How to permanently remove ads in Safari: from standard settings to hidden tricks

Advertising in Safari has become a real problem for many users iPhone, iPad And Mac. Pop-up banners, automatic redirects to dubious sites, auto-playing videos - all this is not only annoying, but also slows down the browser, and sometimes even threatens the security of the device. Apple regularly updates its anti-tracker protection, but advertisers are finding new loopholes.

In this article you will find 7 proven methods get rid of advertising in Safari - from basic settings to advanced methods using third-party tools. We will analyze solutions for different versions iOS/macOS, including a unique DNS filtering trick that blocks ads at the network level and even works in applications. No water - just specific instructions explaining why this or that method is effective (or will not work in your case).

1. Enable built-in tracker protection in Safari

Apple added to Safari Several built-in features to combat advertising and tracking, but by default they are often disabled or not fully functional. Let's start with the simplest thing - activating standard tools.

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Open Settings → Safari.
2. Scroll to section Privacy and Security.
3. Enable options:
   • 🛡️ Tracking protection (blocks cross-site trackers).
   • 🔒 Hide IP address from trackers (masks your real IP).
   • 🚫 Warn about fraudulent sites (filters phishing pages).

On Mac:

1. Run Safari, open the menu Safari → Settings → Privacy.
2. Check the box next to Tracking protection and select mode Strictly (most aggressive blocking level).

⚠️ Attention: In mode Strictly Some sites may not work correctly (for example, authorization through social networks will not load or comments will not be displayed). If you encounter a problem, temporarily switch to the mode Moderately.

These settings will reduce the amount of targeted advertising, but will not remove it completely. A radical solution will require additional measures.

2. Blocking ads using Content Blockers (extensions for Safari)

The most effective way to remove ads is to install content blocker. Unlike regular extensions, Content Blockers are integrated at the system level and filter advertising even before the page loads, which saves traffic and speeds up the browser.

The best free blockers for iOS/macOS:

• 🏆 1Blocker — simple interface, customizable filters, blocks trackers and social widgets.
• 🛡️ AdGuard for Safari — uses the same filters as the desktop version, supports custom rules.
• 🚀 Wipper is a minimalistic open source blocker.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the selected extension from App Store.
2. Go to Settings → Safari → Extensions.
3. Enable the blocker and configure the filtering level (it is recommended to select Aggressive or Maximum).
4. In some extensions (for example, AdGuard) you can add custom filters. To block Russian advertising, add:

   https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easylistrussian.txt

⚠️ Attention: On iOS extensions only work in Safari - they do not block ads in other browsers (for example, Chrome or Firefox) or applications. For global filtering you will need DNS blocker (see section 4).

Open a site with test advertising (for example, https://d3ward.github.io/toolz/adblock.html)

Make sure banners and trackers are highlighted as blocked

Try disabling the blocker - the ads should return

Check page loading speed (should improve)

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3. Manually adding filters via Screen Time (for iOS)

Few people know, but iOS there is a hidden function for blocking sites through Screen time. It can be used to create a blacklist of advertising domains.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Screen Time → Content and Privacy Restrictions → Content Restrictions.
2. Select Web Content → Limit Adult Sites.
3. In the section Never allow add ad network domains. Basic:
   • doubleclick.net (Google Ads)
   • googlesyndication.com
   • scorecardresearch.com
   • adservice.google.com

This method works at the system level, so it blocks ads even in applications that use WebView (for example, built-in social network browsers). However, it has disadvantages:

• 🐢 Slows down page loading (the system checks every request).
• 🔄 Requires regular updating of the domain list.
• 🚫 May break the work of some sites (for example, comments will not load Disqus).

How to find advertising network domains?

Open Safari and go to the site with advertising.

Click on the toolbar (icon AA) → Show site report.

In the section Trackers you will see a list of domains that are tracking your activity. Copy them and add them to the blacklist.

4. DNS filtering: ad blocking at the network level

If you want to block ads in all browsers and applications (including YouTube, games and social networks), configure DNS filtering. This method redirects requests for advertising domains to "empty" servers, making them unavailable.

Best public DNS with ad filtering:

Service	DNS address	Features
AdGuard DNS	176.103.130.130 176.103.130.131	Blocks ads, trackers and phishing. There is a family filter.
NextDNS	Individual (registration on the website)	Flexible settings, request logs, support for custom rules.
CleanBrowsing	185.228.168.168 185.228.169.168	Filters ads and malicious sites, optimized for family use.

How to set up on iPhone/iPad:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi (click on the icon i near your network).
2. Scroll to Configure DNS → Manually.
3. Add the addresses of the selected DNS server (for example, 176.103.130.130).
4. Save the settings and reboot the device.

For Mac:

1. Open System Settings → Network → Advanced → DNS.
2. Add DNS server addresses to the list, removing old ones.
3. Apply the settings and clear the DNS cache with the command in Terminal:

   sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

5. Safari Hidden Settings: Disable Push Notifications and Autoplay

Advertising in Safari not limited to banners - often annoying push notifications from sites and autoplay video with sound. These features can be disabled in hidden settings.

