How to Install uBlock Origin on Safari

Pop-ups, autoplay videos, cookie banners the size of billboards the modern web can feel like walking
through a mall where every store manager is yelling your name. If you’ve used uBlock Origin
in Chrome or Firefox, you already know how peaceful things can be once a good ad blocker is in charge.
The good news for Apple fans: you can now bring that same energy to Safari with
uBlock Origin Lite, an official content blocker from uBlock Origin’s creator.

There is one important catch: on Safari, you’re not installing the classic, full-fat uBlock Origin
extension you might recognize from other browsers. Instead, you’re installing
uBlock Origin Lite, a privacy-friendly content blocker that works within Apple’s
newer extension system for Safari. Think of it as uBlock Origin’s lean, Safari-compatible cousin.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to install uBlock Origin Lite on Safari for Mac, iPhone, and iPad,
how to turn it on (the part a lot of people miss), and how to troubleshoot when ads still sneak through.
We’ll also look at alternatives if your device is too old to run it, plus some real-world experiences
of what it’s like to browse with uBlock Origin Lite on Safari every day.

Wait, Can You Actually Use uBlock Origin in Safari?

Quick history lesson so you’re not chasing ghosts in the App Store:

The original uBlock Origin was once available as a classic Safari extension on macOS.
Starting with Safari 13, Apple changed how extensions work, pushing developers toward
“Safari App Extensions” and content blockers packaged as apps.
The older uBlock Origin build for Safari stopped being maintained and no longer works
on current Safari versions.
For a long time, the official answer to “Can I use uBlock Origin on Safari?” on Mac was simply:
“Nope, use another ad blocker or another browser.”

That changed with the release of uBlock Origin Lite, a new, official extension from
the same developer designed for the modern, privacy-friendly extension frameworks that browsers like
Safari, Chrome, and Edge are moving toward. On Safari, you install it like you would any other content
blocker as an app from the App Store, then enable it in Safari’s settings.

So when people say “install uBlock Origin on Safari” in 2025, what they really mean is:
install uBlock Origin Lite, the supported version for Safari.

Before You Start: Check Your Safari and OS Version

Because Apple loves tying new features to new OS releases, uBlock Origin Lite doesn’t support every
device under the sun. In general, you’ll need a fairly recent version of macOS or iOS/iPadOS to install
it from the App Store.

Check on Mac

Click the Apple  menu in the top-left corner.
Select System Settings (or System Preferences on slightly older macOS).
Choose General > About.
Note your macOS version.

If you’re running a recent macOS (for example, the latest major version available for your Mac), you’re
probably fine. On significantly older systems, you may not see uBlock Origin Lite in the App Store at
all, in which case you’ll need to use an alternative blocker or a different browser.

Check on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app.
Go to General > About.
Look at the Software Version.

If your iPhone or iPad is stuck on an older iOS/iPadOS version and can’t update, you might not be able
to install uBlock Origin Lite, but you can still use other Safari content blockers that support older
OS versions.

How to Install uBlock Origin Lite on Safari for Mac

Let’s start with macOS, since a lot of people want uBlock Origin specifically for taming news sites,
YouTube in the browser, and other ad-heavy tabs.

Step 1: Download uBlock Origin Lite from the Mac App Store

Open the App Store on your Mac.
In the search bar, type “uBlock Origin Lite”.
Look for the app named uBlock Origin Lite, published by
Raymond Hill (the original uBlock Origin developer).
Click Get or the download button and install the app.

Once the app is installed, the actual extension lives inside it, but Safari won’t use it until you turn
it on in settings. This is the part almost everyone forgets.

Step 2: Enable uBlock Origin Lite in Safari Settings

Open Safari on your Mac.
In the top menu bar, click Safari > Settings… (or Preferences… on older versions).
Go to the Extensions tab.
Find uBlock Origin Lite in the list and check the box to
enable it.
If Safari prompts you to grant the extension permission to read and block content on web pages,
choose Allow for the sites you care about (you can limit it to “On other websites”
or customize site by site).

While you’re here, it’s worth double-checking Safari’s content blocker settings:

In Safari’s Settings window, click the Websites tab.
On the sidebar, select Content Blockers.
Next to “When visiting other websites”, make sure it’s set to
On.

If that global toggle is off, Safari will politely ignore any content blocker you install, including
uBlock Origin Lite.

Step 3: Confirm That uBlock Origin Lite Is Working

Visit a site that’s normally full of ads a big news site, a meme site, or any of your usual
offenders.
Look for the uBlock Origin Lite icon in Safari’s toolbar. If you don’t see it:
- Go to View > Customize Toolbar….
- Drag the uBlock Origin Lite icon into the toolbar and click Done.
Click the icon. You should see a small popup showing how many requests or elements were blocked on
the current page.

