Tell me if you’ve heard this before: “iPhones don’t get any ads compared to Androids.” While this may have been true regarding UI ads, iPhone in-app ads have gotten a bit annoying over the years. Back in the day, ads were limited to a single line at the bottom, but now there are pop-up ads, video ads, notifications, and a whole bunch of mess.
Apple does do a lot for user privacy. But all that does is give you slightly less targeted ads ad times. Even iPhones are not entirely safe from third-party tracking. The good news is that most of these ads can be blocked.
Easily Block iPhone ads in 3 simple steps
In this guide, we’ll discuss several different ways to block iPhone ads, but this is the most straightforward one.
- Install Total Adblock from the App Store and open an account
- Go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers
- Toggle on all Total Adblock Content blockers
Keep in mind that this method will only work for Safari ads.
Why should you block ads on your iPhone?
Well, if the annoyance and interruptions aren’t enough for you to come to a decision, there may be a few more reasons.
First, ads slow down your device. All those flashy banners and auto-playing videos use up resources and make your apps lag and pages load slower. By blocking them you free up bandwidth and speed up your browsing.
Then there’s the privacy. Many ads come with trackers that monitor your online behaviour, gathering data about you without you even knowing it. Blocking those ads means fewer eyes on your personal info, so you can feel a bit more chill.
And let’s not forget data usage. If you’re on a limited data plan, those unwanted videos and high-res images can use up your allowance faster than you think. By blocking ads you’re conserving data for the stuff that actually matters to you.
In short, blocking ads on your iPhone simplifies your digital footprint. It lets you take back control, makes your device run smoothly, protects your privacy, and ensures your data is spent on things you actually care about.
A Step By Step Guide on How to Block Ads Using Total Adblock on iPhone
1. Install And Set Up Total Adblock
- Open the App Store.
- Search for Total Adblock and tap Get.
- Install and open.
- You’ll be asked to create an account when you open the app.
- Enter your email and set a password.
- Purchase a premium plan.
Note: You will get an exclusive 80% discount on Total Adblock using our link.
2. Enable Total Adblock in Safari
- Go to Settings and scroll down to Safari.
- Tap Extensions and toggle all the Total Adblock extensions on.
- Allow the app to access content.
3. Blocklists
- Open Total Adblock and go to Settings.
- You will find different blocklists for each category (e.g., General, Social, Privacy).
- Customise your blocklists according to your needs to block ads better.
Other ways to block ads on iPhone
How to block ads systemwide on iPhone using DNS filtering?
Apple has some restrictions when it comes to system-wide ad blockers. So you won’t find any on the App Store. And sideloading apps on iOS is a whole other beast. But there is another way to block ads on iPhone, system-wide. And it’s surprisingly easy.
DNS-based ad blocking allows ads to get filtered out before they even reach your network. Here’s how to set it up using AdGuard’s DNS.
- Install AdGuard for iOS from the App Store.
- Open the AdGuard app and tap the Protection icon (shield icon) in the bottom menu bar.
- Toggle on DNS Protection
- Tap Protection > DNS Protection > DNS Filtering > DNS Filters.
- Select AdGuard DNS Filter to block ads and trackers effectively.
You can add multiple filters or DNS servers to refine your blocking preferences. But avoid adding too many filters, as it can slow down AdGuard’s performance. The DNS filtering may take a few minutes to fully kick in.
How does DNS Filtering work?
When you visit a website or use an app, your device sends a request to a Domain Name System (DNS) server to find out where that website or app is online. DNS filtering kicks in during this process.
Instead of letting every request go through, DNS filtering checks if the site or app has ads, trackers, or harmful content. If it does, the filter blocks the request before reaching your device. Think of it like a bouncer at the door.
You won’t see much of this happening, except pages load faster, apps feel cleaner, and your data is safer. With DNS filtering, you’re cutting off ads and trackers at the source, making your whole device smoother and more private.
How to use the distraction control feature to block ads?
With iOS 18, Apple introduced a nifty Safari feature called Distraction Control. This tool lets you hide annoying elements, making your browsing experience smoother. Here’s how to make the most of it:
- Open Safari and go to the webpage where you find distractions.
- Tap the icon on the left side of the address bar.
- Select “Hide Distracting Items” from the dropdown menu.
- Tap on the intrusive ads, pop-ups, or banners you wish to remove.
- Once you’ve hidden the unwanted elements, tap “Done” in the address bar.
Remember that Distraction Control temporarily hides these elements, and it is not a full-fledged ad blocker. If you refresh the page, some may reappear, especially dynamic ads. Moreover, hidden items don’t sync across your devices, so you’ll need to set them up on each one.
Disable personalised and location-based ads
This method won’t block ads, but they will make your Apple ads less targeted. It’s better for you privacy as it disable system-level tracking from Apple.
Disable personalised ads
Personalised ads are tailored to your preferences based on your Apple ID activity. To turn them off:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Apple Advertising at the bottom of the page.
- Toggle off Personalized Ads.
This makes the ads you see much more generic and reduces their relevance.
Disable location-based ads
Apple may use your location to show ads tailored to where you are. To stop this:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Scroll down to System Services.
- Find and toggle off Location-Based Apple Ads.
Use a browser with a built-in ad blocker
There’s only one solid option here (maybe two). Brave Browser is great option. It’s built on chromium and it has an easy to use UI. Brave’s Shields feature protects you in real-time by blocking unwanted content. You can access Shields by clicking the lion icon in the address bar. It will also let you view and customise your blocking preferences.
However, Duck Duck Go browser is also a solid option for many. It blocks trackers, hides your search history, and makes sure that websites don’t follow you around the web.
Turn off the internet to block in-game ads
If you’re playing an offline game that has ads in it, you can simply disable your internet connection while playing. Ads in games usually require an active connection to load, so turning off Wi-Fi or mobile data keeps them from appearing altogether.
Alternatively, you can use a firewall to block internet access for certain apps. 1Blocker has a firewall feature. You can read our full review to know more about it.
Best Ad Blockers for iPhone is 2025
To help find the best ad blocking solutions for your iPhone I’ve tested and reviewed a bunch of best ad blockers and here are my top 5 for 2025.
- 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 it’s very straightforward with 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, too.
Each has its own strengths, from blocking trackers to system-wide coverage. For a full comparison, check out our full article on the best iPhone ad blockers 2025. It’s got all the info you need to choose the one that’s right for you!
Wrapping Up
Don’t let ads on your iPhone be a daily grind. With the right tools and a few tweaks, you can have a smoother, faster, more private browsing experience on your iPhone. Even small steps like disabling personalised ads or switching to a privacy-focused browser like Brave or DuckDuckGo can make a big difference.
Your iPhone is built for speed, so why let ads slow it down? Explore the options we’ve shared and choose what works for you.
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