Especially when you are browsing the web with enhanced focus, keeping distracting elements like the random popups and the auto-playing videos becomes the need of the hour. Aside from deviating you from your path, they also gobble up a lot of precious data unnecessarily and tend to slow down the web page. To help you deal with such a frustrating situation, Safari has introduced a well-timed feature called “Distraction Control”. Follow along to learn how to enable and use Safari’s Distraction Control in iOS 18/iPadOS 18 on iPhone and iPad.
Enable & Use Safari Distraction Control in iOS 18/iPadOS 18 on iPhone & iPad
Before moving any further, let’s put some light on this latest addition to Safari and why it can be a big deal.
What exactly is Safari’s Distraction Control, and how can it be handy for a distraction-free browsing experience?
As the name itself clearly implies, “Distraction Control” is all about keeping unwanted elements away from a webpage. Whether you want to get rid of an annoying popup, insidious cookie/GDPR banner, an auto-playing video, or a repeated sign-up for the email list, it has got you fully covered. Hence, by leveraging this handy tool, you can relish a distraction-free browsing experience.
Is “Distraction Control” an ad blocker? Yes/No!
Though the Distraction Control does seem to be playing in the same ballpark as the ad-blockers, it slightly differs in terms of functionality. Unlike ad-blockers, Safari’s Distraction Control allows you to hide items based on your preference. For instance, you can choose to conceal the auto-playing video but continue to keep the sign-up banner if it doesn’t seem to irritate you.
Another notable thing worth pointing out is that the iOS 18 Distraction Control conceals webpage elements on a temporary basis. That means the next time you open that webpage or refresh it, all the hidden elements will come out of the shadow.
Hide Distracting Items in Safari on your iPhone and iPad
- To get started, launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad -> Head over to the website where you want to use the Distraction Control feature.
- After that, tap on the menu icon at the bottom and choose the “Hide Distracting Items” option.
- Now, select the item that you want to conceal and hit the Hide button.
- Once you have hidden all the unwanted items, tap on the Done button at the bottom to confirm and you are all set.
It will instantly hide all the selected items from the webpage so that you can navigate through the page with complete peace of mind.
Show Hidden Items in Safari on iPhone and iPad
Later, when you want to restore the hidden items, tap on the menu icon at the bottom -> “Show Hidden Items” in the menu and confirm.
