Mozilla introduces a native ad blocker for Firefox on iOS, developed using Apple’s WebKit API.

      Mozilla has introduced a built-in ad blocker for Firefox on iOS, utilizing Apple’s WebKit content blocker technology alongside the EasyList filter, although it is disabled by default. In March 2024, Apple allowed competitors to use its browser engine to comply with the Digital Markets Act, but since then, no other engine has been made available for European iPhones. The ad blocker became available with Firefox 155 following a testing period, as reported by Digital Trends.

      This feature operates under Apple's conditions rather than those of Mozilla. It leverages Apple’s WebKit content blocker with the community-managed EasyList filter and remains turned off until you activate it in the settings. Notably, it cannot block certain types of ads; ads served directly by a website, search result ads, and Mozilla's own sponsored shortcuts are still visible.

      Firefox's ad blocker comes years later than those from competitors like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, which already provide built-in ad blocking for iOS, while desktop users have had access to extensions for a much longer time. The underlying reason is the browser engine used; all browsers on iPhone utilize WebKit, meaning Firefox on iOS is essentially powered by Apple’s engine with a different user interface.

      On paper, Europe has altered this situation. In March 2024, Apple made BrowserEngineKit available to comply with the Digital Markets Act, introducing the interface with iOS 17.4, but this applies only in the European Union. Nearly two and a half years later, no alternative engines have been launched. Both Google and Mozilla have created prototypes but have yet to release them.

      Mozilla explained the challenges at that time, stating that Apple’s framework would require them to develop and manage two separate browsers, a "burden that Apple themselves will not have to bear," as a spokesperson remarked in January 2024. Microsoft later quantified this issue; their engineers found a Blink prototype to be 28.6% faster than WebKit on Speedometer 3.1 when measured on the same device.

      Open Web Advocacy is encouraging Brussels to take action, with director Alex Moore noting that Apple "has had more than two years to produce a compliant solution." The Commission has not been hesitant in other cases, as evidenced by Apple losing its attempt to contest gatekeeper designation at the General Court in July.

      However, regarding the engine situation, there has been no progress. The rule is in place, the interface exists, yet no competing engine has been made available for European iPhones. Microsoft also has not released a Blink-based version of Edge. This situation is subtly highlighted by Mozilla’s new feature, as it developed the best ad blocker permitted by Apple’s API, coinciding with Chrome’s disabling of Manifest V2 extensions, including uBlock Origin.