Browser Extension & Windows App — How They Work Together

This article explains how the AdBlock360 Windows app relates to the in-browser controls, and how they connect.

The App Does the Work

The Windows app is the core of AdBlock360. It runs in the background and handles all ad and tracker blocking at the system level — for every browser and app on your PC. The in-browser controls below don't block anything themselves; they're just convenient ways to control the app.

Think of it like a thermostat and a heating system: the heating system (the app) does the actual work, and the controls below are the convenient switches you use to adjust it.

Two Ways to Control AdBlock360 in Your Browser

AdBlock360 Manager is a small control icon the Windows app injects directly onto the web pages you visit. It works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera — and only when AdBlocking is on (and, on HTTPS pages, when HTTPS Filtering is on). It's managed under Settings → AdBlock360 Manager. On first launch, the app offers to enable it:

Once enabled, the Manager icon appears at the edge of the pages you visit — shown here on a web page:

If you prefer a more discreet control, you can shrink it to a small dot (Dot Mode):

AdBlock360 Browser Assistant is a standalone browser extension. It is available only for Chrome, from the Chrome Web Store. It's an optional toolbar control panel for the app.

With either control you can:

• See how many ads and trackers have been blocked — these are session/total counters (Blocked ads, Saved time, Blocked content), not per-page
• Pause or resume ad blocking for a specific website
• Open AdBlock360 settings without leaving your browser

The Browser Assistant (Chrome) adds one thing the in-page Manager doesn't: a Disable adblockers button that switches off other ad-blocking extensions in Chrome (it asks "Do you really want to disable all other extensions that block ads?"). The Browser Assistant requires AdBlock360 v4.2 or higher; if the app isn't running it shows "Please enable or download AdBlock360 v4.2 and higher to use this extension" with a Download AdBlock360 button.

You can manage or disable the Manager, or hide its icon on specific sites, under Settings → AdBlock360 Manager:

The Controls Require the App to Be Running

Neither control works unless the AdBlock360 Windows app is installed and actively running in the background.

If the app is not running, the control shows a disconnected or inactive status and cannot manage ad blocking. To fix this:

1. Check your system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) for the AdBlock360 icon.
2. If the icon is not visible, open AdBlock360 from the Start menu to launch the app.
3. Once the app is running, the control reconnects automatically.

Note: AdBlock360 is set to start with Windows by default. If a control frequently shows as disconnected, check that Autostart is enabled under Settings → General → Autostart.

Finding your App Identifier

Nothing in the app or the in-browser controls ever asks you to enter an App Identifier — the controls connect to the Windows app automatically. You only need it when support asks for it: open Settings → About and copy the string at the bottom labelled App Identifier:.