How to remove ads on Honor 9A: Complete cleaning guide

Smartphone users Honor 9A often encounter intrusive advertising content that significantly reduces the comfort of using the device. Pop-up banners, recommendations in application folders and sudden notifications may appear due to the peculiarities of the proprietary shell EMUI or installed third-party apps. To return the device to a clean interface and increase operating speed, you need to take a comprehensive approach to setting up the system.

In this article we will analyze in detail all possible sources of unwanted content on your gadget. You will learn how to disable built-in recommendation services Huawei, find hidden viruses and configure your browser to block advertising scripts. Follow the instructions consistently to achieve maximum results.

Disabling system recommendations and personalization

The first step in the fight for a clean screen is to disable built-in algorithms personalization. The shell EMUI by default is configured to display news and recommendations in various sections of the menu, which is often perceived by the user as spam. These settings are located deep in the system, but changing them does not require root access.

You need to go to the section Settings and find the item responsible for security and privacy. There is a switch hidden here that allows the system to collect data about your actions to generate advertising results. Disabling this feature will not affect the operation of the main applications, but will stop the flow of targeted offers.

It is also worth checking your home screen settings. A long press on an empty space on the desktop opens the options menu, where the “Recommendations” option is often activated. Disable This checkbox will remove unnecessary icons and news widgets that take up space and distract attention.

⚠️ Attention: After disabling personalization services Some system widgets (for example, the “News Feed” to the left of the main screen) may stop updating or disappear completely.

Managing notifications from system applications

Push notifications from pre-installed services Honor and Huawei. Apps like Phone Manager, Gallery, or Music can send you messages about new features or partner promotions. You can manage this flow through a single notification settings center.

Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications. In the list that opens you will see all installed apps. Find system utilities and carefully study the alert categories allowed for them. Often it is enough to uncheck the “Marketing notifications” or “Recommendations” item to solve the problem.

Pay special attention to the default browser. If you use a standard browser Honor, it may have its own notification settings, independent of the system. In this case, you need to go inside the application itself and disable subscriptions to news in its internal parameters.

• 🔍 Check the “Other notifications” section - subtle services are often hidden there.
• 🚫 Prevent the display of icons on application icons for system utilities.
• 📂 Turn off notifications for folders on your desktop if they offer installation of games.

If you notice that notifications come from an application with an unclear name or without an icon, this is a sure sign of presence Advertising virus. In this case, simply disabling notifications will not be enough; you will need to remove the malware.

Search and remove malicious applications

If advertising suddenly appears on the entire screen, even when you are on the main screen or in another application, most likely, your Honor 9A has malware installed. Such apps are often disguised as useful utilities: flashlights, QR code scanners, memory cleaners, or simple games.

To find the culprit, open Settings → Applications → Applications. Please review the entire list carefully. Look for apps that don't have a name, have a transparent icon, or ones you don't remember installing. Often, such viruses do not have an interface and work exclusively in the background to display advertisements.

If you cannot find a suspicious application in the regular list, try sorting them by installation time. Malicious code usually reaches the device shortly before the problem occurs. Remove found objects immediately. If the “Delete” button is inactive, first click “Deprive administrator rights” in the security settings.

Settings → Security → Device Administrators → Uncheck the suspicious application

In complex cases, when the application is not removed by standard methods, you may need to log in Safe Mode. To do this, hold down the power button, and then in the menu that appears, hold down the “Shutdown” or “Reboot” item with your finger for a long time until you are prompted to boot into safe mode. In this state, only system applications work, which allows you to safely remove the virus.

Setting up the browser and blocking ads on the Internet

A significant part of the advertising noise comes from the Internet when surfing in the browser. Standard security measures do not always effectively block banners and pop-ups. For comfortable browsing of websites on Honor 9A it is recommended to install specialized solutions or configure the current browser correctly.

In the browser settings, find the “Privacy and Security” section. Activate the Pop-up Blocker feature. This will prevent new tabs with ads from opening if you accidentally click on links. It is also useful to enable tracking protection, which will limit the collection of data about your preferences by advertising networks.

However, the most effective method is to install a browser with a built-in AdBlock or use a separate blocker application. Such apps filter traffic at the system or specific application level, cutting out advertising scripts before they are loaded onto the screen.

