Help

Hi! I'm Mikail, the solo developer behind So Annoying! I made it because I was tired of having to close banners and popups every time I wanted to read something. I imagine you're here for much the same reason.

Below I've answered the questions I expect to come up as people start using the app. If I've missed yours, you can always reach me at support@soannoying.app. It might take a day or two, but I'll reply to every message.

How it works

So Annoying! works in two layers. First, it gives Safari lists of rules for blocking ads, trackers and known annoyances. Safari applies those rules as a page loads. That's the static layer: most of the work happens here, without the extension having to inspect the page.

The dynamic layer handles things that need a closer look, like a popup that appears after you've started reading. It can close the popup, restore scrolling and answer supported cookie banners using the site's own controls or consent settings.

If something still gets through and you close it yourself, the app can learn from that. When it recognises the dismissal, it saves a rule on your device to try next time you visit. With Learning on, it also sends a small report that can help improve the rules for other people. There's more about that under Learning.

What does it remove?

Ads, trackers, cookie banners, newsletter popups, prompts to open an app, notification requests drawn by websites, chat bubbles, floating videos and AI answers in search results.

You can switch each category off under WHAT IT REMOVES. If you like the AI answers, for example, you can keep them.

What does it choose on cookie banners?

On supported banners, it rejects optional cookies where it can, either by using the site's reject control or saving the consent choice directly. It remembers those answers so it can restore them if the site asks again.

There is an exception: some sites offer only a choice between accepting cookies and paying. On supported banners of that kind, the app chooses the free option. Ad and tracker blocking stays on, but that isn't a guarantee that every form of tracking is prevented.

A banner removed by a static rule may only be hidden. Removing a banner and recording a cookie choice aren't always the same thing.

Do I need to update the app to get new rules?

No. Blocking rules update separately, so a fix for a website can reach you without a new App Store release.

The app checks when you open it, and can also check while you use Safari. On iPhone and iPad, iOS may allow background checks too. There isn't a guaranteed update time. To check now, open ABOUT and choose CHECK FOR NEW RULES.

Getting started

How do I turn it on?

Open So Annoying! and follow SETUP. It shows you the switches to turn on, then opens a page in Safari to check that the extension has website access. If you skipped setup, you can open it again from the app's settings.

To do it yourself on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Safari → Extensions. On iOS 17, Safari is directly under Settings.
2. Turn on So Annoying! and the four numbered extensions, So Annoying! – 1 through So Annoying! – 4.
3. Open the unnumbered So Annoying! entry, then set Other Websites to Allow.
4. Return to the app and finish SETUP.

On Mac:

1. In Safari, open Settings → Extensions.
2. Enable So Annoying! and all four numbered extensions.
3. Select the unnumbered So Annoying! extension and allow it on every website. Depending on your Safari version, this is under Edit Websites or Always Allow on Every Website.
4. Return to the app and finish SETUP.

Why are there five extensions?

Four hold the blocking lists. Safari limits the size of each list, so they need to be split up. The fifth, without a number, handles the dynamic work described above. Turn on all five for the app to work fully.

How can I check that setup worked?

The app checks the extension switches. The test page checks whether the unnumbered extension can run on websites. Open it in Safari: Working means that website access is set up. If it isn't, the page shows you what to do.

These checks confirm setup. They don't mean every ad on every site will be caught.

What about Private Browsing and Safari profiles?

Safari has separate extension settings for Private Browsing and profiles. If the app works in a regular tab but not a private one, check Allow in Private Browsing for So Annoying! in Safari's extension settings. If you use profiles, check that the extensions are enabled in the profile you're using too.

The app can't verify those settings for you. Open the test page in the affected private tab or profile to check website access there.

Do I need to keep the app open?

No. Once setup is done, the extensions work in Safari without the app window open. Open the app when you want to change a setting, check for new rules or look at your activity.

Something isn't working

Nothing is being blocked. Where do I start?

Open the app and check that protection is on. If Home shows a setup problem, follow its link. Then check Safari's extension settings against the steps above.

If it's only happening on one site, check that you haven't paused it in So Annoying! or disabled content blockers for it in Safari. Reload the page after changing either setting.

An ad or popup still gets through.

While you're on the page, open So Annoying! from Safari's page menu on iPhone or iPad, or its toolbar on Mac. Choose Something got through and add a note about what you saw.

