To unblock an element in uBlock Origin , you must remove the custom filter rule from the extension's dashboard. Unlike some ad blockers that have a simple "undo" button on the page, uBlock Origin requires you to manually manage your saved filters. How to Unblock a Manually Hidden Element If you used the Element Picker (eyedropper icon) to hide a specific part of a webpage and now want it back, follow these steps: Open the Dashboard : Click the uBlock Origin icon in your browser toolbar, then click the gears/sliders icon (open the dashboard). Navigate to My Filters : Click on the "My filters" tab at the top of the dashboard page. Locate the Rule : You will see a list of text lines. Each line starting with a domain name followed by ## (e.g., example.com##.ad-unit ) is a custom rule you created. Tip : The most recently added filters are typically at the bottom of the list. Delete the Filter : Highlight and delete the line(s) corresponding to the element you want to unblock. Apply Changes : Click the "Apply changes" button at the top of the tab. Refresh the Page : Go back to the website and reload it; the element should now reappear. Difference Between Element Picker and Element Zapper Element Picker : Creates a permanent rule saved in your dashboard. You must follow the steps above to undo this. Element Zapper (lightning bolt icon): This is temporary. If you "zap" an element, it only disappears for the current session. Refreshing the page will immediately unblock anything removed by the zapper. Advanced Unblocking via the Logger If a website element is being blocked by a standard filter list (rather than something you did manually), you can use the Logger to identify and override it: How to undo/unblock an element?
The Great Unblocking: How to Tame uBlock Origin Without Breaking the Web You installed uBlock Origin. You felt the rush of pages loading at lightspeed, ad-free, tracker-less, pure. But then it happened. You clicked a "Load More Comments" button. Nothing. You tried to watch an embedded video. Black screen. You attempted to pay for a coffee using an online ordering widget. Gone. Did you break the internet? No. You just over-blocked. uBlock Origin is the most powerful content blocker in existence—but with great power comes great responsibility (and occasional broken layouts). Here’s how to unblock specific elements without disabling your entire shield. First, Know Your Enemy (The Element) When a page breaks, it’s rarely the whole site. Usually, it’s a single script, iframe, or cosmetic filter hiding a button you actually need. uBlock lets you unblock at three levels:
A single element (e.g., that missing “Reply” button) A specific resource (e.g., a video player’s JavaScript) An entire page or domain (the nuclear option)
You want the scalpel, not the chainsaw. Method 1: The Eye-Dropper of Truth (Element Picker Mode) This is your best friend. Here’s how to wield it: how to unblock element ublock
Click the uBlock Origin icon in your browser toolbar. Click the eyedropper icon (🎨) – labeled “Enter element picker mode.” Hover over the broken/empty area on the webpage. A red overlay will highlight blocks. Click the element you want to unblock. A slider window appears. Crucial step: Look at the filter preview. uBlock suggests a cosmetic filter (e.g., ##.comments-widget ). If that looks too broad (e.g., ##.container ), manually edit it to be more specific. Click Preview to test – the element should reappear. Click Create to permanently allow that element.
Pro tip: If the element is still missing, you may have blocked a script, not just CSS. Use the logger (next method). Method 2: The Logger – Your X-Ray Goggles When picking elements fails, the network logger reveals the truth:
Click uBlock icon → open the dashboard (three gears) → go to the Logger tab. Reload the broken page with the logger open. You’ll see every resource: scripts, images, XHR requests. Red entries are blocked. Find the red entry that looks suspiciously like the missing feature (e.g., widget.js , comments-api , player.js ). Click the red line → a menu appears → select Unblock (or “Create exception rule”). The exception will be added to “My rules” – usually something like @@||site.com/path/widget.js$script To unblock an element in uBlock Origin ,
Now the specific script loads, but the rest of your blocking stays intact. Method 3: The “Oops, I Overdid It” – Disable Only on This Site If the whole page is mangled and you can’t even use the picker:
Click the uBlock icon. Click the large blue power button (turns to gray) – this disables uBlock only on this site . Reload. Everything works. But now you have zero protection on that domain. For a finer fix: Instead of the power button, click the slider icon next to “Blocking” and toggle off specific lists one by one (e.g., “EasyList” or “uBlock filters”). Find the culprit list, then re-enable the rest.
Method 4: Static Filter Exceptions (For Advanced Users) You found a filter that breaks many sites (e.g., ##.social-share ). To whitelist it globally: Navigate to My Filters : Click on the
Open uBlock Dashboard → “Filter lists” → “My filters” tab. Add an exception using the @@ prefix. Example:
Blocking filter: ##.social-share Exception: @@##.social-share