Are you tired of annoying ads, and popups disrupting your browsing experience in Safari? With the latest iOS 18 beta update, Apple has introduced a new feature called “Distraction Control” that allows you to hide certain banners, cookie pop-ups, ads, and other distracting items while you’re browsing.
Read on to learn how to use the Distraction Control feature to block and hide annoying ads in the Safari web browser on your iPhone.
Also, read How to Install New iOS 18 Developer Beta Right Now
What is the Distraction Control feature in iOS 18?
Distraction Control is a feature in iOS 18’s Safari web browser that allows you to hide banners, pop-ups with cookie preferences, ads, and other distracting elements from webpages.
The feature is designed to target a wide range of distracting content, including:
- Banner and display ads
- Pop-up windows and overlays
- Cookie consent notifications
- Newsletter sign-up forms
- Social media share buttons
- Auto-playing videos
What I liked most about this feature is its manual selection – you can choose which webpage elements to hide. Let’s say, you don’t want a specific webpage to show you autoplay videos, you can use the feature to hide those autoplay videos.
How to Turn on & Use Distraction Control in Safari (iOS 18)
Wait before we move ahead, let me make it clear that the Distraction Control Feature is only available in iOS 18 Public Beta 3 and above.
So, if you’re using iOS 18 Public Beta 1 or 2, you need to update your device to the Beta 3 to use the feature.
You can download and install iOS 18 Public Beta 3 by opening the Settings app, then going to General and finally to Software Update. Download and install the available iOS 18 Public Beta 3 update on your iPhone.
Now, to use this feature follow the steps below:
1. Open the Safari web browser on your Apple iPhone. Then, go to a webpage where you want to hide ads, banners, or other elements.
2. When the site opens, tap on the Page Menu on the Address bar and then tap on the Hide Distracting Items.
3. A message then appears saying, “Hiding distracting items will not permanently remove ads and other content that updates frequently.” Tap ‘OK’ to continue.
4. Next up, you will be asked to select the items you wish to hide from the webpage. Once you have selected the item, tap on the Hide button in the center to hide it.
5. Finally, in the address bar, tap Done to confirm the changes.
Now, when you enable Distraction Control on a webpage, a tiny blue indicator appears next to the address bar. This tells you that, this feature is working.
If you later want to unhide the elements, just tap this blue indicator (or the Page Menu) and choose Show Hidden Items.
Benefits of Using Distraction Control
The advantages of Distraction Control extend far beyond simply hiding ads. You can expect:
- Improved focus and concentration while reading articles
- Faster page loading times due to reduced content
- Decreased data usage, particularly beneficial for those on limited data plans
- A cleaner look for taking screenshots or sharing web content
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While Distraction Control is designed to work seamlessly, users may occasionally encounter some issues. Here are some quick fixes:
- If elements aren’t being hidden properly, try reloading the page
- Ensure that your iOS and Safari are updated to the latest version
- Clear your Safari cache and website data if problems persist
- Check that content blockers aren’t interfering with the Distraction Control feature
Conclusion
That’s it! This is how you can hide ads, pop-ups, and other unwanted elements using the all-new Hide Distracting Items feature in Safari on iOS 18. What are your thoughts on this new feature? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Does the Distraction Control feature work on all websites?
Yes, Distraction Control works on any website. But, you have to enable “Hide Distracting Items” for every webpage you visit.
Will the Distraction Control feature permanently hide ads?
No, the Distraction Control does not permanently hide ads. It’s a temporary solution to clear away distractions while you’re on a specific page. Once you refresh the page, the ads may reappear.
Further Reading
- How to Find & Delete Duplicate Photos on your iPhone
- How to Turn on Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone
- iOS 18 is likely to bring new text effects to the iMessage app