How to prevent sites from sending notifications:

1. On iPhone: Settings → Safari → Site Settings → Notifications → select Prohibit.
2. On Mac: Safari → Settings → Websites → Notifications → uncheck Allow sites to ask for permission.

How to disable video autoplay:

1. On iOS: Settings → Safari → Advanced → Autoplay → select Never.
2. On macOS: in Terminal run the command:

   defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitMediaPlaybackAllowsInline -bool false && defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2AllowsInlineMediaPlayback -bool false

   Then restart Safari.

⚠️ Attention: After disabling autoplay, some legitimate videos (such as those on news sites) will not play automatically. To allow playback for a specific site, right-click the video and select Allow autoplay.

6. Alternative browsers with built-in ad blocking

If Safari even after all the settings it continues to show ads, consider alternative browsers with built-in protection. They often work faster and filter content more efficiently.

Top 3 browsers for iOS/macOS with ad blocking:

• 🦊 Firefox Focus — a minimalistic browser from Mozilla with automatic removal of trackers and ads. Supports Content Blockers from App Store.
• 🛡️ Brave — blocks advertising and replaces it with its own ecosystem (can be disabled). Built-in Tor mode for anonymity.
• 🚀 Orion Browser - lightweight open source browser, supports custom filters uBlock Origin.

Comparison of browsers by key parameters:

Browser	Ad blocking	Extension support	Synchronization	Cons
Firefox Focus	Built-in (moderate)	Yes (via Content Blockers)	No	No history or bookmarks
Brave	Built-in (aggressive)	Yes (on macOS)	Yes (via Brave account)	Brave Rewards advertising (disabled)
Orion	Through extensions	Yes (uBlock Origin)	Via iCloud	Less stable than Safari

If you decide to switch to a different browser, export your bookmarks from Safari:

1. On Mac: File → Export Bookmarks (will save the file .html).
2. On iPhone: use iCloud or send the file to yourself via AirDrop.

7. Last resort: reset Safari settings and reinstall iOS

If advertising in Safari appeared after installing dubious profiles or extensions, the system may have been infiltrated adware software (adware). In this case, resetting the settings or completely reinstalling the system will help.

How to reset settings Safari without data loss:

1. On iPhone/iPad: Settings → Safari → Clear history and website data.
2. On Mac: Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage website data → Remove all.
3. Remove all extensions in Settings → Safari → Extensions.

If the problem persists, try full reset of network settings (this will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords!):

1. Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Reset → Reset network settings.
2. After reboot, configure DNS again (see section 4).

⚠️ Attention: If advertisements appear even after resetting, your device may have been jailbroken via configuration profile. Check for suspicious profiles in Settings → General → VPN and device management. Remove everything that you did not install yourself, and change your Apple ID password immediately.

As a last resort, do complete reinstallation of iOS/macOS:

• On iPhone: connect to your computer, run Finder (or iTunes on Windows), select your device and click Restore iPhone.
• On Mac: reboot into Recovery Mode (hold Cmd + R when turned on) and select Reinstall macOS.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about ad blocking in Safari

Why do some sites not open after installing a blocker?

This happens due to overly aggressive filters that block not only advertising, but also critical site scripts. Solutions:

• Add the problematic site to the blocker whitelist (usually there is a button Disable on this site).
• Change the filtering mode from Aggressive on Moderate.
• If you use DNS filtering, check the logs in the control panel (for example, in NextDNS) and unblock the required domains.

Is it possible to block YouTube ads using Safari?

Yes, but not all methods work equally effectively:

• DNS filtering (For example, NextDNS with the rule youtube.com##.ad-slot) blocks some ads, but not all.
• Extensions like AdGuard for Safari can hide banners, but do not prevent videos from being shown before the video.
• For complete blocking, use YouTube Premium or alternative clients (for example, uYou+ for iOS, but requires jailbreak).

Is it safe to use public DNS to block ads?

Yes, if you choose proven services like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS. Risks are minimal:

• 🔒 Your traffic is not encrypted (for complete privacy, use DNS-over-HTTPS or VPN).
• 📊 Some DNS servers may collect anonymous statistics (read the privacy policy before using).
• 🚫 Avoid little-known DNSs - they can redirect traffic to phishing sites.

For maximum safety, combine DNS filtering with VPN (For example, ProtonVPN or Mullvad).

How to block ads in Safari on Apple Watch?

On Apple Watch there is no separate browser - all sites are opened through iPhone. To remove ads:

• Set up DNS filtering or Content Blocker on a smartphone (see sections 2 and 4).
• If you use WatchOS 8+, check what's in Settings → Safari on iPhone option enabled Tracking protection.
• Avoid opening links from messages on your watch - it's better to do it through iPhone, where blockers work.

Is it true that Apple doesn't specifically block ads in Safari?

Apple does indeed limit the capabilities of ad blockers on iOS for several reasons:

• 💰 Business model: Apple makes money from advertising in App Store And Apple News, therefore not interested in a total blocking.
• 🛡️ Balance of safety: Excessive filtering can break websites and create problems for users.
• 📱 Platform limitations: On iOS extensions only work in Safari, unlike Android or Windows, where the blockers are systemic.

However, Apple is gradually tightening its protection against trackers (for example, the App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14+), which indirectly reduces the amount of targeted advertising.