Even experienced iPhone users might be surprised to learn about hidden features that enhance their device experience. One such gem is Safari’s built-in distraction management tool. This post will guide you through using this feature, enabling you to streamline your browsing and focus on the content that matters most.
Understanding Distraction Control in Safari
Launched with iOS 18, the Distraction Control feature is a valuable tool in Safari that many users may not yet be aware of. It’s also available on devices with iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia or later versions. Unfortunately, users on older operating systems will not benefit from this enhancement.
This unique feature allows users to swiftly hide various distracting elements from webpages, enabling a more focused reading experience. It operates similarly to Brave’s Block Element feature but is designed with simplicity in mind. Notably, it is accessible on mobile devices, although finding this feature within the menu can be a challenge. Here’s how you can effectively utilize it.
With Distraction Control, you can eliminate annoying pop-ups, advertisements, images, chat boxes, and any other elements that might hinder your ability to concentrate. The tool often removes more distractions than one might initially anticipate, giving you full control over your browsing experience.
In addition, this feature allows you to conceal sensitive content that you may prefer not to display, especially in public settings.
Steps to Hide Distracting Items in Safari
To get started, open Safari on your device and navigate to a webpage of your choice. On an iPhone, tap the More options button located in the address bar on the left side.
Next, select the Hide Distracting Items option.
For Mac users, click the Page Menu button in the address bar and choose Hide Distracting Items.
Now, simply tap on the item you wish to remove, such as a pop-up requesting cookie consent. Once selected, a Hide button will appear—tap it.
You’ll notice the item disappearing in a visually engaging way, fading out of view.
A notification at the bottom will confirm the action with a message stating 1 item hidden.
If you want to hide additional distractions, like another cookie pop-up, repeat the process until you see 2 items hidden at the bottom of the screen.
After removing distracting elements, you can continue scrolling through the webpage. Note, however, that if you inadvertently hide an unwanted element, the only way to undo changes is to press the X button at the bottom, requiring you to start the process anew.
Be mindful that the selection process may not always be precise. For example, attempting to hide a specific story may inadvertently select an entire block of related elements.
Once satisfied with your adjustments, click the checkmark button to finalize the changes.
Safari will retain these modifications, ensuring that when you revisit the website, previously hidden elements remain concealed—barring any significant updates to the site, which often occurs with news outlets like the BBC.
Furthermore, if other pages within the same website share the same elements you’ve hidden, those will also be kept from view.
How to Show Hidden Page Elements in Safari
If you wish to make hidden items visible again, navigate to the webpage where you previously used Distraction Control. Look for a blue eye icon on the left side of the address bar and tap it.
Select Show Hidden Items.
In the subsequent pop-up, tap Show to restore the page to its original form.
Your webpage will now display all previously hidden elements once more.
Potential Issues and Limitations
During my testing, I discovered that the Distraction Control feature can occasionally exhibit minor glitches. For example, you might find that scrolling becomes unresponsive while the feature is activated. In such cases, closing and restarting Safari often remedies the issue. Additionally, consider updating the browser if a new version is available.
It’s important to note that while Distraction Control functions adequately in Private Browsing mode, your preferences won’t be saved. Thus, any time you open a similar page in a Private tab, it will appear unaltered. Hidden items also do not transfer between Private browsing and regular tabs.
The settings you apply within Distraction Control are device-specific and do not synchronize across different devices. For instance, if you’ve hidden items on your iPhone, you’ll need to repeat that process if you access the same webpage from your Mac.
Lastly, if you’re curious, Distraction Control does not bypass paywalls for articles. While it can effectively eliminate subscription pop-ups, it will not reveal any hidden text associated with paywalls.
Using Distraction Control as an Ad Blocker
While Distraction Control can be used to hide ads during your browsing, keep in mind that these ads may reappear if you refresh the page, click a new link, or revisit the site. This is due to the nature of advertisers constantly refreshing their ads.
Additionally, while ad blockers can effectively remove ads from your viewing experience, they can sometimes restrict access to content unless you disable them. This can be frustrating, leading to the recommendation of using an ad blocker alongside Distraction Control. When an obstructive pop-up appears, you can swiftly hide it and continue accessing the content.
Another option is to engage Reader View for a more distraction-free experience. However, it is essential to note that Reader View is not universally available across all websites and may strip away elements like comment sections that may still be of interest to you. Furthermore, Distraction Control is incompatible with Reader View.
For more tips on maximizing your iOS browsing function, consider exploring how to save passwords in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
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