Apple Releases Fifth iOS 18 Beta with New Safari Distraction Control Feature
Apple has unveiled the fifth public beta for iOS 18 as of August 20, following its initial announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. This latest beta introduces new functionalities for developers and testers, including enhanced home screen customization and RCS messaging support. A standout addition is Safari’s Distraction Control feature, designed to improve browsing by allowing users to hide distracting elements such as banners and pop-ups on websites.
Given that this is a beta version, it’s advisable to install it on a secondary device rather than your primary one. Beta software often comes with bugs and performance issues, such as reduced battery life. For example, using an older iPhone XR for testing can help avoid potential disruptions on your main device, like an iPhone 14 Pro.
Here’s how you can utilize Safari’s Distraction Control:
Enabling Distraction Control in Safari:
- Open Safari.
- Navigate to a webpage.
- Tap the Reader icon in the address bar (a rectangle with two dashes).
- Select the three dots (…) menu.
- Choose “Hide Distracting Items.”
After activating this feature, you can specify which elements to hide. The selected items will be marked with a perimeter and the word “Hide.” Tapping this will make them disappear, akin to the effect seen in Avengers with Thanos.
What Distraction Control Hides:
Distraction Control targets various elements such as banners, pop-ups, and persistent forms on webpages. For example, you can block recurring newsletter sign-up forms on news sites. However, this feature must be enabled for each website individually.
Limitations of Distraction Control:
While Distraction Control can be applied to all websites, it must be activated on each page you visit. It may not permanently remove elements like constantly changing ads but can effectively hide pop-up prompts and other temporary distractions.
A small blue indicator in the address bar will show when Distraction Control is active. You can click this indicator to view and manage hidden items. As this feature is still in beta, expect further updates and refinements before its public release.
