Frequently Asked Questions
30 answers, no jargon.
What does Noise Guard actually do?
Noise Guard makes websites calmer: less advertising, fewer mean comments, fewer annoying popups. The actual content stays exactly as it is.
Does Noise Guard cost anything?
No, Noise Guard is free. Voluntary support via Ko-fi is possible, but never a prerequisite for any function.
Do I need to configure anything before it starts working?
No. Noise Guard works right after installation with settings that suit most people. A brief onboarding then optionally suggests a good starting point.
How long does installation take?
Under two minutes. No account, no email address, no credit card.
Do I need to register?
No, there's no account and no login for Noise Guard at all.
Which browsers does Noise Guard run on?
Google Chrome and all Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Opera, as well as Firefox.
Is there a version for Firefox or Safari?
Yes for Firefox. Not currently for Safari, which requires a different extension technology.
Does Noise Guard slow down my browser?
No, if anything the opposite. Since ads and trackers never load in the first place, pages are usually faster, not slower.
Do I need to update Noise Guard manually?
No, Chrome updates extensions automatically in the background.
Does Noise Guard need a lot of permissions?
Only what's needed for the core function: locally storing settings, reading page content for detection, and blocking known ad domains. Details are in the privacy policy.
How strictly does Noise Guard filter comments?
You choose between five levels, from "Off" to "Strict". The default is "Smart", a balanced middle ground.
Are hidden comments deleted?
No, never. A "Show anyway" button always remains available.
What exactly does Clean Page do?
Clears away popups, sticky banners, and other intrusive elements. Forms, input fields, and videos are guaranteed to stay untouched.
What is the Noise Guard Score?
A number from 0 to 100 that shows how calm a page currently is — calculated right in your browser, with no leaderboard or comparison to other people.
What does Noise Guard Lens do?
Shows in plain language what a page wants from you: attention, money, data, or social, based on already-detected signals.
Can I keep or remove individual elements myself?
Yes, via the element picker in settings. Click an element, choose "always hide" or "never hide".
What are the Noise Guard profiles?
Four presets (Gentle, Balanced, Focus, Deep Calm) as a starting point. Each individual setting stays changeable afterward.
Can I turn Noise Guard off completely on certain sites?
Yes, via the whitelist feature. Noise Guard then doesn't run on that site at all.
A page looks broken, what now?
Click the Noise Guard icon, then "Restore original". That resets Noise Guard for exactly this one page instantly, no reload needed.
I still see ads, why?
Usually harmless: some ads are served through the same spot as the actual video, for example on YouTube. So Noise Guard never accidentally breaks a real video, it automatically skips ads there instead of hiding them.
A comment I want to see is hidden. What do I do?
Click "Show anyway" right on the hidden comment. After a few such corrections, Noise Guard automatically loosens the classification for similar cases.
I accidentally imported a filter list that doesn't fit. Now what?
Under "Diagnostics" there's "Undo last import", which reverts the entire import in one step.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally on your device, there is no Noise Guard server. The only exception is community lists, off by default.
Can anyone see what I'm looking at?
No. Noise Guard has no outside visibility. Your data stays with you, period.
Does Noise Guard read my comments?
Only in the moment of analysis, in your browser's memory. Nothing is stored, logged, or transmitted.
How do I delete all stored data?
Under "Settings → Privacy → Delete all data", or simply uninstall the extension.
Is Noise Guard suitable for teenagers too?
Yes. Noise Guard doesn't dictate, it makes visible what's currently competing for attention. The decision always stays with the user.
Does Noise Guard replace parental controls?
No. Noise Guard filters ads, comments, and distraction, it's not a content filtering or parental control tool.
Is this website local-first too?
This website doesn't set analytics or marketing cookies and doesn't embed tracking scripts. Details are in the privacy policy.
What languages is this website available in?
German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch. You can switch the language in the top right.