The simplest way to block Facebook ads

Facebook shows ads based on what it knows about you — your age, location, interests, and websites you visit. You cannot remove ads entirely while using Facebook for free, but you can reduce how many you see and stop ads from targeting you based on your browsing habits.

The fastest method is to use your browser's built-in privacy settings or an ad-blocking extension. If you arrived here from the browser guide, you already know how to install extensions — ad blockers like uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus will hide most Facebook ads on your screen. However, Facebook still counts them as shown and still collects data about you. If you want Facebook to stop targeting you with ads based on your web activity, you need to change your Facebook privacy settings directly.

This guide covers both approaches: blocking ads from appearing, and telling Facebook to stop using your browsing data to choose which ads to show you.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser extensions like uBlock Origin hide Facebook ads on your screen, but Facebook still tracks you — they just do not show you the ad.
  • Turning off "Ad Preferences" in your Facebook settings stops Facebook from using your web browsing to target ads to you, though you will still see ads.
  • Limiting ad targeting requires you to visit your Facebook settings on a computer or phone, not through the extension alone.
  • Facebook's privacy controls let you see which websites and apps have shared your data with Facebook, and you can remove those connections.

Using a browser extension to hide Facebook ads

An ad-blocking extension works by filtering out the code that displays ads before they appear on your screen. On Facebook, this means the ad space stays blank instead of showing you a sponsored post. The extension does this automatically once installed — you do not need to change any settings.

The most common ad blockers are uBlock Origin (free, open-source, and lightweight) and Adblock Plus (free, with a paid version that removes more ads). Both work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Install whichever one you prefer from your browser's extension store, then reload Facebook. Ads should disappear within seconds.

One important limitation: the extension hides ads from you, but Facebook still knows an ad was shown. Facebook still collects data about what you click, how long you stay on the page, and what you search for. The extension does not stop that tracking — it only stops you from seeing the ad itself. If you want to reduce how much data Facebook collects about you, you need to change your Facebook account settings as well.

Limiting what Facebook knows about your web activity

Facebook tracks you across the internet through a tool called the Facebook Pixel. When you visit a website that uses Facebook's tracking code, Facebook records what you looked at. It then uses that information to show you ads related to those websites. You can see which websites have shared your data with Facebook and disconnect them.

On a computer, go to Facebook.com and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Ads. You will see a section called Ad Preferences. Click Advertisers and Businesses. This shows every website and app that has sent Facebook information about you. You can click each one and select Remove to disconnect it.

On a phone, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Ads, then Ad Preferences, then Advertisers and Businesses. The process is the same — tap each advertiser and select Remove.

Removing advertisers does not delete the data Facebook already has. It stops Facebook from using new data from those websites to target future ads to you. The change takes effect over the next few days.

Turning off interest-based targeting

Facebook builds a profile of your interests based on what you like, what you click, and what you search for on Facebook itself. It uses this profile to show you ads for products and topics it thinks you care about. You can see this list and remove interests you do not want Facebook to use.

Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Ads > Ad Preferences > Your Interests. Facebook will show you a list of categories it has assigned to you — things like "Technology Enthusiasts" or "Home Improvement." Click the X next to any interest you want to remove. You can remove as many as you want. Facebook will stop using those interests to target ads, though it may assign you new interests based on your future activity.

This setting is separate from the advertisers list. Removing interests stops Facebook from using your behavior on Facebook itself to target ads. Removing advertisers stops Facebook from using your behavior on other websites.

Controlling who can see your ads and what data they use

You can also limit how much information advertisers see about you when they buy ads on Facebook. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Ads > Ad Preferences > Audience Controls. Here you can choose whether advertisers can target you based on your age, gender, location, or interests. Unchecking these boxes does not hide ads — it just prevents advertisers from narrowing their audience to people like you.

For example, if you uncheck "Age," an advertiser cannot say "show this ad only to people aged 25 to 34." They can still buy ads on Facebook, but those ads will show to a broader audience. This does not stop Facebook from collecting your age — it only stops advertisers from using it to target you.

What happens when you block ads with an extension and change settings

If you use both an ad-blocking extension and change your Facebook settings, you get the most control. The extension hides ads from your screen. Removing advertisers and interests stops Facebook from using certain data to choose which ads to show (even though you will not see them anyway). Unchecking audience controls prevents advertisers from targeting you based on demographics.

However, Facebook will still show you some ads no matter what you do. Facebook's business model depends on advertising, and free accounts are supported by ads. Even with all these settings changed, you will see ads from Facebook itself, ads from people you follow, and ads based on information Facebook collects directly from your activity on Facebook.

If you want to see no ads at all, you would need to pay for Facebook's ad-free subscription (called Meta Verified on some regions), which costs money and is not available everywhere. For most people, using an extension plus adjusting your ad preferences is the practical middle ground.

Checking your privacy settings regularly

Facebook changes its privacy settings and interface periodically. What you removed last year may have been re-added if you did not opt out again. Every few months, return to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Ads and review your Ad Preferences. Check your Advertisers and Businesses list and remove any new entries. Check your Your Interests list and remove interests you do not recognize.

You can also read a copy of all the data Facebook has collected about you. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Your Information and Permissions > read Your Information. This shows you everything Facebook knows — your interests, the advertisers it has connected to you, your search history, and more. Reviewing this file once a year helps you understand what Facebook is tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will blocking ads with an extension slow down Facebook?

No. Ad blockers actually make Facebook load faster because they prevent the code that displays ads from running. You may notice pages load a fraction of a second quicker, though the difference is usually too small to notice on modern computers and phones.

Can Facebook tell if I am using an ad blocker?

Facebook knows when ads are not displaying, but it cannot force you to see them or punish you for using an extension. It may occasionally show you a message asking you to disable your blocker, but you can ignore it. Your account will not be suspended or limited.

If I remove an advertiser, will they stop emailing me?

No. Removing an advertiser from your Facebook ad preferences only stops Facebook from showing you their ads. It does not unsubscribe you from their email list or affect how they contact you outside of Facebook. To stop emails, you need to unsubscribe through the email itself or contact the company directly.

Do I need to do this on both my phone and computer?

Your Facebook settings sync across all devices, so changing them on your computer applies to your phone and vice versa. However, ad-blocking extensions only work in the browser where you install them. If you use Chrome on your computer and Safari on your phone, you need to install an ad blocker in Safari separately.

What is the difference between removing advertisers and removing interests?

Removing advertisers stops Facebook from using data that websites sent to Facebook about you. Removing interests stops Facebook from using your behavior on Facebook itself. You should do both to limit targeting as much as possible.