You can reduce ads on Facebook through settings, browser extensions, and account preferences — but Facebook will still show you some ads no matter what you do
Facebook's business model depends on advertising, so the platform does not offer a way to remove ads entirely. What you can do is limit how many ads appear, control what kinds of ads you see, and use browser tools to hide ads that do get through. The most effective approach combines Facebook's own ad preference settings with a browser extension designed to block ads across the web.
The methods below work on both desktop and mobile, though mobile has fewer options. None of them will stop Facebook from collecting data about you — that happens whether ads are visible or not.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook's Ad Preferences menu lets you see which companies have your information and remove yourself from their targeting lists, which reduces (but does not eliminate) the ads you see.
- Browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus can hide ads on Facebook and other websites, and they work on desktop but not on the Facebook mobile app.
- Limiting ad topics in your Facebook settings prevents ads about certain subjects from appearing, though Facebook will still show you ads based on your activity.
- Clearing your Facebook cookies regularly makes it harder for Facebook to track your activity across other websites, which can reduce personalized ads over time.
- The Facebook mobile app has fewer ad-blocking options than the desktop version, so using Facebook in a mobile browser with an extension installed gives you more control.
Adjust your ad preferences directly in Facebook settings
Facebook's Ad Preferences page is the most direct way to tell the platform which ads you do not want to see. On desktop, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left, scroll down to "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings." In the left sidebar, click "Ads," then "Ad preferences." On mobile, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Ads > Ad preferences.
Once you are in Ad Preferences, you will see sections for "Advertisers and businesses," "Ad topics," and "Advertisers based on your activity." Under "Advertisers and businesses," you can see which companies have uploaded your information (usually your email or phone number) to target you. Click the X next to any advertiser to remove yourself from their list. This does not stop them from advertising on Facebook, but it stops them from targeting you specifically.
Under "Ad topics," you can hide ads about categories like alcohol, weight loss, or gambling. Selecting "See less" for a topic does not remove all ads in that category, but it tells Facebook to show you fewer of them. Under "Advertisers based on your activity," you can see which advertisers are targeting you based on your Facebook behavior — your likes, comments, pages you visit, and links you click. You cannot remove these, but seeing them helps you understand why you are seeing certain ads.
Install a browser extension to hide ads on Facebook and other sites
Browser extensions like uBlock Origin, Adblock Plus, and AdGuard block ads across the entire web, including Facebook. These extensions work on desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) but not on the Facebook mobile app. If you use Facebook mostly on your phone, this method will not help you there.
To install an extension, go to your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store for Chrome, Add-ons for Firefox, etc.) and search for the extension by name. Click "Add to Chrome" or the equivalent button, then confirm the permissions it needs. Once installed, the extension runs automatically — you do not need to turn it on for each site. Most ad blockers hide ads without any setup, though some let you customize which sites to block ads on or which types of ads to allow.
uBlock Origin is free and blocks most ads without slowing down your browser noticeably. Adblock Plus is also free but allows some ads through by default (you can turn this off in settings). AdGuard is more powerful but costs money for the full version. All three work on Facebook, though Facebook occasionally changes its code to make blocking harder, so you may need to update your extension periodically.
Clear your cookies to reduce targeted ads over time
Facebook and other websites use cookies — small files stored on your computer — to track what you do online and show you targeted ads. Clearing your cookies regularly makes it harder for Facebook to build a complete picture of your interests, which can reduce how personalized your ads become.
On Chrome, click the menu icon (three dots) in the top right, go to "Settings," then "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data." Select "Cookies and other site data," choose the time range (select "All time" to clear everything), and click "Clear data." On Firefox, click the menu icon, go to "Settings," then "Privacy and security," scroll to "Cookies and Site Data," and click "Clear Data." On Safari, click "Safari" in the top menu, then "Settings," go to the "Privacy" tab, and click "Manage Website Data," then "Remove All."
Clearing cookies will log you out of Facebook and other sites, so you will need to log back in. If you clear cookies frequently (weekly or monthly), Facebook will have a harder time tracking your activity across websites, which means fewer ads based on your browsing outside Facebook. However, Facebook still tracks what you do inside Facebook itself, so this method only reduces personalized ads, not all ads.
Use Facebook in a mobile browser instead of the app to access ad blockers
The Facebook mobile app does not allow browser extensions, so ad blockers do not work on it. If you use Facebook mostly on your phone and want to block ads, open Facebook in your mobile browser (Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android) instead of the app. Once you have installed an ad blocker extension in your mobile browser, it will block ads when you visit Facebook through the browser.
Using Facebook in a browser instead of the app is slower and less convenient — the app is optimized for phones and the browser version is not. However, if ad blocking is important to you and you use Facebook on mobile, this is the only way to get it. You can keep the app installed for notifications and use the browser when you want to browse without ads.
Understand what ad blocking does and does not do
Ad blockers hide ads from your view, but they do not stop Facebook from collecting data about you or from showing ads to other people based on your information. Facebook still knows what you click, what you like, and what you search for — that data is used to build your profile and sell targeted advertising to businesses. Blocking ads only changes what you see on your screen.
Similarly, adjusting your ad preferences tells Facebook which ads to show you less often, but it does not prevent Facebook from collecting the data that advertisers use to target you. If you remove yourself from an advertiser's targeting list, that advertiser can still see your information — you just will not see their ads. If you want to reduce data collection itself, you would need to use privacy tools like a VPN or a privacy-focused browser, which are separate from ad blocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Facebook ban me for using an ad blocker?
No. Facebook does not ban users for running ad blockers. The company dislikes ad blockers because they reduce ad revenue, and Facebook occasionally updates its code to make blocking harder, but using an extension is not against Facebook's terms of service and will not get your account suspended.
Can I block ads on the Facebook mobile app?
Not directly. The Facebook app does not support browser extensions. Your only option is to use Facebook in your mobile browser (Chrome or Safari) instead of the app, then install an ad blocker extension in that browser. This is slower than the app but gives you ad blocking on mobile.
If I block ads, will Facebook still track me?
Yes. Ad blockers only hide ads from your view. Facebook continues to collect data about your activity, your likes, your searches, and your clicks whether ads are visible or not. That data is used to build your profile and sell to advertisers. Blocking ads does not reduce tracking.
Why do I still see ads after adjusting my ad preferences?
Facebook will always show you ads because advertising is how the platform makes money. Adjusting your preferences tells Facebook which ads to show you less often, but it does not remove ads entirely. You will see fewer ads about certain topics or from certain advertisers, but you will still see ads based on your activity and basic information like your location and age.
Do I need to pay for an ad blocker?
No. uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus are both free. AdGuard has a free version with basic blocking and a paid version with more features. For blocking ads on Facebook, the free versions of uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus work well enough that you do not need to pay.