You can't fully disable ads on Facebook, but you can reduce them and control what you see

Facebook doesn't offer a setting to remove all ads. The platform makes money from advertising, so ads are built into how the service works. What you can do instead is limit how many ads appear, hide specific ads, and control what topics advertisers can target you with. These changes take effect across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger if you use the same account.

The most direct approach is to adjust your ad preferences in Settings, which lets you see fewer ads about certain topics and block specific advertisers. You can also hide individual ads as they appear in your feed. Neither option removes ads entirely, but both reduce how often you see ads that don't interest you.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook's ad preferences let you block specific advertisers and remove topics you don't want to see ads about, reducing but not eliminating ads.
  • You can hide individual ads by clicking the three dots on any ad and selecting "Hide ad" or "See fewer ads like this."
  • Limiting the data Facebook collects about you — through your activity settings and off-Facebook activity — makes targeting less precise and may show fewer relevant ads.
  • Using a browser extension that blocks ads works on Facebook's website but not on the mobile app, and Facebook may flag your account if you use certain ad blockers.

How to adjust your ad preferences in Settings

Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to Settings. On a computer, click the downward arrow at the top right, then select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings.

Once in Settings, look for Ads in the left menu (on computer) or scroll down to find it (on phone). Click or tap Ads. You'll see options for Ad Preferences, Advertisers You've Interacted With, and Hidden Advertisers. In Ad Preferences, you can see the topics, interests, and behaviors Facebook thinks describe you — and remove any you don't want advertisers to use. For example, if you see "Fitness and Wellness" listed and don't want fitness ads, you can delete it.

You can also see which advertisers have your contact information (usually from a mailing list or customer database they uploaded). Click on any advertiser name to see what data they have about you and block them from showing you ads.

How to hide individual ads and report them

When an ad appears in your feed, hover over it (on computer) or long-press it (on phone) and click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of the ad. A menu will appear with options including "Hide ad," "See fewer ads like this," and "Report ad."

Choose "Hide ad" to remove that specific ad from your feed immediately. Choose "See fewer ads like this" if you want to keep the ad from appearing but don't want to block the advertiser entirely — this tells Facebook's system to show you fewer ads in that category. If the ad violates Facebook's rules (for example, it's misleading or offensive), select "Report ad" instead and Facebook will review it.

Hiding ads one at a time doesn't change your overall ad volume, but it does train Facebook's system over time. The more ads you hide, the more the algorithm learns what you don't want to see.

How to limit the data Facebook collects about you

Facebook collects information about your activity on and off the platform, and uses that data to target ads more precisely. Reducing what it collects won't remove ads, but it can make the ads less relevant — and less relevant ads are often shown less frequently.

Go to Settings, then Privacy in the left menu. Look for "Your Activity" and click it. You'll see options to clear your history, limit future tracking, and manage what information is visible to advertisers. You can also turn off "Off-Facebook Activity," which stops Facebook from collecting data about what you do on other websites and apps. This setting is in Settings under Apps and Websites.

Another option is to limit ad targeting by going to Ads in Settings and clicking "Ad Topics." Here you can remove interests and categories that Facebook uses to show you ads. The fewer interests listed, the harder it is for advertisers to target you precisely.

Using browser extensions and ad blockers

Ad-blocking browser extensions like uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, and AdGuard can remove ads from Facebook's website when you use a computer. They work by filtering out the code that displays ads before they load on your screen.

These extensions do not work on the Facebook mobile app — they only affect websites viewed in your browser. If you primarily use Facebook on your phone, a browser extension won't help you.

Facebook's terms of service prohibit using ad blockers, and the platform has been known to detect and flag accounts that use them. Your account won't be permanently banned for using an ad blocker, but Facebook may restrict certain features or show you a warning. If you choose to use an extension, be aware of this risk.

What doesn't work: paid ad-free plans and third-party services

Facebook does not offer a paid subscription to remove ads. Some third-party websites and apps claim to offer ad-free Facebook access in exchange for a fee, but these are not legitimate Facebook products and often violate the platform's terms of service. Using them can result in your account being suspended or banned.

Meta (Facebook's parent company) has tested paid ad-free subscriptions in some countries, but as of now, no global paid option exists. If you see an ad or service claiming to sell you an ad-free Facebook experience, it is not a real Facebook feature.

How to manage ads on Instagram and Messenger

If you use Instagram or Messenger with the same Facebook account, the ad preferences you set in Facebook Settings apply to those apps as well. You can hide individual ads on Instagram the same way you do on Facebook — tap the three dots on an ad and select "Hide" or "See Fewer Ads Like This."

Messenger shows fewer ads than Facebook or Instagram, but you can still hide them using the same method. Your ad preferences, blocked advertisers, and interest removals sync across all three apps, so adjusting your settings in one place affects all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay Facebook to remove all ads?

No. Facebook does not offer a paid subscription to remove ads globally. Some countries have seen limited tests of paid ad-free plans, but these are not widely available. Any service claiming to sell you ad-free Facebook access is not legitimate.

Will blocking an advertiser stop all their ads?

Yes. When you block an advertiser in your Ad Preferences, that company cannot show you any ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger. You can unblock them at any time by going back to Ads in Settings and removing them from your Hidden Advertisers list.

Does clearing my browsing history reduce Facebook ads?

Clearing your browser history does not affect Facebook ads. Facebook stores your activity in your account settings, not in your browser cache. To reduce ad targeting, you need to clear your activity through Facebook Settings or turn off Off-Facebook Activity.

What happens if Facebook detects I'm using an ad blocker?

Facebook may show you a warning message or restrict certain features on your account. Your account is unlikely to be permanently banned for using an ad blocker, but the platform discourages it. If you want to avoid any risk, use Facebook's built-in ad preference tools instead.

Why do I still see ads after hiding them?

Hiding ads teaches Facebook's system what you don't want to see, but it takes time for the algorithm to adjust. You may also see ads from new advertisers or in new categories. If you want faster results, remove interests from your Ad Preferences or block specific advertisers directly.