EV routing improvements give you routes based on real-time EV charger availability for supported chargers

Option to say “Siri” in addition to “Hey Siri” for an even more natural way to make requests

Back-to-back requests can be issued without needing to reactivate Siri in between commands (iPhone 11 and later)

Visual Look Up

Expanded domains in Visual Look Up help you discover similar recipes from photos of food, Maps information from photos of storefronts, and the meaning of signs and symbols on things like laundry tags

Multiple or single subjects can be lifted from the background of photos and videos and placed into apps like Messages

Visual Look Up in Video helps you learn about objects that appear in paused video frames

Visual Look Up for subjects in photos enables you to look up information about objects you lift from photos directly from the callout bar

State of Mind reflection allows you to log your momentary emotion and daily mood, choose what factors are having the biggest impact on you, and describe your feelings

Interactive charts give you insights into your state of mind, how it has changed over time, and what factors may have influence such as exercise, sleep, and mindful minutes

Mental health assessments help you understand your current risk for depression and anxiety and if you might benefit from getting support

Screen Distance leverages the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID to encourage you to increase the distance you view your device to reduce digital eye strain and can help reduce the risk of myopia in children

Sensitive Content Warnings can be enabled to prevent users from unexpectedly being shown images containing nudity in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, and FaceTime messages

Expanded Communication Safety protections for children now detect videos containing nudity in addition to photos that children may receive or attempt to send in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime messages, and the system Photo picker

Improved sharing permissions give you even more control over what you share with apps, with an embedded photo picker and an add-only Calendar permission

Link tracking protection removes extra information from links shared in Messages, Mail, and Safari Private Browsing that some websites use in their URLs to track you across other websites, and links still work as expected

Accessibility

Assistive Access distills apps and experiences to their essential features in Phone and FaceTime, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music, including large text, visual alternatives, and focused choices to lighten cognitive load

Live Speech lets you type what you want to say and have it be spoken out loud in phone calls, FaceTime calls, and for in-person conversations

Personal Voice enables users who are at risk of losing their voice to privately and securely create a voice that sounds like them on iPhone, and use it with Live Speech in phone and FaceTime calls

Point and Speak in Magnifier Detection Mode uses iPhone to read text out loud on physical objects with small text labels, such as keypads on doors and buttons on appliances

This release also includes other features and improvements:

Roadside Assistance via satellite lets you contact AAA to help you with vehicle issues when out of Wi-Fi or cellular range (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max)

Pets in the People album in Photos surfaces individual pets in the album just like friends or family members

Photos Album widget lets you select a specific album from the Photos app to appear in the widget

Item sharing in Find My allows you to share an AirTag or Find My network accessory with up to five other people

Activity History in Home displays a recent history of events for door locks, garage doors, security systems, and contact sensors

Grid Forecast in Home shows when your electrical grid has cleaner energy sources available (Contiguous US only)

Grocery Lists in Reminders automatically group related items into sections as you add them

Inline PDFs and document scans in Notes are presented full-width, making them easy to view and mark them up

New Memoji stickers in Keyboard include Halo, Smirk, and Peekaboo

App Shortcuts in Spotlight Top Hit offer you app shortcuts to your next action when you search for an app

Redesigned Sharing tab in Fitness provides highlights of your friends’ activity like workout streaks and awards

Email or phone number sign-in lets you sign into your iPhone with any email address or phone number listed in your Apple ID account

New drawing tools in Freeform include a fountain pen, watercolor brush, ruler and more to create expressive boards

Crash Detection optimizations (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max)

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For more information, please visit this website:

https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-17

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all iPhone models. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

safari content blocker settings

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COMMENTS

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    Use content blockers. Content blockers are third-party apps and extensions that let Safari block cookies, images, resources, pop-ups, and other content. To get a content blocker: Download a content blocking app from the App Store. Tap Settings > Safari > Extensions. Tap to turn on a listed content blocker. You can use more than one content blocker.

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    Learn how you can set the Safari content blockers on or off by default on the iPhone 13 / iPhone 13 Pro.Gears I use:iPhone 13 Pro: https://amzn.to/3i454lHVel...

  7. iOS 13 Makes It Easier to Disable Content Blockers for Specific

    In the Settings app, tap the "Safari" menu item, and you'll find "Content Blockers" under General up top. Tap that, then turn on one or all of the content blocker apps you have installed. Next, go back to the "Safari" menu, then hit "Content Blockers" under the Settings for Websites section (confusing, we know) to change the behavior for all ...

  8. How to Disable Content Blockers for a Specific Website in Safari for

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    Open the website you want to see with no content blockers applied; Right-click on the address bar; Press "Settings for [site's name]"; Turn off/on the "Enable Content Blockers" checkbox. This will make the website invisible to all Safari content blockers installed on your device. You can find and manage the list of allowed websites in Safari ...

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    Open Settings and tap Safari. Ensure Block Pop-ups is toggled on. This is a great start, with no need to install third-party software - but we can do much better by downloading a full-on content blocker. Content blocker extensions. There are plenty of these apps around, and most do broadly the same thing.

  17. How to Disable Content Blockers for Specific Sites in Safari for Mac

    It's not unusual to need to disable content blockers for certain websites to work properly, so here's how to do that: Navigate to the site you want to disable content blockers for in Safari on the Mac; After the webpage has loaded, right-click on the website URL in the address bar, and choose "Settings for domainExample.com"

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    In your Xcode project, open the folder with the same title as your content blocker. This folder contains the action request handler and a JSON file, along with a property list file and an entitlements file. Open the blockerList.json file. In the JSON file, write rules to define content-blocking behaviors. Each rule is a JSON object containing ...

  20. Safari Content Blockers Under the Hood

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  21. Safari Content Blocking in iOS: a tutorial by example

    Instead, I want you to press Shift+Cmd+H in the iOS Simulator to return to the home screen. Now swipe to the left to find the Settings app, then choose Safari > Content Blockers and you should see NoMoreMail listed in there. It's off by default, but just flick the switch next to it and the content blocker becomes active.

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    1. On iOS, Safari Content Blockers are disabled by default. There is no way to automatically enable them from your app. You must instruct the user to: Open the Settings app. Go to Safari > Content Blockers. Toggle on your Content Blocker extension. On macOS (as of 10.12), a similar rule applies: Content Blocker extensions (bundled with your app ...

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    Ever since iOS 14.2 onwards, I've noticed that my content blocker for Safari is now having to be turned on manually for each page I visit. I know it's not the specific one I'm using as I uninstalled it in replacement for another and replicated the exact same issue (BlockBear! and then AdGuard). Content Blockers are still enabled within ...

  24. Grayed out Safari Content blocker and his…

    If there isn't a profile installed, or you've reinstalled the profile and it still won't let you access the Safari settings, I'd recommend next checking for and installing any available updates to your device: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. Should you continue to have trouble don't hesitate to respond back. Cheers! of 1.

  25. About iOS 17 Updates

    iOS 17 brings big updates to Phone, Messages, and FaceTime that give you new ways to express yourself as you communicate. StandBy delivers a new full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to view from a distance when you turn iPhone on its side while charging. AirDrop makes it easier to share and connect with those around you and adds NameDrop for contact sharing. Enhancements ...