Facebook shows you ads no matter what, but you can reduce them
You cannot turn off all ads on Facebook — the platform makes its money from advertising and does not offer an ad-free version. What you can do is limit which ads you see, hide specific ads that annoy you, and adjust your ad preferences so Facebook shows you fewer ads based on your browsing habits and personal data. The settings are scattered across different parts of Facebook, and some changes take a few days to show results.
This guide walks you through each method, starting with the fastest way to hide individual ads and moving to the deeper settings that reduce how much Facebook knows about your interests.
Key Takeaways
- You can hide individual ads immediately by clicking the three dots on any ad and selecting "Hide ad" — this trains Facebook to show you fewer similar ads.
- The Ad Preferences section lets you see which companies have your contact information and remove yourself from their lists.
- Turning off "Ads based on your use of websites and apps" in Settings reduces tracking but does not eliminate ads entirely.
- Adjusting your ad interests directly removes categories Facebook thinks describe you, though the site may add them back over time.
- These changes work best together — hiding ads, adjusting interests, and limiting tracking all reduce the ads you see, but none of them stops ads completely.
Hide individual ads as they appear
The fastest way to reduce ads you dislike is to hide them one at a time. When you see an ad on your feed, hover over the top right corner of the ad until three dots appear. Click those dots and select "Hide ad." Facebook will ask why you hid it — you can skip this or tell Facebook the reason, which helps train the algorithm.
Hiding ads does not block the advertiser permanently, but it tells Facebook you do not want to see similar ads. If you hide five ads about weight loss, Facebook will show you fewer weight loss ads. This method works immediately and requires no settings changes, but you have to do it each time you see an ad you dislike.
On mobile, the process is the same: tap the three dots in the top right corner of the ad and select "Hide ad." The option appears on both iPhone and Android.
Adjust your ad interests in Ad Preferences
Facebook builds a profile of your interests based on what you click, what you like, and what websites you visit. You can see this list and remove categories you do not want. Go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Ads," then "Ad preferences."
Under "Your interests," you will see a list of topics Facebook thinks you care about — things like "Technology," "Travel," or "Fitness." Click any category to remove it. Facebook may add interests back over time as you use the site, so you may need to return here periodically.
You can also see which advertisers have your contact information — your email, phone number, or mailing address. Under "Advertisers and businesses," click "See all" to view the list. If you see companies you do not recognize or do not want to hear from, click on them and select "Remove." This stops those specific advertisers from targeting you, though other companies can still show you ads.
Turn off tracking across websites and apps
Facebook tracks you on websites and apps you visit outside of Facebook itself. This tracking helps the company build a detailed picture of your interests and show you targeted ads. To reduce this tracking, go to Settings, then "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Click "Ads" on the left, then "Ad preferences."
Look for "Ads based on your use of websites and apps" and click it. You will see a toggle you can turn off. Turning this off tells Facebook not to use your browsing history outside Facebook to target ads to you. Facebook will still show you ads based on what you do inside Facebook — your likes, comments, and posts — but it will not factor in what you do on other websites.
This change takes a few days to take full effect. You may still see ads, but they should be less targeted to your specific browsing habits. Note that this setting is different from your browser's privacy settings — turning off Facebook tracking does not affect how other companies track you online.
Limit data sharing with business partners
Facebook shares your data with other companies through a system called "Audience Network." Advertisers outside of Facebook can use this network to target you based on information Facebook has collected. To limit this, go to Settings, then "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Click "Apps and websites" on the left side.
Under "Apps, websites and games," you will see apps and websites that have access to your Facebook data. You can remove individual apps by clicking them and selecting "Remove." You can also click "Edit" next to "Apps and websites" to see more details about what data each app can access.
Removing apps does not stop Facebook from showing you ads, but it does prevent those specific apps from using your Facebook data to target you elsewhere. This is most useful if you see ads from apps you no longer use or do not trust.
Use your browser's privacy settings alongside Facebook settings
Facebook's settings control what Facebook does with your data, but your web browser has its own privacy tools that work alongside them. Most modern browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge — have a "Do Not Track" setting or a privacy mode that limits tracking across websites.
Turning on "Do Not Track" in your browser tells websites you visit that you do not want to be tracked, though not all websites honor this request. Enabling "Enhanced Tracking Protection" in Firefox or "Intelligent Tracking Prevention" in Safari blocks many tracking scripts before they load. These browser settings do not stop Facebook ads, but they reduce how much data Facebook and other companies can collect about you.
For the most privacy, use your browser's private or incognito mode when you browse, though this does not prevent Facebook from tracking you when you are logged in to Facebook itself.
What happens when you change these settings
After you hide ads, adjust interests, or turn off tracking, you will still see ads on Facebook. The changes reduce how targeted those ads are and how much data Facebook uses to choose them, but they do not remove ads entirely. Facebook's business model depends on advertising, so the company does not offer a way to see zero ads.
Some changes take effect immediately — hiding an ad happens right away. Others take a few days — turning off tracking across websites may take three to five days to show results. Removing interests from your profile can take a week or more to fully change the ads you see.
Facebook may also re-add interests over time as you use the site. If you remove "Sports" from your interests but then like a sports post, Facebook may add "Sports" back to your profile. This is normal and does not mean your settings did not work — it means Facebook is updating your profile based on your activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay Facebook to remove ads?
No. Facebook does not offer a paid ad-free version. The company makes its money from advertising and does not have a subscription option that removes ads. Some other social media platforms offer paid ad-free versions, but Facebook does not.
Will hiding ads stop Facebook from showing me ads about that topic?
Hiding ads tells Facebook you do not want to see similar ads, but it does not may provide you will never see that topic again. If you hide five weight loss ads, Facebook will show you fewer weight loss ads, but you may still see one occasionally. The more ads you hide from a category, the fewer you will see from that category.
Does turning off "Ads based on your use of websites and apps" stop all tracking?
No. Turning off this setting stops Facebook from using your browsing history outside Facebook to target ads, but Facebook still tracks what you do inside Facebook — your likes, comments, posts, and searches. Facebook will still show you ads based on this activity. To reduce all tracking, you also need to adjust your interests and hide ads you dislike.
Why do I still see ads after I removed my interests?
Facebook shows ads based on many signals, not just your interests. The site also uses your age, location, device type, and activity on Facebook itself. Removing interests reduces targeted ads but does not stop ads completely. You may also see ads because Facebook has re-added interests based on your recent activity.
Can I see which companies are targeting me with ads?
Yes. In Ad Preferences under "Advertisers and businesses," click "See all" to view companies that have your contact information and are targeting you. You can remove yourself from individual advertisers' lists, though this does not stop other companies from showing you ads.