Installing uBlock Origin takes about two minutes
uBlock Origin is a free extension that blocks ads, trackers, and other content on websites you visit. To add it to Chrome, you go to the Chrome Web Store, find uBlock Origin, click "Add to Chrome", and confirm the installation. After that, the extension icon appears in your toolbar and starts working immediately on most sites.
The extension works in the background — you do not have to turn it on for each website or change any settings to get basic ad blocking. If you want to customize what it blocks or allow ads on specific sites, you can, but the default setup handles most situations without any configuration.
Key Takeaways
- uBlock Origin installs directly from the Chrome Web Store in one click and begins blocking ads and trackers right away.
- The extension icon appears in your Chrome toolbar after installation, and you can click it to see what it blocked on the current page.
- Some websites may ask you to turn off ad blocking to view their content, and uBlock Origin lets you disable it for individual sites.
- uBlock Origin is free and does not require you to create an account or sign in to use it.
Step-by-step installation in Chrome
Step 1: Open the Chrome Web Store. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select "More tools" and then "Extensions". This opens the Extensions page. At the top left, click the grid icon labeled "Chrome Web Store".
Step 2: Search for uBlock Origin. In the search box at the top left of the Web Store, type "uBlock Origin" and press Enter. The official uBlock Origin extension appears at the top of the results. It is made by Raymond Hill and has a red and white shield icon.
Step 3: Click "Add to Chrome". On the uBlock Origin listing, click the blue "Add to Chrome" button on the right side of the page.
Step 4: Confirm the installation. A popup appears asking "Add uBlock Origin?" with a list of permissions the extension needs. Click the blue "Add extension" button to confirm. Chrome downloads and installs uBlock Origin in a few seconds.
Step 5: Verify the installation. After installation completes, the uBlock Origin icon (a red and white shield) appears in your Chrome toolbar at the top right. You may see a welcome page open automatically. You can close it or read through the information — either way, the extension is now active.
Where to find the uBlock Origin icon and what it shows
After installation, the uBlock Origin icon sits in your Chrome toolbar at the top right, usually next to your profile picture. If you do not see it immediately, click the puzzle piece icon in the toolbar — that shows all your extensions. You can click and drag the uBlock Origin icon to move it closer to the left if you want it more visible.
Click the uBlock Origin icon anytime to see what it blocked on the current page. A panel opens showing the number of ads, trackers, and other elements it stopped. For example, it might say "42 requests blocked" — those are things that would have loaded from ad networks or tracking services. You do not need to do anything with this information; it is just there so you can see the extension working.
If a website does not load properly or you want to see ads on a specific site, you can click the uBlock Origin icon and toggle it off for that page only. The next time you visit that site, uBlock Origin will be active again unless you turn it off again.
Websites that ask you to disable ad blocking
Some websites detect that you are using an ad blocker and ask you to turn it off before you can read their content. When this happens, you have two choices: disable uBlock Origin for that site, or leave it on and find a different source for the information.
To disable uBlock Origin for a single website, click the uBlock Origin icon in your toolbar. A panel opens. At the top, you will see a large power button icon. Click it once to turn off uBlock Origin for that site only. The icon will turn gray, showing it is disabled. Refresh the page, and the website should load normally. The next time you visit a different website, uBlock Origin will be active again.
If you want to turn uBlock Origin back on for that site later, click the icon again and click the power button to re-enable it.
What uBlock Origin blocks by default
Out of the box, uBlock Origin blocks most ads you see on websites, including banner ads, video ads, and pop-up ads. It also blocks many tracking scripts — code that websites and advertisers use to follow you across the internet and build a profile of your browsing habits.
You do not have to configure anything for this to work. The extension uses filter lists — maintained by volunteers and security researchers — that identify known ad networks and trackers. When you visit a website, uBlock Origin checks every request the page makes against these lists and stops the ones that match.
Some websites may load slower or look different because ads and tracking code are no longer there. Occasionally, a website may break entirely if it relies on ads or trackers to function properly. This is rare, but when it happens, disabling uBlock Origin for that site usually fixes it.
Customizing uBlock Origin settings
The default settings work well for most people, but uBlock Origin has advanced options if you want to customize what it blocks. To access settings, click the uBlock Origin icon in your toolbar, then click the gear icon at the bottom right of the panel. This opens the settings page.
On the "Settings" tab, you can adjust how aggressive the blocking is. The default "Medium" level blocks ads and many trackers. If you want stronger blocking, you can change it to "Hard", which blocks more tracking and may cause some sites to break. If you want lighter blocking, "Easy" is available, though most people stick with the default.
You do not need to change these settings to use uBlock Origin effectively. The default configuration blocks the vast majority of ads and trackers without breaking websites. If you are comfortable with the basics, you can skip this section entirely.
Troubleshooting common issues
If uBlock Origin is not blocking ads on a particular website, the site may be using a newer ad network that the filter lists have not caught yet. Filter lists update regularly, so the issue may resolve itself in a few days. You can also manually update the filter lists by clicking the uBlock Origin icon, then the gear icon, then the "Filter lists" tab, and clicking the refresh icon next to "Update now".
If a website says "This site cannot be accessed with an ad blocker enabled" and you want to view it, you must disable uBlock Origin for that site. Click the uBlock Origin icon and click the power button to turn it off for that page. If the site still does not load, the problem is something else — try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.
If uBlock Origin itself is not working at all — the icon is there but nothing is being blocked — try restarting Chrome. Close all Chrome windows and reopen the browser. If that does not fix it, uninstall uBlock Origin and reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store following the steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does uBlock Origin slow down my browser?
uBlock Origin uses very little memory and processing power compared to other ad blockers. Most people do not notice any slowdown. In fact, because it stops ads and trackers from loading, many websites load faster with uBlock Origin than without it.
Is uBlock Origin safe to use?
Yes. uBlock Origin is open-source, meaning its code is publicly available for security researchers to review. It does not collect your browsing data, does not sell information about you, and does not inject ads of its own. It is maintained by volunteers and has been around since 2014.
Can I use uBlock Origin on other browsers besides Chrome?
uBlock Origin is available for Firefox, Edge, Safari, and other browsers. The installation process is similar — you go to each browser's extension store and add it the same way. If you use multiple browsers, you can install it on all of them.
What is the difference between uBlock Origin and uBlock?
uBlock Origin is the original, maintained by Raymond Hill. "uBlock" is a different extension made by someone else. uBlock Origin is the one you want — it is more widely used, better maintained, and has no affiliation with the other project.
Will uBlock Origin block ads on YouTube?
uBlock Origin can block ads on YouTube, though YouTube actively works to detect and work around ad blockers. The blocking may not be 100 percent effective, and YouTube may show messages asking you to turn off your ad blocker. If you want may provide ad-free YouTube, YouTube Premium is the official option.