Setup guide · iOS and iPadOS 14 and newer
How to block ads on iPhone and iPad
Seawall works as an iPhone ad blocker without an app. You install a small profile that turns on encrypted DNS, and ads stop loading in Safari, other browsers, apps and games, on Wi-Fi and mobile data.
In short
Download your Seawall profile in Safari, then open Settings › Profile Downloaded, tap Install and enter your passcode.
- Settings
- Profile Downloaded
- Install
Block ads on iPhone with a Seawall profile
The steps are the same on iPad. If a menu looks different on your version of iOS, type its name into the search at the top of Settings.
Get your Seawall profile
Open your Seawall account in Safari on the iPhone or iPad and tap Download profile. When Safari asks whether to allow the download, tap Allow.
Seawall profile
seawall-home.mobileconfigThis is an example. Your personal profile appears in your account after you sign up. Get yours
Open Settings
“Profile Downloaded” appears at the top of Settings. Open it within 8 minutes: after that iOS deletes the downloaded profile, and you need to download it again.
- Settings
- Profile Downloaded
Install the profile
Tap Install in the top right corner, enter your passcode and tap Install again to confirm. Before that, iOS shows that the profile contains only DNS settings.
That’s it
Ads stop loading right away in Safari, apps and games, on Wi-Fi and mobile data. If an app was already open, close and reopen it.
Check that it works
Open the ad blocker test in Safari. All 24 addresses should show “blocked”.
Run the ad blocker test
Where to find Seawall in Settings
Can’t find a menu? Type “Profile” or “DNS” into the search at the top of Settings.
| What you need | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Install the downloaded profile |
|
| Check or remove the profile |
|
| Choose which DNS is on |
|
| Turn off iCloud Private Relay |
|
| Block pop-ups in Safari |
|
On older versions of iOS, Safari settings are at Settings › Safari, without Apps.
If something doesn’t work
“Profile Downloaded” isn’t in Settings
iOS deletes a downloaded profile if you don’t install it within 8 minutes. Download it again in Safari and open Settings right away. A downloaded profile is also listed in Settings › General › VPN & Device Management.
Ads still show in Safari
Check iCloud Private Relay. When it’s on, Safari sends its requests through Apple’s relay and skips your DNS settings. To let Seawall filter Safari, turn it off in Settings › your name › iCloud › Private Relay.
Ads in YouTube, Facebook or Instagram
These apps serve ads from the same servers as their videos and posts, so DNS can’t tell them apart. Seawall blocks the ad networks that other apps, games and websites use.
Another DNS is turned on
Only one DNS setting works at a time. Open Settings › General › VPN & Device Management › DNS and choose Seawall.
Pop-ups in Safari
Turn on Block Pop-ups in Settings › Apps › Safari. Pop-ups from ad networks stop loading once Seawall is on.
A site or app stopped working
Add it to your allow list in your Seawall account or pause protection for 10 minutes.
iPhone ad blocking questions
Do I need an ad blocker app for iPhone?
No. iOS supports encrypted DNS through a profile, so there’s no app to install and nothing running in the background.
Does Seawall block ads in Safari?
Yes, and in other browsers, apps and games too. Safari content blockers from the App Store work only inside Safari; you can keep one alongside Seawall.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. The steps are the same on iPadOS 14 and newer. Each iPhone and iPad gets its own profile from your account.
Does it work on Wi-Fi and mobile data?
Yes. The profile works on any network your iPhone joins: mobile data, home Wi-Fi, a café or a hotel.
Is the Seawall profile safe?
It contains only DNS settings, and iOS shows exactly what’s inside before you install it. The profile gives Seawall no access to your messages, photos or files, and you can remove it anytime.
How do I stop pop-up ads on my iPhone?
Turn on Block Pop-ups in Settings › Apps › Safari (Settings › Safari on older iOS). With Seawall on, pop-ups from ad networks stop loading in Safari and in apps.
How do I remove the profile?
Open Settings › General › VPN & Device Management, tap the Seawall profile and choose Remove Profile. To let everything through for a moment instead, pause protection for 10 minutes in your account.
Get your Seawall profile
Sign up, download it in Safari and follow the steps above. It takes about a minute.