To block ads in Microsoft Edge on an iPhone, open Edge, tap the menu button (…), then go to Settings > Content blockers, turn on Block ads, and tap Done. That blocks most ads. To block all of them, tap Advanced settings on the same screen and turn off Allow acceptable ads.
These steps follow the iOS section of Microsoft’s Microsoft Edge for mobile FAQs. The ad blocker is built into the Edge app, so there is nothing extra to download or pay for. It only affects web pages you open in Edge.
What you need before you start
- The Microsoft Edge app: this guide covers Edge for iPhone. The same iOS steps apply to Edge on an iPad.
- A current version of Edge: menus move between releases, so update Edge from the App Store first if your screens look different from the steps below.
- No account required: Microsoft’s instructions do not mention signing in to use the ad blocker.
One term to know: a content blocker is a filter that stops certain parts of a web page, such as ads, from loading. Edge’s content blocker is powered by Adblock Plus, a well-known ad-blocking product that Microsoft built into the mobile app.
How to block most ads in Edge on an iPhone
- Open the Edge app.
- Tap the menu button (…). Microsoft describes it as sitting in the bottom-right corner of the browser window.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Content blockers.
- Turn on the Block ads switch.
- Tap Done to save the change and close Settings.
Edge now blocks most ads on the pages you load. Microsoft notes that you may still see a few ads that Adblock Plus has determined to be acceptable. If a page was already open, reload it to see the difference.
If you do not see Content blockers in the main Settings list, look inside Privacy and security. That is where Microsoft’s instructions place it in Edge for Android, and the iPhone app’s layout can change with updates.
How to block all ads
Before you do this, know the trade-off: with every ad blocked, some websites may show a message asking you to turn off your ad blocker, and sites that depend on advertising earn nothing from your visit. You can undo the change at any time.
- In Edge, tap the menu button (…) > Settings > Content blockers.
- Make sure Block ads is turned on.
- Tap Advanced settings.
- Turn off Allow acceptable ads.
- Tap Done.
Edge now also blocks the ads it would otherwise have let through as acceptable. Microsoft’s Microsoft Edge app help page describes this as the option for people who prefer to browse completely ad-free.
Most ads or all ads: which setting to pick
| Setting | What Edge does | Good choice if |
|---|---|---|
| Block ads off | Shows pages with their ads | You want sites to load exactly as their owners intended |
| Block ads on, Allow acceptable ads on | Blocks most ads; a few that Adblock Plus considers acceptable can still appear | You want fewer ads but still want to support the sites you read |
| Block ads on, Allow acceptable ads off | Blocks all ads the blocker can detect | You want the cleanest pages and accept that some sites may complain |
“Acceptable ads” is Adblock Plus’s term for ads it lets through because they meet its standards for being less intrusive. Microsoft does not list those standards in its Edge help pages, so treat the middle option simply as “fewer, quieter ads” rather than a guarantee about what you will see.
How to confirm it worked, and how to turn it off
To check the setting, go back to the menu (…) > Settings > Content blockers. The Block ads switch should be on. Then reload a page that normally shows banner ads. The spaces where ads appeared should be empty or gone.
To undo it, return to the same screen and turn Block ads off, then tap Done. If you only want to bring back the milder setting, leave Block ads on, tap Advanced settings, and turn Allow acceptable ads back on. Nothing is deleted either way, and you can switch back and forth as often as you like.
Block pop-ups in Edge too
Pop-ups are a separate setting from ads. A pop-up is a new window or tab that a website opens on its own. Microsoft’s iOS instructions are:
- Tap the menu button (…) > Settings > Privacy and security.
- Turn on Block pop-ups.
- Tap Done.
Some sign-in pages and payment pages use pop-ups for legitimate reasons. If a site you trust stops working, turn Block pop-ups off for that visit and switch it back on afterward.
If you still see ads
- Reload the page: a page that was already open may keep showing the ads it loaded before you changed the setting.
