How to Block Ads on iPhone: Safari, Apps and Games (2026)

iPhone doesn't come with a full ad blocker, but you can block most ads on websites in a few minutes: install a content blocker for Safari, or switch to a browser that blocks ads on its own. Ads inside apps and games are a different story, and only some of them can be stopped.

This guide covers what each option actually blocks, how to set it up, why ads sometimes still show up, and what you can realistically do about ads that hijack your screen in games.

The short answer: what works where

• Ads on websites in Safari: install a content blocker app, then turn it on in Safari's settings. This removes most banners, video ads and trackers.
• Ads on websites with no setup: use a browser with a built-in ad blocker. It works as soon as you open it.
• Ads inside apps and games: Safari tools and browsers can't touch these. A system-wide DNS-based blocker catches some of them, and paying for the ad-free version is the only sure fix.

How to block ads in Safari on iPhone

Safari supports content blockers: apps that give Safari a list of ads and trackers to skip before they load. Installing the app isn't enough on its own, which is where most people get stuck. You also have to switch it on:

1. Install a content blocker from the App Store and open it once, so it can load its filter lists.
2. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Safari, then tap Extensions.
3. Turn on the content blocker you installed.
4. Go back to Safari and reload the page.

You can also manage extensions from inside Safari: tap the Page Menu button in the search field, then tap Manage Extensions. Apple's guide to using content blockers has the same steps.

Still seeing ads after turning it on?

• Reload the page. Blockers only apply to pages loaded after they're switched on.
• Open the blocker app. Some apps need to download or refresh their lists, or have extra filters you have to enable.
• Check the switch again. After an iOS update or reinstall, an extension can end up turned off.
• Know the limits. Ads served from the same servers as the page itself, like sponsored posts and many video platforms, are hard for any content blocker to remove without breaking the site.

Free Safari settings that help

These don't block ads by themselves, but they cut down on the most annoying ones. In Settings → Apps → Safari:

• Block Pop-ups: stops sites from opening new windows and tabs. See Apple's guide to blocking pop-ups in Safari.
• Fraudulent Website Warning: warns you before you land on known scam pages, which is where many "Your iPhone is infected" ads lead.

Two more tools live inside Safari itself, under the Page Menu button:

• Hide Distracting Items (iOS 18 and later): tap a box on the page to hide it, and Safari keeps it hidden on that site. Apple notes it doesn't permanently hide ads that change often, so it's best for fixed banners and sticky bars.
• Show Reader: strips an article down to text and images. To use it everywhere, go to Settings → Apps → Safari → Reader and turn on All Websites.

Use a browser with a built-in ad blocker

If you don't want to install a separate blocker and dig through settings, a browser with its own ad blocker is the simplest route. Kipzy's ad blocker blocks ads, trackers and pop-ups before they load, using EasyList and EasyPrivacy, the same filter lists many desktop ad blockers rely on. The lists update automatically every day, so new ad networks get blocked without waiting for an app update.

• Free with no account: ad and pop-up blocking is part of the free app.
• Privacy Report: see what was blocked on each site.
• Per-site control: if a site breaks or asks you to turn off your blocker, tap the shield in the address bar to allow it for that site only. You can undo it later in Settings → Sites with blocking off.
• Hide this: for a leftover banner or box, tap it and choose Hide this. Kipzy remembers it for that site, and you can undo it.
• Extra switches: Block popups, Remove tracking from links and Blocked new tabs in Settings.

Like any browser, Kipzy only blocks ads in Kipzy, not in other apps. If you want links from other apps to open in it, you can set it as your default browser.

Ads that redirect you to the App Store or another site

This is one of the most common complaints, and the fix depends on where it happens.

On websites

Redirects and surprise new tabs usually come from ad scripts. Turn on Block Pop-ups and use an ad blocker, since blocking the script stops the redirect before it starts. If a page claims your iPhone has a virus or that you've won something, close the tab: it's an ad, not a real warning. More on this in how to stop pop-ups on iPhone.

In games

Game ads that jump to the App Store when you try to close them can't be blocked by Safari or a browser. One built-in trick helps: Guided Access locks your iPhone to the app you're in, so an ad can't switch you to another app.

1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access and turn it on.
2. Open your game and triple-click the side button to start a session.
3. Triple-click again and enter your passcode to end it.

Apple's guide to Guided Access covers the options.

Can you block ads in iPhone apps and games?

Partly. iPhone apps don't allow other apps to change what they show, so there's no switch that removes every in-app ad. Your realistic options:

• Pay for the ad-free version. Many games and apps offer a one-time "Remove Ads" purchase. It's the only method that works every time.
• Use a DNS-based or system-wide blocker. These apps filter ad servers for your whole iPhone. They catch many ads in free apps and games, but can't block ads that come from the same servers as the app's own content, which is why video and social apps still show ads.
• Play offline. Single-player games that don't need the internet often skip ads in Airplane Mode. Some games won't load without a connection.

You may see advice to turn off Personalized Ads in Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising. That's worth doing for privacy, but Apple says it may not decrease the number of ads you see. It only makes Apple's ads less targeted.

What's the best ad blocker for iPhone?

It depends on where you see ads. Instead of a ranked list, check for these:

• Filter lists that update on their own, so new ad networks get blocked without you doing anything.
• An easy way to allow one site, for when a page breaks or blocks you.
• Clear privacy terms. A blocker sees a lot of your browsing, so pick one that explains what it collects.
• The right type: a Safari content blocker if you're staying in Safari, a browser with built-in blocking if you want no setup, or a system-wide blocker if your main problem is ads in apps.

Common questions

Does iPhone have a built-in ad blocker?

No. Safari blocks pop-up windows and limits tracking, and Hide Distracting Items can hide fixed boxes, but banners and video ads still load until you add a content blocker or use a browser that blocks ads.

Is blocking ads on iPhone free?

Yes, there are free Safari content blockers and free browsers with built-in blocking, including Kipzy. Some system-wide blockers charge for extra features.

Will an ad blocker break websites?

Occasionally. Some sites hide content or ask you to turn your blocker off. Allow that one site and keep blocking everywhere else.

Does blocking ads save data and battery?

Usually, because blocked ads and trackers are never downloaded. Pages tend to load faster too. See how to save mobile data on iPhone for more ways to cut usage.