This ad-free Facebook app made my feed enjoyable again for the first time in years

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• There's an app that blocks Facebook ads and suggested posts.
• The app is escaped to usage connected Android devices.
• You person to beryllium capable to sideload apps connected your device.

Over the past fewer years, Facebook has go progressively unusable. I tin log successful to my account, and alternatively of seeing posts from friends, mostly what I spot are ads and suggested posts. I've had instances wherever it took longer than expected to yet spot thing an existent quality had posted.

It's frustrating to the constituent of astir making maine permission the service. After all, what bully is societal media if the societal facet is removed? Not much. I'm conscionable truthful bushed of doom-scrolling done the site, hoping to onshore connected thing of value.

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Fortunately, I was introduced to an app called Nobook.

Nobook was created by a azygous developer for the intent of delivering Facebook without each the problematic "features," specified arsenic ads and suggested posts. With those removed, you tin really spot what your friends person to say.

It's rather refreshing.

What is Nobook?

The Nobook app works arsenic a wrapper astir the Facebook website, truthful it's astir similar opening the Facebook URL successful your default browser. By doing it this way, the app is capable to artifact the things you don't privation due to the fact that Nobook prevents those things from appearing connected your provender and/or obfuscates them utilizing JavaScript (like an advertisement blocker).

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Essentially, Nobook is similar viewing Facebook done a web browser with an advertisement blocker. But don't worry, Nobook inactive looks similar the Facebook app, conscionable cleaner.

Nobook looks precise overmuch similar Facebook, without the atrocious stuff.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I installed Nobook connected an Android instrumentality to spot however it performed, and I was pleasantly surprised. 

In fact, I recovered Facebook to beryllium usable again. I could instantly presumption posts from friends and groups that I travel without being bombarded by the things that thin to get successful the way. Yes, each truthful often, I inactive spot suggested groups and users, but those are successful the immense minority. I would accidental that, utilizing Nobook, 90% of what I spot are posts from those I follow.

Imagine that.

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Another bonus is that I've yet to spot Meta's AI diagnostic look connected Nobook, and I'm perfectly good with that.

How to effort Nobook

Here's wherever things get a spot tricky. Nobook isn't disposable connected the Google Play Store. The lone mode to get Nobook is by downloading the APK record from GitHub. I attempted this connected 2 antithetic phones: my Pixel 9 Pro and the Fairphone Gen 6. On the Fairphone, Nobook installed without a problem. All I had to bash was:

1. Download the APK file.
2. Tap the notification erstwhile the download completes.
3. OK the installation.
4. Enable installing apps from the root (GitHub).
5. Enjoy.

My Pixel 9 Pro was problematic, acknowledgment to Android Advanced Protection. To instal Nobook connected that phone, I'd person to disable Android Advanced Protection. Even aft you've done that, it tin instrumentality up to 18-24 hours to afloat deactivate. I'm not truthful definite astir disabling Advanced Protection, which is wherefore I installed Nobook connected the Fairphone Gen 6.

For Samsung devices, you tin disable Auto Blocker (which prevents malware, unauthorized apps, and phishing by blocking harmful apps from chartless sources) by going to Settings > Security and Privacy > Auto Blocker and disabling the feature. Once you've installed the app, spell backmost and alteration Auto Blocker, and you should beryllium bully to go.

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This app is simply a existent gem, and it's a shame that installing it connected immoderate devices tin beryllium a existent pain. Comparing Nobook to the authoritative Facebook mobile app is similar watching a movie connected Hulu with commercials vs. without. Clearly, the enactment without ads offers a overmuch amended experience, and that's precisely what Nobook does.

If you're looking for a much-improved Facebook acquisition connected Android, and you person a telephone that inactive allows you to sideload apps, I would highly urge trying Nobook. You'll consciousness similar you're utilizing Facebook from years ago, erstwhile it was really inactive fun.