If the page suddenly looks calmer fewer flashing banners, fewer “we value your privacy” full-screen
overlays congrats, you’ve successfully installed uBlock Origin Lite on Safari for Mac.

How to Install uBlock Origin Lite on Safari for iPhone and iPad

On iOS and iPadOS, Safari extensions are installed as apps too. The process feels similar, but the
enabling step happens in the Settings app, not inside Safari.

Step 1: Install the App from the App Store

Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap the search tab and type “uBlock Origin Lite”.
Find uBlock Origin Lite by Raymond Hill and tap
Get to install it.
Wait for the app to finish installing on your home screen.

Step 2: Turn On the Safari Extension in Settings

Installing the app is only half the job. You still need to flip the switch in Safari’s settings:

Open the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap Safari.
Depending on your iOS/iPadOS version, tap either Extensions or
Content Blockers.
Look for uBlock Origin Lite in the list and toggle it On.
If you see any permission prompt about allowing it to block content, confirm that as well.

When this step is skipped, uBlock Origin Lite will happily sit on your device doing absolutely
nothing which is great for battery life but bad for your sanity on ad-heavy sites.

Step 3: Verify That It’s Blocking Ads in Safari

Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
Visit a site that usually slaps you with auto-playing video ads or endless banner grids.
If you see noticeably fewer ads or faster page loads, uBlock Origin Lite is working in the background.

On iOS, Safari doesn’t always show a big obvious extension icon the way desktop browsers do, so the best
test is just to compare your before-and-after experience. If a page still looks like a Las Vegas strip,
we’ll cover troubleshooting in a bit.

Fine-Tuning uBlock Origin Lite on Safari

Unlike the full desktop uBlock Origin, which gives you a complex dashboard, custom rules, and advanced
filter tinkering, uBlock Origin Lite is built on a simpler, more locked-down model. The upside:
it’s fast, lightweight, and plays nicely with modern browser security frameworks. The downside:
it’s intentionally less customizable.

That said, you still get a few levers to pull:

Per-site controls: On Mac, click the uBlock Origin Lite icon and you can typically
disable blocking for the current site if something’s broken (like login forms or embedded players).
Allowing trusted sites: For creators you want to support, you can whitelist their
site so ads show normally a nice compromise between sanity and supporting the websites you love.
Using it alongside other tools: You can combine uBlock Origin Lite with Safari’s
built-in features like Hide IP address from trackers, Prevent cross-site tracking, and
iCloud Private Relay (if available) for an extra privacy boost.

Think of uBlock Origin Lite as your default “clean up the web” setting. If you need truly deep, nerd-level
customization, you may still want the full uBlock Origin running in Firefox or another browser on your
Mac for certain workflows, and use Safari plus uBlock Origin Lite for everyday browsing.

Troubleshooting: When uBlock Origin Lite Doesn’t Seem to Work

If you’ve installed uBlock Origin Lite but you’re still getting wall-to-wall ads, here are the most
common fixes.

1. Check That the Extension Is Actually Enabled

On Mac:

Go to Safari > Settings > Extensions.
Make sure uBlock Origin Lite is checked and not showing any error messages.
Under Websites > Content Blockers, confirm that “When visiting other websites”
is set to On.

On iPhone/iPad:

Open Settings > Safari.
Tap Extensions or Content Blockers.
Ensure uBlock Origin Lite is turned on and not restricted by Screen Time or profiles.

2. Look for Conflicts with Other Content Blockers

Running multiple content blockers at once can occasionally cause weird behavior: some ads slipping
through, some page elements breaking, or performance glitches. If you’ve previously installed AdGuard,
Wipr, 1Blocker, or AdBlock for Safari, try:

Turning off the other blockers one by one.
Reloading the problem site after each change.

If things improve after disabling another blocker, let uBlock Origin Lite be the main bouncer at the
door.

3. Check Private Browsing and Permissions

Safari can treat Private Browsing windows differently:

Make sure uBlock Origin Lite is allowed to run in Private Browsing, if your Safari version has a
separate setting for that.
If the extension icon shows a warning or “needs permission,” click it and grant access again.

4. When a Site Breaks, Don’t Panic Whitelist It

Sometimes, a site relies on scripts that the blocker interprets as ad-related or tracking. If a
checkout flow, login box, or video player refuses to cooperate:

Click the uBlock Origin Lite icon on Mac and temporarily disable it for that site.
Reload the page and see if the broken feature returns.
If it does, you can either keep that site whitelisted or disable blocking just for that session.

What If You Can’t Install uBlock Origin Lite? Alternatives and Workarounds

If your device is too old to run the latest OS, or you simply don’t see uBlock Origin Lite in the
App Store, you still have options.

