Pop-up ads are a major nuisance, especially on phones. And it’s more of an annoyance when that happens on a phone you’ve paid the big bucks for. Pop-up ads on iPhones can disrupt your browsing, pose potential security risks, and mess up your experience overall.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to eliminate them. Whether you rely on Safari or other browsers, the processes are straightforward.
Enable Safari’s Pop-Up Blocker
Safari, the default browser on iPhones, includes a built-in tool to block pop-ups. This feature prevents unwanted ads from showing up while browsing. It’s a simple yet effective first step toward a better browsing experience.
To enable Safari’s pop-up blocker:
- From your iPhone home screen, open the Settings app.
- Go to Apps > Safari
- Turn Block Pop-ups off.
With this feature activated, Safari automatically filters out most pop-ups. Here’s a pro tip: you should also turn the Fraudulent Website Warning on.
Install a Content Blocker for Better Ad Blocking
While Safari’s pop-up blocker is effective, it doesn’t block all ads. Pairing it with a content blocker offers a more complete solution. Apps like AdGuard and 1Blocker integrate with Safari to filter out all intrusive ads, trackers, and annoyances.
- Total Adblock is great for beginners, with ease of use and extra security features.
- 1Blocker is a power user’s dream with advanced customisation options to block ads, trackers and more in Safari.
- Wipr 2 is the most minimal one of the bunch. It does what it says and is very straightforward with an affordable one-time purchase.
- AdLock has privacy-focused features like safe browsing and tracker blocking in one package.
- AdGuard goes further with DNS-based system-wide blocking, so you can block ads not just in Safari but across apps and other browsers.
Once you have an ad blocker installed, here’s how to enable them:
- Open the Settings app from your Home Screen or App Drawer
- Go to Apps > Safari > Extensions.
- Toggle on the blocker you’ve installed to enable it.
Turn Off Personalised Ads
Apple’s ad platform uses your iPhone activities to show personalised ads within apps like the App Store. While it may seem like personalised ads are in your favour, when you realise the amount of tracking that happens behind the scenes, you may want to turn them off.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security, then select Apple Advertising.
- Toggle off Personalised Ads.
Once you do this, your ads on the App Store and other Apple apps will be generic and have nothing to do with your activities.
Avoid interacting with pop-ups.
Sometimes, pop-ups can lead to more pop-ups. Unless you are sure an ad is from a legitimate source, we highly recommend you don’t interact with it.
If you see an annoying pop-up ad in Safari, you can go to the Search field and enter a new URL or search term to browse to a new site. If you don’t see the Search field on your iPhone or iPad, tap the top of the screen to make it appear.
Some pop-ups and ads have fake buttons that look similar to a close button, so use caution if you try to close a pop-up or ad. If you’re unsure, avoid interacting with it and close the Safari window or tab.
On your Mac, you can quit Safari and press and hold the Shift key while opening It. This prevents Safari from automatically reopening any windows or tabs that were open.
Disable Location-Based Ads
In addition to personalised ads, location-based ads target you based on your geo-location data. Turning off this feature can further minimise ad relevance and frequency.
To disable location-based ads:
- Open the Settings app
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services
- Then select System Services.
- Toggle off Location-Based Apple Ads.
Update Your iPhone Regularly
Your phone’s software updates often come with security patches. These patches address vulnerabilities that are often exploited by ads and malicious websites. So keeping your phone up to date is always a good idea if you want to mimimise the harm done by pop-ups.
To check for updates:
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Tap General, then select Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Manage App Notifications
A lot of apps send promotional and marketing messages using notifications. They can often be just as intrusive as pop-ups. However, you can manage them easily. Just disable the notifications for the apps that abuse the notifications.
- First, identify apps that frequently send promotional notifications.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Go to Notifications and select the app.
- Disable notifications entirely or manage categories to silence promotional alerts while keeping important ones.
This approach is particularly useful for apps like shopping platforms or free games that are notorious for aggressive advertising. However, managing categories can help you disable promotional notifications while keeping the line clear for more essential ones.
Be Cautious with Free Apps
Some free apps are games monetised using ads and pop-ups. While it is a good way to make money by offering a free service, sometimes, these apps can get ad-heavy. While you can often upgrade some of these apps, there are also alternatives.
AdGuard’s DNS can help you block in-app ads.
- Choose Your DNS Server from AdGuard DNS’ website.
- Tap the Download Configuration Profile button for your chosen server.
- Open the Settings app and tap Profile Downloaded at the top of the screen.
- Tap Install and follow the prompts to complete the setup.
- Go to Settings > General > VPN, DNS & Device Management > DNS.
- Select the AdGuard DNS profile you just installed.
Reset Your Advertising Identifier
While this won’t stop your pop-up ads, this you make it harder for Apple to track you. Resetting your device’s advertising identifier can prevent ad networks from targeting you based on past behaviour. To reset your advertising ID:
- Open the Settings app
- Go to Privacy & Security > Tracking.
- Toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track.
- Then go to More Privacy Settings > Ads,
- Tap Delete Advertising ID.
This further reduces the likelihood of targeted ads appearing on your device.
Wrapping Up
Ads are annoying just by themselves. Pop-up ads demand your attention, especially on your phone, where the screen is so small that just about any ad takes up a big chunk of the screen. So, getting rid of them will improve your browsing experience significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting pop-up ads on my iPhone?
Pop-up ads can appear due to intrusive websites, free apps supported by ads, or tracking-based advertising systems. They can also originate from apps misusing permissions like notifications or location access.
Does Safari block pop-ups by default?
No, Safari doesn’t block pop-ups by default. You need to enable the pop-up blocker manually by going to Settings > Apps > Safari > Extensions.
Can I block pop-up ads in other browsers on iPhone?
Yes, browsers like Firefox, Brave, and Chrome support extensions or built-in features to block pop-ups. However, Safari is the most efficient for blocking pop-ups when paired with a content blocker.
What are content blockers, and do I need one?
Content blockers are apps that integrate with Safari to filter ads, trackers, and pop-ups. If you frequently encounter intrusive ads or trackers, using a content blocker like AdGuard or 1Blocker can enhance your browsing experience.
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