You can also share the page to So Annoying!, or open ABOUT → REPORT in the app. The share sheet lets you leave an email address if you're happy to be contacted about the problem.

Websites change, so there will be things the app misses. A report helps me find the problem. If a popup has a close button, you can also close it normally: Learning may be able to remember that for next time.

A site stopped working after I enabled the app.

Open So Annoying! in Safari and turn on Pause on this site, then reload the page. If that fixes it, choose This site broke and describe what stopped working. For example, “the play button does nothing” is much easier to investigate than “broken”.

You can leave that site paused while continuing to block elsewhere. When you're ready to try again, turn the pause off.

Why did a cookie banner come back?

The site may have changed its banner, or Safari may have cleared the site's saved choice. So Annoying! keeps a separate copy of the answers it can remember and tries to restore them on your next visit.

If the same banner keeps coming back, report the site. Remembering an answer only helps if the site still recognises it.

Ads are disappearing, but the counter is still at zero.

Safari doesn't tell the app what its static lists blocked. The counter shows removals the dynamic extension could verify, so it won't include everything that disappeared.

A zero by itself doesn't mean blocking is off. If popups are also getting through, check website access using the test page.

Safari says an extension can't read webpage content. Is something wrong?

That's expected for the four numbered content blockers. Safari applies their lists without giving them access to the page. The unnumbered So Annoying! extension needs website access for its dynamic features.

Free and Unlimited

What can I use for free?

The first week has no daily limit and doesn't require a purchase or subscription. After that, the free plan includes five dynamic fixes a day, per device. A fix is work the extension does on the page, such as removing a floating video or an ad that the static lists couldn't handle.

The static blocking lists keep working after you've used those fixes. Cookie consent handling and rules the app has learned from your dismissals also keep working without using the allowance.

What does Unlimited add?

It removes the daily limit on dynamic fixes. You can choose a monthly subscription, a yearly subscription or a lifetime purchase. PLAN in the app shows the current prices before you buy.

All three work across your iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same Apple Account, and support Family Sharing.

I paid, but the app still shows the free plan.

Open PLAN and choose RESTORE PURCHASE. Check that you're signed in to the Apple Account you used to buy Unlimited. If it still doesn't appear, email me with your device model and what the app says.

For a family member's purchase, also check that it's being shared with you in Apple's Family Sharing settings.

How do I cancel a subscription?

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings → your name → Subscriptions and select So Annoying! On Mac, open the App Store and find Subscriptions in your account settings. Apple has instructions for each device.

Unlimited stays active until the end of the period you've paid for. The lifetime purchase has no subscription to cancel.

How do I ask for a refund?

Request one from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com. Apple handles purchases and refunds, so I can't issue one directly.

Privacy and settings

Why does it need access to websites?

The dynamic extension needs to inspect a page to find a banner, close it or restore scrolling. Safari's permission covers that access, which is why its warning is broad. The four numbered content blockers don't need it.

That work happens on your device. With Learning enabled, limited reports about removals and misses are sent to help improve the rules. The privacy policy lists the fields, what they're used for and how long they're kept.

What happens when Learning is on?

The app watches for supported popups and banners that you dismiss yourself. If it can identify what worked, it saves a rule to use on a later visit. This won't work for every popup, but it means a miss can become something the app handles for you.

Learning is on by default. It also enables automatic reports with the site name and limited technical details about the element, so a useful fix can eventually reach other users. Those automatic reports don't include the page's text, cookies or full address.

Turn it off under Settings → LEARNING to stop new learning and automatic reports. Rules already learned keep working; you can remove them on the same screen. Reports you choose to send yourself still go through.

Can I write my own filters?

There isn't a filter editor or an element picker. You can choose which categories to remove, pause individual sites and delete learned rules. For something the app doesn't catch, use the report button or let Learning try to recognise your dismissal.

Does it block ads in other apps or browsers?

So Annoying! is for Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It doesn't currently offer system-wide blocking, and there isn't a version for Chrome, Android or Windows.

Which blocking lists does it use?

It uses open lists including EasyList and EasyPrivacy, alongside rules made for So Annoying! You'll find the sources and licences under ABOUT → LICENCES in the app.

Can it unlock paid articles?

No. So Annoying! doesn't bypass paywalls or unlock paid content.