- Check which browser opened the link: links you tap in Mail, Messages, and other apps open in your default browser, which is Safari unless you changed it. Apple explains how to switch in Change your default apps for features on iPhone and iPad: go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App and choose Edge.
- Turn off acceptable ads: if the remaining ads are small, labeled banners, they may be the ones the default setting allows. Follow the “block all ads” steps above.
- Remember what a blocker cannot see: sponsored articles, promoted posts inside a social feed, and ads that are part of a video itself are published as regular content, so an ad blocker may not remove them.
- Ads on the new tab page are different: stories on Edge’s new tab page come from the news feed, not from a website. Microsoft’s app help says you can go to Settings > New tab page and turn off Show my news feed.
- Update the app: open the App Store and install the latest version of Edge, then check the setting again.
If the setting is missing or a site stops working
- No Content blockers option: look under Settings > Privacy and security, then update Edge if it is still not there.
- No Advanced settings option: in some versions the Allow acceptable ads switch may sit directly on the Content blockers screen. Turn on Block ads first, since the extra option relates to it.
- A phone managed by work or school: an organization can control browser settings on devices it manages. If a switch is unavailable on a managed iPhone, ask your IT administrator.
- A site says “ad blocker detected”: turn Allow acceptable ads back on and reload. If the site still will not load and you trust it, turn Block ads off while you use it, then turn it on again.
- A page looks broken: blocked ads sometimes leave gaps or stop a video player from starting. Turning the blocker off for that visit is the quickest test of whether it is the cause.
Other Edge privacy settings worth a look
Blocking ads makes pages cleaner, but it does not hide your browsing from the websites you visit or erase what is stored on your phone. These guides cover the related settings:
- Browse without saving history: see how to open a private browsing tab in Edge on an iPhone. Microsoft says Edge on iOS does not save history or form data for an InPrivate tab.
- Move between tab types: see how to switch between regular and InPrivate tabs in Edge on an iPhone.
- Review what Edge has saved: see how to view your history in the Edge iPhone app.
- Limit ad tracking across apps: see how to reset your advertising identifier on an iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Does Microsoft Edge on iPhone have a built-in ad blocker?
Yes. Edge for iPhone includes an ad blocker powered by Adblock Plus. It is turned on from the menu (…) > Settings > Content blockers > Block ads.
Does Edge’s ad blocker work in Safari or other apps?
No. The Block ads setting only applies to pages you open in the Edge app. Safari, Chrome, and ads inside games or other apps are not affected, and each browser has its own settings.
Is the Edge ad blocker free?
Yes. It is a setting inside the Edge app, and Microsoft’s instructions do not mention a subscription or an extra download.
Why do I still see some ads with Block ads turned on?
By default, Edge blocks most ads but still shows the ones Adblock Plus considers acceptable. To remove those too, open Content blockers, tap Advanced settings, and turn off Allow acceptable ads.
Is blocking pop-ups the same as blocking ads?
No. Block pop-ups stops websites from opening new windows or tabs on their own. It does not remove banner ads inside a page. For that you need Block ads. You can use both settings at once.
Do the same steps work on an iPad or an Android phone?
On an iPad, yes, because it uses the same iOS version of Edge. On Android the setting has the same names, but Microsoft lists it under Settings > Privacy and security > Content blockers.
Will blocking ads keep websites from tracking me?
Not completely. Blocking an ad stops that ad from loading, but the website you are visiting can still see your visit. Microsoft does not describe the ad blocker as a privacy or anonymity tool, so use InPrivate tabs and your iPhone’s privacy settings alongside it.
Next step
Turn on Block ads, browse for a day with acceptable ads still allowed, and only switch to blocking everything if the remaining ads bother you. That keeps the sites you rely on working while removing most of the clutter. When you find a page worth passing along, here is how to share a web page link in the Edge iPhone app.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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