The simplest way to reduce ads on Facebook
Facebook's built-in ad preferences let you hide specific advertisers and topics without installing anything extra. Open Facebook, click the three-line menu at the bottom right (on mobile) or top right (on desktop), scroll to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Go to Ads, then Ad preferences. From there you can see which advertisers have your information, hide ads from specific companies, and tell Facebook which topics you want to see less of — like weight loss products or cryptocurrency.
This won't eliminate ads entirely. Facebook makes money from advertising, so the platform is designed to show you ads no matter what you do. But you can make them less intrusive by removing the ones most likely to annoy you or follow you across the web.
If you want more aggressive blocking, you have two other routes: browser extensions that hide ads on the page itself, or adjusting your privacy settings so Facebook collects less data about you in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook's Ad preferences menu lets you hide specific advertisers and ad topics without any tools or extensions.
- Browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus can hide ads on Facebook, but they may break some features or slow the page.
- Tightening your privacy settings reduces the data Facebook uses to target ads, which makes ads less relevant but does not remove them.
- Facebook will still show you ads even if you block them all — the platform depends on advertising revenue.
Using Facebook's built-in ad controls
The fastest method is Facebook's own Ad preferences tool. On a computer, click the downward arrow at the top right of your Facebook page, 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 you are in Settings, find the Ads section on the left sidebar (desktop) or scroll down to find it (mobile). Click or tap Ads. You will see several options:
- Ad preferences: Shows which advertisers have uploaded your contact information or matched you to their customer lists. You can click any advertiser and choose "Remove" to stop seeing their ads.
- Ad topics: Lists categories like "Fitness and wellness" or "Business and finance". Click any topic and select "See less" to reduce ads in that category.
- Advertisers you have seen: A list of every company that has shown you an ad recently. You can hide individual advertisers here too.
- Ads based on your activity off Facebook: Shows whether Facebook is tracking your visits to other websites. You can limit this, though it does not turn it off completely.
This approach takes a few minutes but requires no software. The downside is that Facebook will still show you ads — just different ones, based on what you have not hidden.
Browser extensions that block Facebook ads
uBlock Origin is the most popular ad blocker and works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It is free and open-source, meaning the code is public and anyone can inspect it. Install it from your browser's extension store, and it will hide ads on Facebook and most other websites automatically. You do not need to configure anything — it works out of the box.
Adblock Plus is another common choice, also free and available on all major browsers. It blocks ads the same way uBlock Origin does. The main difference is that Adblock Plus allows some "acceptable ads" by default — ads that meet certain size and labeling standards. You can turn this off in the extension's settings if you want to block everything.
Both extensions hide ads by removing them from the page after it loads. This means the page may load slightly slower, and occasionally a feature on Facebook might break because the extension removed something it thought was an ad. If that happens, you can temporarily disable the extension for Facebook only, or add Facebook to the extension's whitelist so it does not block ads there.
One important note: extensions cannot see inside Facebook's private messages or encrypted content. They only hide ads that appear on the visible page.
Limiting the data Facebook uses to target ads
Facebook targets ads based on data it collects about you — your age, location, interests, websites you visit, and apps you use. The less data Facebook has, the less precise its targeting becomes, and the less relevant (and potentially less annoying) your ads will be.
Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Apps and websites. Under "Apps and websites you use", you can see which apps and websites have sent Facebook information about you. Click any one and select "Remove" to disconnect it. This does not stop Facebook from collecting new data going forward, but it clears the old connections.
You can also limit Facebook's off-site tracking. In Settings > Ads > Ads based on your activity off Facebook, you will see a toggle. Turning this off tells Facebook not to use your browsing on other websites to target ads. Again, this reduces targeting precision but does not stop ads entirely.
This method is slower than using ad preferences or extensions, and the results are less visible — you will not see ads disappear, just notice they are less tailored to your interests. But it is the most privacy-focused approach if you are concerned about data collection.
Why you cannot remove all ads from Facebook
Facebook is a free service because advertisers pay for access to your attention. The company's business model depends on showing ads to users. Even if you hide every advertiser, block every ad with an extension, and restrict all data collection, Facebook will still display ads — it will just show you generic ones based on minimal information.
Some people choose to delete their Facebook account entirely if they find ads too intrusive. That is the only way to stop seeing them completely. If you want to keep your account but reduce ads, the methods above are your options.
What to watch out for with ad blockers
Some ad blockers are not trustworthy. Before installing any extension, check the reviews on your browser's extension store and look at who maintains it. uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus are both well-established and widely reviewed. Avoid extensions with few reviews, recent creation dates, or vague descriptions of what they do.
Ad blockers can occasionally break Facebook features. If you cannot see photos, videos, or buttons after installing an extension, try disabling it temporarily to see if that fixes the problem. Most of the time, ad blockers work without issues, but it is worth knowing this can happen.
Some websites and apps detect ad blockers and ask you to disable them or pay for ad-free access. Facebook does not do this — it will work fine with an ad blocker installed. However, if you use Facebook's mobile app rather than the website, ad blockers do not work because apps do not use your browser's extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will blocking ads on Facebook affect my account or get me in trouble?
No. Facebook allows you to use ad preferences and browser extensions. Using them will not violate Facebook's terms of service or result in any penalty to your account. Facebook may show you different ads, but your account will work normally.
Can I block ads on the Facebook mobile app?
Ad preferences work on the mobile app the same way they do on desktop — you can hide advertisers and topics. Browser extensions do not work on mobile apps because apps do not use your browser. If you want to use an extension, access Facebook through your phone's web browser instead of the app.
Do ad blockers slow down Facebook?
Slightly, but usually not noticeably. Ad blockers have to scan the page and remove ads, which takes a tiny amount of processing power. On most devices and internet connections, you will not see a difference. On very old devices or slow connections, you might notice a small delay when the page first loads.
What is the difference between hiding an advertiser and removing an app connection?
Hiding an advertiser stops you from seeing ads from that specific company. Removing an app connection stops Facebook from using data that app sent about you. Hiding an advertiser is temporary — they can still show you ads later. Removing a connection is more permanent but only affects past data, not future collection.
If I turn off "ads based on your activity off Facebook", will I see fewer ads?
You will see the same number of ads, but they will be less relevant to your interests. Facebook will still show ads, just based on information it collects directly on Facebook rather than from your browsing elsewhere. The ads may feel more random or less targeted.