how to whitelist filter ublock origin

3 min read 18-01-2025

Meta Description: Learn how to easily whitelist websites in uBlock Origin to allow ads or specific content through your ad blocker. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile users. Master uBlock Origin's whitelisting features to customize your ad-blocking experience!

Understanding uBlock Origin Whitelisting

uBlock Origin is a powerful ad blocker, but sometimes you might want to allow ads or specific content on certain websites. This is where whitelisting comes in. Whitelisting tells uBlock Origin to temporarily disable its filtering for a particular site, allowing all content to load as normal. This guide will walk you through the process on different devices and browsers.

Whitelisting a Website in uBlock Origin (Desktop)

There are several ways to whitelist a website in uBlock Origin on your desktop:

Method 1: Using the uBlock Origin Icon

Locate the uBlock Origin icon: This is usually found in your browser's toolbar. It typically looks like a small, green and white shield.
Click the icon: A menu will appear.
Select "My filters": This opens a list of your custom filters.
Click "Add a filter": Enter the website address you want to whitelist. You can use either the full URL (e.g., https://www.example.com) or a wildcard (e.g., ||example.com/*). Wildcard entries block all subdomains of the specified domain.
Save the filter: uBlock Origin will immediately begin allowing content from the specified website.

Method 2: Using the Right-Click Context Menu

Navigate to the website: Visit the site you wish to whitelist.
Right-click anywhere on the page: A context menu will appear.
Select "uBlock Origin": A submenu will appear.
Choose "Disable for this site": This temporarily disables uBlock Origin's filtering for that specific website.

Method 3: Using the uBlock Origin Dashboard

Click the uBlock Origin icon: In your browser's toolbar.
Select "Dashboard": This opens the uBlock Origin dashboard.
Locate "Website List": Here you'll see a list of sites currently being blocked or allowed.
Find the website or add the website: If the site isn't there, add it manually using the "Add" button.
Change the status to "enabled": This will whitelist the site.

Whitelisting a Website in uBlock Origin (Mobile)

The process for whitelisting on mobile is slightly different, but still straightforward:

Open your browser: Open the browser where you have uBlock Origin installed.
Navigate to the website: Go to the site you want to whitelist.
Open the uBlock Origin menu: The location varies slightly between browsers and uBlock Origin versions, but look for a menu icon (usually three horizontal lines).
Find the settings: Look for a setting that allows you to manage filters or whitelists.
Add the website address: Add the website address you want to whitelist. Again, you can use a full URL or a wildcard.

Understanding Wildcards and Specific Filters

Using wildcards (*) in your filters provides more flexibility. For example:

||example.com/* will whitelist example.com and all subdomains (like blog.example.com).
example.com##.some-element will whitelist only the specified element on example.com.

Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why isn't my whitelisting working?

Check your filter: Make sure you typed the website address correctly.
Check your browser extensions: Ensure that uBlock Origin is enabled and correctly installed.
Clear your browser's cache and cookies: This can sometimes resolve issues with extension functionality.
Update uBlock Origin: Ensure you have the latest version installed.

Q: Can I remove a website from my whitelist?

Yes, simply reverse the steps you took to whitelist it, either by removing the filter from the filter list or adjusting the settings in the dashboard.

Conclusion

Whitelisting in uBlock Origin provides fine-grained control over your ad-blocking experience. By following these steps, you can easily allow specific content while maintaining the benefits of ad blocking on other sites. Remember to always be mindful of which websites you whitelist to avoid compromising your privacy or security.