You can't remove all ads from Facebook, but you can hide individual ads and control what topics they target

Facebook shows ads to everyone who uses the free version — that's how the platform makes money. You won't find a setting that turns off ads entirely unless you pay for Facebook Premium, which removes ads across Facebook and Instagram. But you have real control over which ads you see. You can hide ads one at a time, tell Facebook which topics should never be advertised to you, and adjust your ad preferences so advertisers see less information about your interests.

The steps below work on both the Facebook website and the mobile app. The mobile app is slightly different, so I've included both versions.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide individual ads by clicking the three dots in the corner and selecting "Hide ad," but new ads will replace them.
  • Adjusting your ad preferences in Settings lets you control which topics, interests, and categories advertisers can target you with.
  • Facebook Premium ($11.99 per month on web, $14.99 on mobile) removes all ads, but most people manage ads through preferences instead.
  • Hiding ads and adjusting preferences takes a few minutes but works best as an ongoing habit — hide ads as you see them.
  • Your ad choices don't affect the ads other people see, only the ones shown to your account.

How to hide a single ad on Facebook (website)

When you see an ad you don't want to see again, you can hide it in seconds. Look for the three dots (or sometimes an X) in the top right corner of the ad. Click it, then select "Hide ad" from the menu that appears. Facebook will ask why you're hiding it — you can pick a reason like "I don't want to see this" or "It's not relevant to me," but you don't have to. The ad disappears immediately.

This works, but it's a temporary fix. Facebook will show you different ads instead. If you want to stop seeing ads about a whole category — like weight loss products or cryptocurrency — hiding individual ads won't be enough. You'll need to adjust your ad preferences, which is covered in the next section.

How to hide a single ad on Facebook (mobile app)

On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the ad. A menu will pop up with options including "Hide ad." Tap that option. You may see a follow-up question asking why you're hiding it, but you can skip that and the ad will be gone.

The mobile app works the same way as the website — you're hiding that one ad, not the category. If you keep seeing similar ads, you'll need to go into your ad preferences, which is the same process on mobile and web (covered below).

Control what topics advertisers can target you with

This is where you get real control. Facebook lets you see and remove the interests, categories, and topics that advertisers use to find you. Go to Settings (the gear icon on web, or the menu on mobile), then select "Ads." You'll see sections like "Ad preferences," "Advertisers and businesses," and "Categories." Click or tap "Ad preferences."

You'll see lists of interests Facebook thinks you have — things like "Technology," "Fitness," or "Online shopping." You can remove any of these by clicking the X next to it. Removing an interest means advertisers can't target ads to you based on that topic anymore. This takes time if you have many interests listed, but it's the most effective way to reduce ads you don't want to see.

You can also control which categories of ads you see. In the same Ads section, look for "Categories." Here you can block entire ad categories like "Alcohol," "Dating," or "Weight loss products." Blocking a category means no advertiser in that space can show you ads, even if they try to target you specifically.

See which businesses have your contact information

Advertisers sometimes upload lists of email addresses or phone numbers to Facebook to find customers. If your email or phone is on one of those lists, Facebook will show you ads from that business. You can see which advertisers have your information and remove yourself from their lists.

In Settings, go to Ads, then select "Advertisers and businesses." You'll see a list of companies that have uploaded your contact details. Click on any business name to see what information they have (usually just your email or phone number). Click "Remove" and you're off their list. This doesn't stop them from advertising on Facebook — it just means they can't target you specifically because they have your contact information.

Pay for Facebook Premium to remove all ads

If you want no ads at all, Facebook Premium removes them from Facebook and Instagram. On the web, it costs $11.99 per month. On iPhone or Android, it costs $14.99 per month (the mobile price is higher because of how app stores charge). You can cancel anytime.

Premium also gives you a blue verification checkmark and some other features like better customer support. For most people, managing ads through preferences is enough. But if ads bother you significantly, Premium is the only way to stop seeing them completely.

Why you still see ads even after hiding them

Hiding ads and adjusting preferences doesn't stop Facebook from showing you ads — it just changes which ads you see. Facebook's business model depends on advertising, so there's no setting that removes ads entirely except Premium. When you hide an ad, Facebook learns that you don't want to see that specific ad or topic, and it shows you something different instead.

Also, Facebook updates its interest categories regularly based on your activity. If you visit websites about fitness, Facebook may add "Fitness" back to your interests even if you removed it before. This is why managing ads works best as an ongoing habit — hide ads as you see them, and adjust your preferences every few weeks if you notice patterns you don't like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will hiding ads stop Facebook from collecting information about me?

No. Hiding ads and adjusting ad preferences only change which ads you see. Facebook still collects information about your activity, location, and interests. If you want to limit what Facebook collects, you can adjust your privacy settings, but that's a separate process from managing ads.

Can I block ads from a specific business or person?

You can remove a business from your advertiser list (covered above), which stops them from targeting you with contact information they uploaded. But you can't block a specific advertiser from showing you ads in general. Your best option is to hide their ads when you see them, and Facebook will learn to show you fewer ads from that business over time.

Do my ad preferences affect what ads my friends see?

No. Your ad choices only affect your account. When you hide an ad or adjust your interests, it doesn't change what anyone else sees on their feed.

Why does Facebook keep showing me ads about things I just searched for?

Facebook tracks your activity across the web, not just on Facebook itself. If you search for something on Google or visit a website, advertisers can follow you and show you related ads on Facebook. You can't stop this entirely, but you can remove the interest from your ad preferences and hide ads from that category when you see them.

If I pay for Premium, will I see any ads at all?

Facebook Premium removes ads from your feed, but you may still see some promotional content from Facebook itself about features or services. You won't see third-party advertiser ads.