Protection method	Efficiency	Complexity of setup	Impact on the battery
Built-in browser blocker	Medium	Low	Minimum
Third-party browser (Brave, DuckDuckGo)	High	Low	Medium
System DNS filter	Very high	Medium	Minimum
Blocking applications (AdGuard)	Maximum	High	High

Remember that some sites may may not display correctly with aggressive ad blocking. In such cases, you can add the resource to the exclusion list. This will ensure a balance between clean browsing and the functionality of web services.

⚠️ Attention: Browser interfaces and menu item names may differ depending on the firmware version EMUI and updates to the application itself.

How does DNS blocking work?

This method redirects requests to ad servers to “nowhere”. The phone sends a request to receive advertising, but a special DNS server responds that such an address does not exist. As a result, advertising simply does not load, saving traffic and battery power.

Using private DNS for system blocking

One ​​of the most elegant ways to remove advertising on Android, including Honor 9A, is to set up a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the level of the entire operating system, blocking ads in all browsers and most applications.

To implement this method, go to Settings → Connections → Other connection settings → Private DNS. Select the DNS Provider Hostname mode and enter the trusted blocker address. One of the most popular and free options is the service from AdGuard.

dns.adguard.com

After entering the address, save the settings. The system will check the availability of the server. If everything is done correctly, you will notice that the number of advertisements in free applications and browsers has decreased significantly. This method is especially effective against banners in games and news aggregators.

Keep in mind that using a third-party DNS can sometimes lead to slight delays when loading pages if the server is located geographically far away. However, for most users in the CIS, this option works stably and quickly.

Resetting settings and extreme measures

If none of the listed methods helped get rid of intrusive advertising, the system may have been deeply infected or a critical error has occurred in the configuration files. In this case, there are two options left: resetting the browser settings or completely resetting the device.

Resetting the browser settings will return it to its original state, removing all cached data, cookies and malicious extensions. This is done in the application menu itself. If the problem persists even after this, the virus has probably penetrated deeper into the system.

Full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) will delete all data from the phone, including contacts, photos and applications, but is guaranteed to clear the system of any software junk. Before this procedure, be sure to save important information to an external storage device or to the cloud.

• 🔄 Resetting network settings can help if advertising is associated with DNS substitution by the provider.
• 🗑️ Deleting all user data is a radical, but 100% effective method.
• 🛡️ After resetting, do not restore the backup copy of applications immediately, so as not to return the virus back.

⚠️ Attention: When performing a hard reset, the device will be completely wiped. Make sure you remember your Google account password as it will be required to activate your phone after rebooting (FRP protection).

What is FRP protection?

Factory Reset Protection is Google's security mechanism. If you reset your phone to factory settings, when you turn it on for the first time, it will require you to enter the login and password for the Google account that was previously synchronized with the device. This is done to protect against theft.

Preventing the appearance of advertising in the future

To prevent the problem from returning, it is important to maintain digital hygiene. Do not download applications from dubious sources or third-party stores. The official store AppGallery or Google Play (if installed) undergo moderation, which weeds out most malware.

When installing new applications, carefully read the permissions they request. If a simple flashlight asks for access to contacts, geolocation and phone number, this is a clear signal of danger. Refuse to grant unnecessary rights.

Regularly update your operating system and applications. Developers Honor constantly release security patches that close vulnerabilities through which advertising networks can penetrate the device. The current version of the software is the key to stable operation.

Following these simple rules will allow your Honor 9A remain a fast and clean device throughout its entire service life. Advertising should not control your smartphone; you can easily control this process.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why do advertisements appear even after removing suspicious applications?

Perhaps there are several malware left on the device, or advertisements arrive through notifications of legitimate applications that you allowed earlier. Check the notification settings for all installed apps and use private DNS for blocking.

Is it safe to use dns.adguard.com on Honor 9A?

Yes, it is safe. This service simply filters requests to known ad servers. It doesn't completely encrypt your traffic (like a VPN), but it doesn't share your personal data with third parties either. This is standard practice for blocking ads.

Can ads be linked to visits to certain sites?

Yes, some sites may sign you up for push notifications without explicit consent, disguising it as an “I'm not a robot” check. Go to your browser settings, "Notifications" section, and revoke permissions for all suspicious sites.

Will resetting the settings remove ads forever?

Resetting the settings will remove all advertising if its source was software on the phone. However, if you immediately restore a backup containing an infected application, the ads may return. Restore only personal files (photos, contacts), and reinstall applications manually.

Does Do Not Disturb mode help with advertising?

No, Do Not Disturb mode only hides sound signals and vibration from notifications, but does not remove banners and pop-ups themselves. To combat visual advertising, the blocking methods described in the article are required.