Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2.9 billion monthly active users as of 2022. However, the default Facebook interface and algorithm isn’t for everyone. Some users prefer customizing their Facebook feeds and experience. This is where browser extensions and add-ons like FB Purity come in handy.
FB Purity is a browser extension that lets you customize your Facebook interface and news feed as per your preferences. It comes with various filters, options, and customization settings. However, FB Purity is primarily designed for desktop browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc. So does it work on mobile devices like the iPhone? Let’s find out.
What is FB Purity?
FB Purity is a browser extension built by Steve Greenwood. It works as an add-on for web browsers and lets you modify your Facebook interface.
Here are some of the key things you can do with FB Purity:
- Filter your Facebook feed to show/hide certain post types, friends, pages, groups, etc.
- Modify color schemes and themes
- Remove sponsored posts and ads
- Change text fonts and styles
- Disable auto-play for videos
- Bring back the chronological news feed
- Customize the shortcuts bar
- Schedule automatic actions like wishing friends on birthdays, etc.
In essence, FB Purity provides granular control over how you view Facebook and engage with content. This allows customizing Facebook as per your preferences.
Does FB Purity Work on iPhone?
The short answer is no, FB Purity does not work on iPhone or any mobile devices. FB Purity is a browser extension built exclusively for desktop web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc.
Browser extensions and add-ons are designed to work specifically with desktop browser software and architecture. They cannot be ported as is on mobile browsers or apps due to technical limitations.
When you install FB Purity, it integrates directly into the desktop browser interface. It can access and modify the HTML DOM structure of Facebook when loaded on the browser. However, this isn’t possible on iPhone’s Safari browser or Facebook mobile app.
FB Purity is not listed on Apple’s App Store because it fundamentally works as a browser extension. The core functionality will not work via a standalone iPhone app either.
Unless the developer decides to build a separate iPhone-compatible version from scratch, FB Purity will remain restricted to desktop browsers only. The extension simply does not work on the iPhone currently.
Alternatives to Use FB Purity Features on iPhone
While FB Purity itself isn’t available for iPhone, you do have some alternative options to customize your Facebook experience:
Use Desktop Site
The Facebook mobile site and app don’t offer too many customization options. But you can access the desktop site on your iPhone’s browser.
Go to www.facebook.com on Safari and enable the “Desktop site” option in the browser menu. Now you’ll be able to access the desktop version of Facebook.
Install FB Purity here and use its features. The interface will be desktop-oriented and not mobile-friendly, but FB Purity will work.
Other Extensions
There are some other browser extensions similar to FB Purity, such as Social Fixer. If they support mobile browsers, you can install them on iPhone.
Social Fixer has limited iOS support. After installing it, access Facebook on Safari desktop mode to use its features.
Facebook Settings
You can customize some aspects of Facebook directly from iPhone settings and options:
- Disable autoplay for videos
- Mute notifications
- Unlike pages and friends
- Adjust privacy and security settings
- Snooze friends and pages for a duration
While not as extensive as FB Purity, making use of built-in settings can help optimize your iPhone’s Facebook experience.
Use Facebook Lite
Facebook Lite is a stripped down version of Facebook made for mobile devices. It has a simpler interface with no ads, faster performance, and lower data usage. The tradeoff is having fewer features than the main Facebook app.
You can download Facebook Lite on your iPhone and use it as a substitute for the standard app. It provides a more minimalist yet customizable experience.
Pros and Cons of Using FB Purity on iPhone
Here are some potential upsides and downsides if FB Purity were to work on the iPhone:
Pros
- Customize feed and interface as per preferences
- Filter annoying content types
- Remove ads for less clutter
- Theme support for personalization
- More control over notifications
- Schedule actions like birthday posts
Cons
- Not designed for mobile, UI may be awkward
- Certain features may not work properly
- App Store guidelines restrictions
- Privacy concerns over data access
- Potential conflicts with Facebook app
In summary, while nice to have, FB Purity’s desktop browser-centric design makes an iPhone version impractical currently. But the core customization need is shared by mobile users as well, hence the demand.
Conclusion
FB Purity is an excellent browser extension for customizing Facebook on the desktop. However, it does not officially support any mobile platform including iPhone.
The extension is designed solely for desktop browsers like Chrome and Firefox. Due to technical constraints, it is not possible to install or use FB Purity on the iPhone.
The easiest way to access its features on iPhone is to use the Safari desktop site and enable FB Purity there. Alternatively, some customization is possible via built-in Facebook settings or using other lightweight apps.
There is no timeline on if or when FB Purity will make an iPhone-compatible version. For now, desktop browsers remain the only officially supported way to use this popular Facebook customization tool.