This article gives you an overview of what AdBlock360 can do and where to find its key features.
System-Level AdBlocking
Unlike browser extensions that only block ads in one browser, AdBlock360 works at the operating system level. This means:
- Ads are blocked in all browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and others.
- Ads are also blocked in other Windows applications, not just browsers.
- The app runs as a background service; you don't need to keep a window open.
AdBlock360 uses industry-standard filter lists to identify and block ad-related network requests before they reach your browser or app.
The Home tab
The Home tab is the main screen of the AdBlock360 app — open it by left-clicking the system tray icon. It shows, at a glance:
- A large on/off toggle for AdBlocking (Disabled / Enabled).
- A live Protection History with counters for blocked ads, time saved, and blocked content in the current session.
- Header banners when relevant (for example, a prompt to enable HTTPS Filtering if it's off).
For website exceptions (the whitelist), go to Settings → Whitelisted Domains — that's a separate page, not part of the Home tab.
Whitelist / Website Exceptions
If you want to allow ads on a specific website (for example, to support a creator or because a site requires ads to function), you can add it to your whitelist.
Whitelisted sites are excluded from AdBlocking — ads will load normally on those pages.
- Via the AdBlock360 Manager: Click the in-page AdBlock360 icon and use the "Block ads on this website" toggle. The page reloads automatically; this is the fastest method.
- Via Settings: Open Settings → Whitelisted Domains, type the domain, and click Add domain.
For step-by-step instructions, see Disable AdBlocking on a Website.
HTTPS Filtering
AdBlock360 filters both regular (HTTP) and encrypted (HTTPS) traffic. HTTPS Filtering is what allows the app to block ads on secure websites (which is the vast majority of sites today).
Whether HTTPS Filtering is on by default depends on what you chose in the installer: it's on if you accepted the AdBlock360 Root CA certificate, and off if you declined it (you can enable it any time under Settings → Advanced → HTTPS Filtering). If you turn it off, the app asks you to confirm with an "Are you sure you want to disable HTTPS Filtering?" dialog.
Custom Filters
In addition to the built-in filter lists (which update automatically), advanced users can add their own rules under Settings → Advanced → Custom Filters — either by uploading a local ruleset file (Upload ruleset) or by adding a remote list by URL (Add Filter List).
For full instructions, see Managing Custom Filters.
Two Ways to Control AdBlock360 in Your Browser
It helps to know the difference between two components:
- AdBlock360 Manager — a control icon the Windows app injects directly onto the web pages you visit. It works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera (only while AdBlocking is on, and — on HTTPS pages — while HTTPS Filtering is on), and is managed under Settings → AdBlock360 Manager. Use it to enable or disable ad blocking per site without leaving the page.
- AdBlock360 Browser Assistant — a standalone browser extension available only for Chrome, from the Chrome Web Store. It's an optional control panel for the Windows app.
Neither component blocks ads on its own — all blocking happens in the Windows app. Both require the app to be running; if a control shows as disconnected, check that AdBlock360 is running in the system tray. For the full Manager controls, see Managing the AdBlock360 Manager.
Premium Features
Two specialized features are part of the Premium plan:
- YouTube Sponsor Skip — automatically skips sponsored segments inside YouTube videos.
- App Ad Blocking — blocks ads inside a curated list of supported Windows apps (Spotify, Medal.tv, Viber, TradingView Desktop, BlueStacks, and Overwolf apps), not just browsers.
For a full plan comparison, see Plans Overview.
Autostart & Theme
By default, AdBlock360 starts automatically with Windows so you're always protected without having to launch the app manually. You can also pick the app theme — light, dark, or follow your Windows system theme.
Both settings live under Settings → General.
Sharing Anonymous Usage Data
You can optionally help improve AdBlock360 with two toggles under Settings → Privacy: Send anonymous error reports ("Help us fix bugs by sending anonymous crash and error reports") and Send usage statistics ("Share anonymized usage data to help improve AdBlock360"). Both can be turned off at any time.