Mozilla has added a built-in ad blocker to Firefox on iOS. Now, iPhone and iPad users can block many third-party ads and trackers without needing a separate extension.
The new feature is called Ad Blocker. It is optional and turned off by default. When you turn it on, it works before the page loads to reduce overlays, intrusive ads, and some tracking.
Firefox uses Apple’s WebKit Content Blocker technology and EasyList, a popular filter list for blocking ads. You can turn on the feature by going to Settings, then Browsing, and selecting Ad Blocker.
Importantly, Mozilla makes it clear that the blocker will not remove every ad. Ads that come directly from the website or appear in search results may still show up. Sponsored shortcuts and other sponsored content on Firefox’s new-tab page are not affected either.
This feature is meant to work alongside Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection, not replace it. Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks many known trackers and limits cross-site tracking. The new Ad Blocker focuses more on ads and related trackers.
This update matters most on iOS, since Firefox there does not have the same extension options as on desktop or Android. Because iOS treats browser extensions differently, Mozilla built the ad blocker directly into Firefox.
Mozilla says it left the feature off by default on purpose, so users can choose to use it or not. The company notes that ads help fund many websites and publishers, but too many ads, as we all know, can make browsing less enjoyable.
For additional details, see Mozilla’s announcement.
