How can we help?
Browse the most common questions below, or reach out and our team will get you sorted. We're happy to help with blocking, broken sites, private tabs, the built-in VPN, downloads, subscriptions and anything else about Ad-block Browser.
Site looking broken?
A small number of sites detect ad blocking or rely on the very scripts the shield removes. The quickest fix: open the browser menu on that page and turn the shield off for that site only — everything else stays protected. You can manage the list later in Settings ▸ Trusted Sites.
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Get in touch
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Send us your question along with your device model and iOS version, and we'll take a look. We typically reply within 1–2 business days.
Browse FAQs
Quick answers on blocking, broken sites, cookie banners, private tabs, the VPN and subscriptions — most issues are solved in a tap.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Ad-block Browser block ads in other apps?
No — Ad-block Browser is a web browser with blocking built in, not a system-wide blocker. Everything you open inside the app is filtered: ads, pop-ups, video ads, trackers and cookie banners are stopped before they load. Other apps on your phone (and other browsers) are not affected.
Why do I still see some ads?
The shield blocks requests to known ad and tracking networks before they load. A few things can still slip through — for example "sponsored" posts and ads a website serves from its own domain, which are indistinguishable from real content at the network level. Blocking rules are refreshed with app updates, so keeping the app up to date gets you the best coverage.
A site looks broken or won't let me in — what can I do?
Some sites detect ad blocking or depend on scripts the shield removes. Open the browser menu on that page and turn the shield off for this site — the page reloads unfiltered while every other site stays protected. You can review and remove trusted sites any time in Settings ▸ Trusted Sites.
What does the "blocked" counter mean?
It's a live, on-device estimate of the ad and tracker requests the shield has stopped — WebKit's content-blocker engine doesn't report exact match counts, so the app counts blocked-domain requests as pages load. That's why it's shown with a "≈". The counter never leaves your device.
How do I hide (or show) cookie banners?
Cookie-consent pop-ups are hidden automatically using cosmetic rules. If you'd rather see and answer them yourself, turn off Settings ▸ Hide Cookie Banners. Note that hiding a banner simply removes it from view — on some sites you may need to show it again to log in or change consent choices.
What do private tabs do?
Private tabs use separate, ephemeral storage: pages you open there are never written to history, and cookies and site data from private tabs are wiped when they're closed. Your normal tabs and logins aren't affected. Ad and tracker blocking works in private tabs too.
Is my browsing history uploaded anywhere?
No. History, bookmarks, downloads and your trusted-sites list are stored on your device only — there's no Ad-block Browser account and no server of ours holding your browsing data. You can clear history any time in Library ▸ History, and private tabs never write history at all.
How do I turn on the VPN?
The built-in VPN is a PRO feature. Tap the VPN button in the browser menu (or the toggle in Settings), and your browsing is routed through an encrypted tunnel so websites see the server's IP instead of yours. The connection fails closed: if the tunnel drops, traffic stops rather than leaking your real IP — turn the VPN off to browse directly again.
Does the VPN cover my whole phone?
No — it protects traffic inside Ad-block Browser only. Pages, searches and downloads in the app go through the encrypted tunnel; other apps on your device connect as usual. That's by design: it keeps the VPN one tap away without touching your phone's network settings.
How do I change my search engine? Are suggestions private?
Pick Google, DuckDuckGo or Bing in Settings ▸ Search engine. If Search Suggestions is on, what you type in the address bar is sent to your chosen engine as you type so it can suggest completions — turn it off if you'd rather not. Matches from your bookmarks and history are computed on your device either way.
Where do my downloads go?
Open Library ▸ Downloads to see everything you've downloaded, watch in-progress downloads, and share, open or delete files. Downloads are stored inside the app on your device; use the share sheet to send a file to the Files app or another app.
What does Ad-block Browser PRO include, and what does it cost?
Ad, tracker and cookie-banner blocking is free for everyone. PRO unlocks the built-in VPN and future PRO features. It's available as a weekly or yearly auto-renewing subscription — with a free trial when offered — billed through your Apple ID. Prices are shown in the app and may vary by region. Full details are in our Terms of Use.
How do I cancel my subscription or free trial?
Subscriptions are billed and managed by Apple. Go to Settings ▸ your Apple ID ▸ Subscriptions ▸ Ad-block Browser ▸ Cancel. To avoid being charged when a free trial ends, cancel at least 24 hours before the trial period ends. Cancelling keeps PRO active until the end of the period you've paid for.
How do I restore my purchase on a new device?
Open the PRO screen in the app and tap Restore Purchases, making sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID you used to subscribe. Your PRO status comes back immediately — nothing else to set up.
The app is acting up — what should I do?
Try the basics first: close and reopen the app, make sure you're on the latest version from the App Store, and restart your iPhone. If a specific page misbehaves, try the per-site shield toggle. Still stuck? Email [email protected] with your device model, iOS version and the address of the page if the issue is site-specific.
Still need help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is here for you — just send us a note with your question and device details, and we'll get back to you within 1–2 business days.
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