Here to help.
Known Wipr Issues
No need to report any of these, thanks!
YouTube Ad Blocker Detection
YouTube is A/B testing a way to detect ad blockers and preventing playback.
Wipr 1.50 should improve the situation, if not resolve it entirely. Once you’ve updated, if you’ve been flagged before, please clear your browser data – either all of it, or everything that comes up when searching for both “youtube” and “google”.
On iPhone and iPad: open Settings
, then select Safari
, Advanced
, Website Data
.
On Mac: open Safari, then select Safari
, Settings
, Privacy
, Manage Website Data
.
Alternatively, you can use YouTube in Private Mode (in fact, it’s advisable).
Please let me know how it goes using the Send Feedback
button in the app!
Wipr Has No Effect (After Updating to iOS 17)
OS updates, in rare cases, can cause issues for apps like Wipr!
If nothing is being blocked after updating to iOS 17, please, in the Settings
app:
- Under
Safari
>Settings for Websites
>Content Blockers
, make sure thatOther Websites
is enabled. Also make sure that the websites you care about are not turned off in the list in this same screen. - Make sure Wipr Part 1 2 and 3 are enabled under
Safari
>Extensions
. - Make sure Wipr Extra is enabled and that
All Websites
is set toAllow
- Since iOS 17, Safari extensions are explicitly enabled for Private Browsing as well. Make sure the switches labeled
Allow in Private Browsing
inside each Part and Extra are enabled as well.
The above will ensure that the update didn’t change your settings. If you’re still having trouble, some users report that uninstalling and reinstalling Wipr fixes the issue.
Wipr Extra Is Missing (On macOS)
If you can see Wipr Part 1 2 and 3 in Safari’s Preferences
under Extensions
, but not Wipr Extra, you’re being bit by a bug. Safari can’t seem to reliably index Web Extensions like Wipr Extra.
Note that this affects all Web Extensions, not just Wipr, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. Please complain to Apple – the more people complain, the sooner they’ll fix this.
The following Terminal command has been reported to fix the issue (at least temporarily):
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -f -R /Applications/Safari.app
Wipr Has No Effect (On Big Sur and Above)
There’s a long-standing bug that appeared in macOS 11 “Big Sur”, and survives to this day, where Safari keeps “forgetting” about Content Blockers; even if everything is setup correctly, Wipr will have no effect on websites, including the Test Page
.
The extensions will still appear in Safari’s Preferences
under Extensions
, and they will still be checked.
It appears that launching the Wipr app (and not refreshing) is what causes the issue. Refreshing fixes the issue until the next time the app is launched. If you avoid launching Wipr altogether, or always refresh when you do, you shouldn’t encounter this at all.
Please complain to Apple, maybe they’ll fix it someday!
Other Wipr Issues
Use Send Feedback
.
On macOS: launch the Wipr app, and you’ll find it in the menubar under Help
.
On iOS: launch the Wipr app and you’ll find it in the About Wipr
screen.
This includes debug information that I need in order to assist you. If you try to contact me otherwise, I will ask you to do this instead. If you absolutely cannot do this, please at least let me know.
If your issue is with the app itself (not a web page), and it’s not answered by the FAQ, this is all you need to know! Otherwise, read on.
Before contacting me, please make sure the issue persists with the most recent blocklist. Select Automatic Refresh
in the app and it will let you know if it’s up to date.
Please also make sure that Content Blockers are enabled for the site and as a global default.
On macOS: select Safari
from the menu bar, then Settings for (website name)…
and make sure that Enable content blockers
is on; then in Safari’s Preferences, under Websites
, Content Blockers
, make sure that When visiting other websites
is set to On
.
On iOS: tap the aA
button, select Website Settings
, and make sure Use Content Blockers
is on; then in the Settings app select Safari
, then under SETTINGS FOR WEBSITES
select Content Blockers
and make sure the switch next to All Websites
or Other Websites
is on.
Please be specific about what the issue is, and include a link to the page where you have encountered it. Screenshots are welcome!
Note that Wipr does not work inside other apps, only on web pages opened in Safari – so it will definitely not block any ads in, say, a YouTube app.
So to recap:
- Make sure Wipr says it’s “up to date”
- Make sure that Content Blockers are enabled for the site and as a global default
- Now make sure that the issue persists
- Use the
Send Feedback
function in the app – do not just email me - Do not edit the subject line or the debug information that is appended to the email’s body
- State what the issue is in detail
- Include a link to a page where the issue occurs
- Include a link to a page where the issue occurs
- INCLUDE A LINK TO A PAGE WHERE THE ISSUE OCCURS
So help me, if you don’t include a link to a page where the issue occurs.
I probably won’t reply unless I need more info. Saying hi to everybody has been nice, but I’ve realized it’s an unsustainable time sink. If you get no reply, rest assured: I read every single report!
Issues in Other Apps
Please first make sure you are running the latest version of both the app and iOS/macOS.
If that doesn’t resolve your issue, please contact me using the Send Feedback
button you’ll find in the app itself. This will attach some additional information to your message, so I won’t have to ask you for it later. If that is not possible, please remember to tell me what device you’re using, and what app you’re talking about :)
Please describe the issue in as much detail as possible.
Other Communications
You can email me.