How to migrate from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin

If you want to migrate from the content blocker Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin, you may be able to do so in mere seconds depending on whether you have added custom rules to Adblock Plus or not.

I don't want to get into reasons for migration away from Adblock Plus. Some users prefer the extension over others, but it is undeniable that uBlock Origin is a very popular extension as well.

There are two main use cases when it comes to migrating from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin:

1.Custom filters are used in Adblock Plus.
2.Custom filters are not used, but some changes may have been made, for instance to the subscription listing.

Please note that migrating works in all browsers, even across different browsers. The best use case for the migration is obviously if you just use vanilla Adblock Plus without any modifications whatsoever.

How to migrate from Adblock Plus to uBlock Origin

The second use case allows for a straightforward migration that won't take longer than a minute to complete in best case.

Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Install uBlock Origin in the browser in which Adblock Plus is installed. It is not recommended to run both content blockers at the same time normally, but doing so makes it easier to migrate.

Step 2: Open the Adblock Plus Settings, and check the filter lists. Are you subscribed to additional lists?

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...lter-lists.png

Step 3: If so, keep the page open, and open the uBlock Origin settings and go to the 3rd-party filters tab. If you see the lists there, check it if it is not checked already to subscribe to it.

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...ck-filters.png

Step 4: If the list is not listed by default, go back to the Adblock Plus settings and open the source of those lists. In Firefox, you'd click on the cogwheel icon next to the list, and select source for instance.

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...us-sources.png

Step 5: The source is a URL that you then copy and paste on uBlock Origin's custom listing on the 3rd-party filters tab.

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...om-filters.png

Step 6: Open whitelisted websites afterwards in the Adblock Plus settings. These sites are allowed to run advertisement.

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...es-adblock.png

Step 7: Copy any URL you see listed there, open the Whitelist tab of the uBlock Origin settings, and paste the selection in the text field there

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...ist-ublock.png

That's all there is to it. You have migrated to uBlock Origin. You can disable Adblock Plus for now, and start using the new content blocker.

The process requires another step if you have added custom filters to Adblock Plus. Custom filters are rules created by users of the software, usually for sites, services and elements that are not blocked by the subscribed rule sets.

Step 1: Open your filter list in Adblock Plus, and copy all filters

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...ock-origin.png

Step 2: Open the My Filters listing of the uBlock Origin settings. Paste the filter list entries from Adblock Plus in the field.

https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/up...rt-filters.png