How to Configure Distraction Control Settings in Safari on macOS Sequoia

Safari’s Distraction Control feature, introduced in macOS Sequoia, helps you temporarily remove annoying or distracting elements from webpages. Unlike traditional ad blockers, Distraction Control lets you manually choose exactly which parts of a webpage you want to hide, giving you precise control over your browsing experience.

Before you start, ensure your Mac is running macOS Sequoia or later. Distraction Control is also available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 18 or later.

Using Distraction Control on macOS Sequoia

The process to hide distracting elements in Safari on macOS Sequoia is straightforward. Follow these steps carefully:

Open Safari and navigate to the webpage containing distracting elements. Once the page loads, locate the Page Menu button to the left of the website’s URL in the Smart Search field. Click this button to open the dropdown menu.

In the dropdown menu, select Hide Distracting Items. Safari will display a notification informing you that this feature does not permanently remove ads or frequently updated content. Click OK to proceed.

After activating Distraction Control, hover your cursor over the webpage. Safari highlights selectable elements with a blue outline as you move your cursor. Click on any element you want to hide, such as pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, or any other distracting content. You can hide multiple elements by clicking on each individually.

Once you have hidden all desired elements, click the Done button in the Smart Search field to confirm your changes. If you’ve changed your mind, simply click Cancel to revert the page.

Hidden items typically remain hidden through page refreshes, provided the items themselves don’t change frequently. However, in some cases, dynamic ads or frequently updated elements may reappear after refreshing the page.

Restoring Hidden Items in Safari

If you want to bring back hidden elements, you can easily restore them:

Click the Page Menu button (Aa icon) again in the Smart Search field.

Choose Show Hidden Items from the dropdown menu. Safari may ask you to confirm your choice if multiple items were hidden.

Once confirmed, all previously hidden elements will reappear on the webpage.

Using Distraction Control on iPhone and iPad

Safari’s Distraction Control is also available on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Here’s how you can enable it on your mobile devices:

Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and navigate to the webpage you want to adjust. Tap the Page Menu button (the Aa icon) located in the Smart Search field.

Select Hide Distracting Items from the menu. Safari will display selectable elements with a blue outline as you tap around the page.

Tap any distracting element you wish to hide. You can hide multiple items by tapping each one individually.

After selecting items, tap Done in the Smart Search field. If you wish to revert the changes, tap Cancel instead.

To restore hidden items on your iPhone or iPad, simply tap the Page Menu button again and select Show Hidden Items.

Tips and Troubleshooting

If hidden items reappear after refreshing: This usually happens with dynamic content like frequently updated ads. In this case, consider using Safari’s built-in Reader Mode, which strips the page down to essential text and images.
Difficulty selecting small elements: Zoom in on the webpage to select smaller or overlapping items more accurately.
Missing Distraction Control option: Ensure your device is updated to macOS Sequoia (or iOS/iPadOS 18). You can check for updates by navigating to System Settings > General > Software Update.

Safari’s Distraction Control in macOS Sequoia provides a quick and intuitive way to declutter webpages, allowing you to focus better on reading, research, or work. Give it a try next time you’re browsing and see how much easier it is to concentrate.