Content blocking

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 168372
  • Created:
  • Creator: Joni
  • Comment: fastblock has been removed
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: heyjoni
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: No
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Content blocking is a collection of Firefox settings that allow you to block content that affects browsing performance and privacy. Starting in 63, content blocking includes the feature previously called Tracking Protection, which blocks all detected trackers.

When Firefox detects content that can be blocked, a shield icon FirefoxShieldIcon will appear in your address bar.

content blocking url 63

Click the shield icon to expand the control center panel and get more information about the type of content Firefox has detected as well as manage settings for individual sites.

content blocking 63 details

Turn content blocking on or off

By default, Firefox blocks trackers only in private browsing. You can modify this in preferences so that Firefox blocks trackers all the time, blocks just those that load slowly, or does not block trackers at all.

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Privacy & Security section on the left. Content Blocking appears at the top of this page.
    content blocking privacy panel 63

Turn off content blocking for individual sites

Sometimes, content blocking can prevent pages or parts of pages from loading. If content blocking interferes with your browsing, you can disable it for the site you are visiting.

  1. The shield icon FirefoxShieldIcon will appear when Firefox is actively blocking content on a page. Select the shield icon to expand the control center panel.
  2. Click Disable Blocking For This Site

Once content blocking is disabled, a shield icon with a strikethrough will appear in your address bar.

  1. content blocking 63 details

Content blocking in private browsing

Since private browsing doesn’t keep any information about your browsing session, when you disable content blocking for a site, it only lasts for your current session. When you start a new private browsing session, your content blocking settings will be restored for all sites. If you’ve disabled content blocking for a site while in a normal browsing window, Firefox will continue to disable content blocking for this same site when in private browsing.

Block lists in Firefox

You can change the block list used to block trackers. By default, content blocking uses the Disconnect.me basic protection list. You can change this to use the Disconnect.me strict protection list instead.

  • The basic protection list blocks commonly known analytics trackers, social sharing trackers and advertising trackers. However, the basic protection list allows some known content trackers so that fewer pages break or fail to load.
  • The strict protection list blocks all known trackers, including analytics trackers, social sharing trackers and advertising trackers as well as content trackers. The strict list will break some videos, photo slideshows, and social networking features.

Change your block list

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select Privacy & Security section on the left. Content Blocking appears at the top of this page.
  3. Select the Change block list link, choose the block list you want to use, and save your changes.
  4. You will see a dialog box with the message Firefox must restart to change block lists.
  5. Select OK.
    block lists 63