How to Stop Facebook Ads from Popping Up: A Step-by-Step Guide

Facebook ads are everywhere — in your feed, on the side, and even in your stories. While ads can be helpful by showing you products you might like, many users find them intrusive and annoying. If you’re looking for a way to reduce or eliminate those pesky Facebook ads from popping up.

1. Adjust Your Ad Preferences

Facebook offers a feature that lets you adjust your ad preferences based on your interests. By reviewing and editing this list, you can limit the types of ads you see. Here’s how to access and update your ad preferences:

1. Go to Settings: Open Facebook and click on the down arrow in the top right corner of the screen (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines on the bottom right (on mobile).

2. Select ‘Settings & Privacy’: From the dropdown, choose ‘Settings’.

3. Click on ‘Ads’: In the settings menu, look for the “Ads” option and select it.

4. Review Ad Preferences: You’ll see options like ‘Ad Topics,’ ‘Advertisers You’ve Interacted With,’ and ‘Ad Settings.’ You can disable targeting based on your activity, remove interests you’ve accumulated, and opt-out of certain ad categories.

5. Remove Interests: If you no longer want to see ads based on specific interests, you can delete them from the “Interests” section.

6. Turn Off ‘Personalized Ads’: In the ‘Ad Settings’ section, you can turn off ‘Ads based on data from partners’ and ‘Ads based on your activity on Facebook Company Products.’

By adjusting your preferences, you’ll reduce the relevance of the ads Facebook shows you, though you may not be able to eliminate them entirely.

2. Use an Ad Blocker

For users who want to block all ads, including Facebook ads, an ad blocker is the most effective solution. Ad blockers work by preventing ads from loading on websites and apps, including Facebook. Some popular ad blockers include:

• uBlock Origin: A free and open-source ad blocker that works on multiple browsers.

• AdBlock Plus: One of the most well-known ad-blocking extensions for browsers.

• AdGuard: A more advanced ad blocker that also offers privacy features.

To use an ad blocker, simply install the browser extension for your preferred ad blocker, and it will block ads from appearing on your Facebook feed. Keep in mind that while ad blockers are effective, some websites may ask you to disable them to access content.

3. Opt-Out of Third-Party Ads

Facebook partners with third-party advertisers to show you targeted ads. You can opt out of these third-party ad networks by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) or the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) websites:

• Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): Visit their website and click on ‘Your Ad Choices.’ From here, you can opt out of personalized advertising.

• Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): The NAI offers a similar opt-out page, allowing you to control ad preferences from participating companies.

Opting out on these sites will reduce the number of third-party ads you see, but it might not entirely eliminate them, as Facebook may still show you some non-personalized ads.

4. Use a Facebook Lite Version

If you’re using the mobile app, you may consider switching to Facebook Lite. This lighter version of Facebook is designed to be less data-intensive and offers fewer features, including ads. While Facebook Lite still shows ads, they may be less frequent and less intrusive than in the main Facebook app.

5. Consider Paid Subscriptions or Features

Facebook has begun offering paid services to enhance the user experience, such as Facebook Premium or subscriptions to exclusive content. While these services may not completely eliminate ads, they can minimize the number of ads you see and give you more control over your feed.

6. Be Mindful of Your Activity

Facebook’s advertising algorithm heavily relies on your activity on the platform. The more you engage with posts, like, comment, share, or even search for certain topics, the more Facebook tailors ads to those interests. To minimize the types of ads you see, limit your interactions with certain types of content:

• Unfollow Pages or Groups: If you’re seeing ads based on your interests in certain pages or groups, unfollow them to stop receiving content from them.

• Clear Your Search History: In the ‘Settings’ section, clear your Facebook search history to reset any data Facebook has gathered from your searches.

7. Disable Ads for Specific Categories (On Mobile)

On mobile devices, Facebook offers an option to limit specific types of ads. You can disable ads for things like:

• Job Ads

• Event Ads

• Marketplace Ads

To adjust this:

1. Go to the Facebook app and tap on the three horizontal lines (bottom right).

2. Scroll down and select Settings & Privacy > Settings.

3. Under Ad Preferences, choose the type of ad you want to disable (like job ads, marketplace ads, etc.).

While it’s nearly impossible to completely remove all ads from Facebook due to the platform’s reliance on ad revenue, there are several ways to reduce their frequency and make your Facebook experience more enjoyable. Adjusting ad preferences, using an ad blocker, and being mindful of your interactions on the platform can help reduce the number of ads you see. By taking control of your privacy settings, you can create a more tailored and less disruptive experience.