Why are browser adblockers breaking page elements and modals?
Recent browser updates cause built-in adblockers to misidentify essential page components like CSS, JavaScript, and modal popups as ads, blocking them entirely. This prevents users from interacting with site elements or rendering pages properly, forcing them to disable protection or switch browsers to use websites.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Turning off the built-in adblockerDid this help you?
- 2Switching to alternative browsers like Chrome or EdgeDid this help you?
- 3Using keyboard shortcuts to open developer tools instead of right-clickingDid this help you?
- 4Disabling conflicting browser extensions like Harper or Proton PassDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’ve noticed over the last few days that Updraft’s popup modals don’t seem to be clickable anymore.”source ↗
“For example, the modal appears when I try to update the plugin or delete an old backup, but I can’t click any of the buttons or options inside it. Clicking anywhere on the screen just makes the modal disappear.”source ↗
“I had to use keyboard shortcut to pull up dev tools to inspect it since right clicking also causes it to close.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6Why does Microsoft Edge force ads and unwanted features?
- 9How to stop software updates from breaking your production website
- 2Why won't my Elementor homepage scroll?
- 8Why are post preview images blurry and enlarged on WordPress?
- 4Plugin causes fatal error and breaks WordPress admin area
- 5Why is my website silently blocked without any notification?