Option 1: Use Another Safari Content Blocker

Popular alternatives include:

AdGuard for Safari: A free, well-regarded content blocker that works through Safari’s
extension framework and offers several filtering lists and privacy options.
Wipr: A simple paid app with a one-time purchase, known for “set it and forget it”
blocking and regular automatic updates.
AdBlock for Safari: A long-running ad blocker with a Mac app and Safari extension
that many users are already familiar with.

These won’t be exactly the same as uBlock Origin, but they’ll still dramatically cut down on ads and
trackers in Safari.

Option 2: Use Another Browser for Heavy Ad Blocking

If you’re on a Mac and really want the full classic uBlock Origin experience advanced filters, custom
rules, cosmetic filtering you can:

Install Firefox and grab uBlock Origin from its add-ons store.
Use another Chromium-based browser (like Brave, Vivaldi, or Edge) that still supports uBlock Origin
or its Lite variant, depending on current Manifest extension policies.

Many people run Safari as their default macOS browser for ecosystem features (Handoff, iCloud tabs, etc.)
but keep Firefox installed specifically for “serious ad blocking” sessions on certain sites.

Real-World Experiences with uBlock Origin Lite on Safari

So how does uBlock Origin Lite on Safari feel in daily life? Here’s what many Safari users report once
they’ve lived with it for a while.

Cleaner News Sites and Blogs

News sites and blogs are usually where the difference is most dramatic. With uBlock Origin Lite turned
on, the top banner ads, sidebar promos, autoplay video boxes, and “sponsored stories” grids tend to
vanish or shrink. That means:

Pages scroll more smoothly because the browser isn’t constantly loading new ad placements.
The text you actually came for is front and center, instead of squeezed between flashing offers.
Fewer “sticky” elements trying to follow you down the page.

For people who like to read longform articles, that alone makes uBlock Origin Lite feel like a sanity
upgrade.

Streaming Sites and Video Platforms

When it comes to video, experiences vary depending on the platform and how aggressively that platform
fights ad blockers. Some Safari users see a noticeable drop in pre-roll and mid-roll ads on ad-supported
streaming sites when using uBlock Origin Lite. Others find that certain platforms increasingly detect
blockers and either show warnings or refuse to play content until the blocker is disabled.

A common pattern is:

Use uBlock Origin Lite to clean up ads and trackers on most sites.
Temporarily whitelist or disable it on one or two streaming services that get grumpy about blockers.

That way, you still enjoy quieter browsing everywhere else without fighting constant error messages on
your favorite shows.

Mobile Browsing: Safari on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, uBlock Origin Lite tends to make the biggest difference on:

Recipe sites full of pop-ups and auto-playing videos.
Blog posts with endless third-party widgets and social embeds.
Clickbait articles loaded with “recommended content” carousels.

People often report that with uBlock Origin Lite enabled, Safari on iOS feels noticeably faster and less
cluttered, especially on older devices where heavy ad scripts used to bog everything down. Pages load
more quickly because the browser isn’t downloading dozens of extra JavaScript files and tracking pixels
with every tap.

Battery Life and Data Usage

Blocking ads and trackers isn’t just about visual cleanliness. Those extra network requests and scripts
cost CPU cycles and battery life particularly on laptops and phones. By cutting much of that overhead,
uBlock Origin Lite can help:

Reduce data usage for people on metered or mobile connections.
Stretch battery life on MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads during long browsing sessions.
Keep devices running cooler when visiting heavy sites.

The effect won’t magically double your battery, but over hours of browsing, the difference can add up.

Teaching Friends and Family

Once someone has uBlock Origin Lite installed, the web becomes noticeably calmer which makes them
more likely to stick with Safari instead of jumping to another browser just for ad blocking. A lot of
tech-savvy users end up doing the “family IT” routine:

Installing uBlock Origin Lite on parents’ or grandparents’ devices.
Turning it on in Safari settings so they don’t have to wrestle with pop-ups and fake download buttons.
Showing them how to temporarily disable it if a banking or government site misbehaves.

The end result is fewer “why is my computer full of weird pop-ups?” phone calls and a safer, calmer
browsing experience for non-technical users.

The Bottom Line

Installing uBlock Origin Lite on Safari doesn’t just remove annoying ads it restores
the basic idea that when you load a web page, the main attraction should be the content, not the clutter.
On Mac, iPhone, and iPad, the process is straightforward: grab the app from the App Store, enable it in
Safari’s settings, and let it quietly filter out the noise in the background.

If your device is too old for uBlock Origin Lite, there are still solid Safari content blockers available,
and you can always bring the full classic uBlock Origin into your life via Firefox or another browser.
But if you’re running a modern Apple setup, adding uBlock Origin Lite to Safari is one of the fastest,
easiest upgrades you can make to your everyday browsing less tracking, fewer distractions, and a lot
less yelling from your screen.