Cannot control (some) websites' Safari content blocking

As is so often the case, ChatGTP seems to have an explanation:

🧩 Is it a macOS glitch?

Yes — partly. The core issue is that:

• Safari’s per-site content blocker toggle does not override extensions that don’t support exceptions, and Safari doesn’t enforce it strictly.
• It’s been noted in forums (e.g. MacRumors, Reddit) and not yet fully fixed by Apple as of Safari 17/macOS Sonoma.

✅ Recommended solution:

For sites where you need content blocking disabled:

1. Disable Wipr temporarily via Safari > Settings > Extensions.
2. Use another profile with no blocking extensions, if this is a recurring need.

✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

So, to summarise, after much experimenting on two Macs, what ChatGTP says appears to be the nub of the issue:

• Safari’s per-site content blocker toggle does not override extensions that don’t support exceptions, and Safari doesn’t enforce it strictly.
• It’s been noted in forums (e.g. MacRumors, Cult of Mac, Mac Daily News, Reddit) and not yet fully fixed by Apple as of Safari 17/macOS Sonoma.

Something for Apple to address, it would seem...

In order...

• In the original question, I said all software is the "current version", ergo Sequoia.

• As you didn't contradict it, I assume you agree with ChatGTP: "Safari’s per-site content blocker toggle does not override extensions that don’t support exceptions, and Safari doesn’t enforce it strictly." But it could!

• Safari is an Apple product, and Apple distributes and sells the extensions; Apple can set, regulate and enforce basic ground rules for extension creators. But it appears Apple chooses not to, resulting in a less than enjoyable user experience.

Slightly off-topic whinge...

In a similar user-experience vein, emails which are marked as Blocked are not blocked, they still appear, and always have, and probably always will - something modest little BT Email sorted out decades ago, where blocked senders - and domains - simply do not appear again. Ever. Blissful.

Something like 350 billion emails are sent each day - imagine the time and hassle saved if Blocked meant... actually blocked!

There are many, many 'basics' which Apple could and should fix, but it chooses not to. For the fun of it, I've been 'feeding back' the email issue annually since 2008. It's a repeating Calendar entry. Nothing ever happens, no response.

Oh well.

Okay, thanks to ChatGTP here's the solution.

🧠 Bonus Tip:

To isolate extensions completely, consider using Safari Profiles (macOS Sonoma+). You can have a “Trusted Sites” profile with no extensions at all, and switch to it when visiting sites like Amazon/eBay

So, for when I want my Extensions to be blocked (turned off) on trusted websites, create a new Safari Profile - I called mine Trusted - and unticked the extensions. That works perfectly.

For when I do want to use advert and nuisance blocking extensions, such as when on news sites, I use the original Profile, by default called Personal.

It works.

There is clearly a glitch with Sonoma as even when I select individual Extensions to NOT work in Private browsing, they still do.

A Safari mess!

Okay, here's my definitive solution - for me at least!

This is on the basis that MOST sites I visit don't require content blockers - like this one.

Instal your content blockers.

Open one website.

In Safari > Settings > Content Blockers, select your preference for that website.

"When visiting other websites:" select Off.

Then use Safari as normal, and, when you come to a website that needs content blockers click on the cog wheel in the toolbar and select "On".

Works a treat for me!

Like I said...

"If I turn off ALL content blockers in Extensions, nothing changes, I still cannot set web pages to NOT use content blockers on a per-page basis."

Is that what you mean?

Update: exactly the same behaviour on my Mac mini and MacBook Air