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Content blocker in Firefox does not have the option to turn it off. Why is that?

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Four or five months ago, I saw the Content Blocking shield icon in my Firefox browser. When I clicked on it, there was no option to disable Content Blocking. Then I realized that I probably had to create a Mozilla account. Did that, and suddenly the option was there to disable content blocking. Today I was at the MSN website - which has been crashing my video driver lately, and I thought that perhaps if I shut off content blocking it would help. Lo and behold there is no more shield icon but there is an information icon which contains content blocking info (it is an i inside a circle). Once again there is no 'disable content blocking for this site' option. What gives? How can I get the shield icon and the disable option back?? I currently use Firefox version 68.0.1 (64 bit)

Update: I have noticed that this problem happens only when I am at the MSN website. Thank you for any advice you can provide.

Four or five months ago, I saw the Content Blocking shield icon in my Firefox browser. When I clicked on it, there was no option to disable Content Blocking. Then I realized that I probably had to create a Mozilla account. Did that, and suddenly the option was there to disable content blocking. Today I was at the MSN website - which has been crashing my video driver lately, and I thought that perhaps if I shut off content blocking it would help. Lo and behold there is no more shield icon but there is an information icon which contains content blocking info (it is an i inside a circle). Once again there is no 'disable content blocking for this site' option. What gives? How can I get the shield icon and the disable option back?? I currently use Firefox version 68.0.1 (64 bit) Update: I have noticed that this problem happens only when I am at the MSN website. Thank you for any advice you can provide.
Attached screenshots

Modified by My Firefox Account

All Replies (14)

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Hi lamoureuxp, Is MSN added to Manage Exceptions for Content Blocking?

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What does it say in the panel in the Content Blocking section?

If you do not see the shield then there is no blockable content although there might be third-party tracking cookies.

Can you post a screenshot of this panel?

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I am not able to get a screen shot. As soon as I try, the content blocking information box disappears but it does indicate that there is blockable content on the site.

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Hello My_Cheese_Is_slipping - no that website is not indicated in the exceptions. I will add it and see if that helps. Thanks for the idea.

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Hello My_Cheese_Is_slipping - update: I am not able to add that website. There is no shield indicator when I go to MSN.com. See attached image of my exceptions

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If there is blockable content on the page then this doesn't mean that your current settings would block it. This is just to indicate that you might be able to block content. This is usually about third-party cookies/trackers that you may have allowed.

To actually block content you may have to use a higher blocking setting in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security". See also the Web Console for messages about what content is blocked by tracking protection.


You can temporarily toggle this pref to true with a double-click on the about:config page to keep the panel open.

  • ui.popup.disable_autohide = true

You need to reset the pref to false once you have taken the screenshot.

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The only way to add a site to Exceptions is to 'Turn Off Content Blocking For This Site'. Which is what you are looking for. I had a similar issue a few days ago when I was changing my Content Blocking levels to try to simulate a problem but, the Turn Off came back.

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Another thought. Are you using any blocking add-ons which might be blocking content before Firefox gets a chance to?

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My_Cheese_Is_Sippin' - no I am not using any other blocking add-ons.

Also, when I am at the MSN.com site, there is no 'shield' icon

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cor-el said

If you do not see the shield then there is no blockable content although there might be third-party tracking cookies.

What Content Blocking do you have set in Options -> Privacy & Security?

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cor-el - I am currently blocking trackers in all windows, as well as 3rd party trackers. I also have 'do not track' option set to Always. The shield for content blocking appears in other websites...just not MSN.com

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Set Cookies to All 3rd Party Cookies and your shield will come back after you Reload All Tabs.

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That is already selected - see attached. I am beginning to suspect that the MSN website is preventing Firefox from using the content blocker. As the page was loading, I saw the shield appear then disappear. Could be that MSN found a way to block the content blocker....? Anyway, I am giving up on this issue. It is what it is. I appreciate the help from you and "cor-el". Thank you.

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Archived.