AdGuard for Windows v8.0 nightly is here: Fresh design, smarter features
This is the first nightly version, which is still far from release. More features will be added in future versions.
We don’t usually roll out the red carpet for our nightly builds — those early versions are more behind-the-scenes, quietly evolving until the final release steals the spotlight. But it’s different this time. AdGuard v8.0 for Windows marks a major milestone for us! With a fresh design and tons of improvements, this version is such a big step forward that we couldn’t wait for the final release to talk about it.
What’s new
- Statistics with breakdowns by company, app and domain: the Companies section provides a unique perspective on all the companies that your device has sent requests to, while in Apps and Domains you see the statistics for every single app installed on your Windows device, so you can find out which apps and websites are the most eager to track your activity and bombard you with ads.
- The app’s UI app is now built on a cross-platform technology: It will allow us to align the functionality of AdGuard for Mac and Windows in the future.
- In version 8, AdGuard filters everything by default, and then you choose what not to filter or select the level of filtering — for example, allowing the traffic to go through AdGuard or not filtering HTTPS traffic.
- New app management: With filtering in version 8, we determine which apps access the Internet. As soon as we detect that something has gone online, we immediately add it to App management and start routing its traffic through AdGuard. From there, the user can configure what to do with the app and how to filter it.
- New create rule dialogue: We’ve made it easier to create your own filtering rules in the User rules section. Choose the type of request to block, enter a domain, select content types and target websites — all through simple dropdown menus. It’s the fastest way to start making your own rules, even if you’ve never done it before.
New design
We didn’t just update the look of AdGuard for Windows — we completely redesigned it. The new interface is clean, minimalistic, and easy to use.
Our focus was on making everything simple. The most important tools are right up front, so they’re easy to find and use. More advanced settings are still there, but hidden away so they don’t overwhelm new users. The result is a balance between simplicity and full control over your ad blocking experience.
How to install
You can install the nightly build directly from our website. There, you can select the Windows tab, choose the Nightly option and click Download.
How to switch back to the previous version after updating to v8.0
The changes in AdGuard for Windows v8.0 are significant, and we hope you love the new version. However, chances are something won’t go the way you expected. Version 8.0 is very different; after all, it’s the first nightly. If you find the v8.0 interface uncomfortable or have encountered too many functionality/stability issues, you can restore the previous version along with its settings.
Your feedback is important
Since AdGuard for Windows v8.0 nightly is such a milestone for us, your feedback and feature suggestions would mean the world to us. If you want to help us improve, here’s what you can do:
- Create an issue on GitHub. Before creating the issue, we recommend you to check the repository. Maybe somebody has already found and reported the same problem.
- Reach us out on social media and leave us your feedback.
If you still are not part of our beta/nightly testing program, take a look at our Knowledge base. If you fit all the requirements, you are more than welcome to join our contributors!
