An ad blocker follows filtering rules. It does not recognize every unwanted element automatically, and it cannot promise to remove every advertisement on every service.
Install from a trusted source#
Use the official browser extension listing linked by Adblock Plus. Check the publisher and requested permissions before adding it. Do not install a lookalike package from a download mirror just because a search result calls it an ad blocker.
After installation, check which filter lists are enabled. Lists are maintained separately from the extension and can change as websites change. Adblock Plus explains its filtering and Acceptable Ads choices on its features page.
Check exceptions before troubleshooting a page#
If a page breaks, test a temporary exception for that site rather than disabling protections everywhere. If an ad remains, distinguish a deliberate exception from a missing or outdated filter rule. Reporting the page to the relevant list maintainer is more useful than adding many unrelated lists at once.
Adding lists can also create duplicate rules or break legitimate content. Keep changes small enough to reverse. Advertising filters and tracking protection overlap, but they are not identical; see privacy filters and their limits for the distinction.
