Safari has introduced a new feature called Distraction Control, which allows users to remove distracting elements from a website. This feature is similar to Browser Company’s Arc Browse’s Boosts, which was added last year and also lets users customize a site’s appearance by removing certain features.
Apple is launching the early version of this feature this week through new developer betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.
To access the Distraction Control tool, users can go to the Page Menu in the Smart Search field and select the item on the website they want to remove. Safari will remember these preferences for future visits to the site. Currently, these preferences do not sync across devices, so users will have to hide elements on each new device they use.
Users can click on the blue Hide icon in the search field and select “Show hidden items” to unhide any elements on the web page.
Apple has stated that the feature will not remove ads or sections with constantly changing content. It is uncertain if the tool can remove static sections like “Who to follow” or “Explore” on a website, as these sections have dynamic content within them. However, Arc Browse’s Boost tool was able to remove these sections during testing last year.
In addition to Distraction Control, iOS 18 also brings a redesigned reader for better listening and font controls. Apple has also introduced Highlights, a feature that surfaces important information from a page, such as quick links for driving directions, call information, and summaries of TV show reviews mentioned on the page.
