Exclusions and custom blocks

Decide for yourself what AdBolish never blocks, and what it always does. Exclusions is in the sidebar under System.

Check a domain

Under Check a domain, type a domain or paste a full URL and click Check. AdBolish tells you one of three things:

• blocked: it's on a list. You'll see which list and rule, plus its network and category. Allow it adds an exclusion.
• excluded: it's on a list, but one of your exclusions allows it. clearware.co (which AdBolish updates from) and joinmassive.com, with all their subdomains, are always allowed whatever the lists say, and show as (built-in): blocking them would stop AdBolish updating and staying free. You can't block them with a custom block either.
• allowed: it isn't on any list. Block it adds it to your custom blocks.

Exclusions

Exclusions are domains that are never blocked, including subdomains: allowing example.com also allows cdn.example.com. Type a domain and click Allow, or use Allow anywhere in the dashboard. Remove takes one off the list.

Custom blocks

Custom blocks are domains blocked in addition to the lists, again including subdomains. Type a domain and click Block.

App exclusions

App exclusions are the per-app allows you added from Realtime: an app and either one domain or everything. Remove deletes one. Without the protection service, this card says Not in effect: telling apps apart needs system-wide filtering (Settings ▸ Protection service).

What usually goes wrong

• You allowed a domain but the site still breaks. Sites usually need several domains. Use Fixing a broken site, which shows everything blocked in the last minute.
• An exclusion doesn't seem to apply to one app. Check that the app isn't using its own secure DNS; see Browsers and secure DNS.