How to remove advertising from a Samsung A12 phone: Complete guide

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A12 is one of the most popular budget devices on the market, but its users often encounter intrusive advertising. Pop-up banners, sudden notifications about prizes won, or messages about virus detection can turn using a gadget into a real ordeal. This problem is not only annoying, but also significantly slows down the system and also drains battery power.

In most cases, the appearance of unwanted content on the screen is not associated with the manufacturer itself. Most often, the culprits are third-party applications installed by the user or changes in browser settings. Understanding the nature of these banners is the first step to removing them completely. In this article, we will look at effective methods for cleaning your device from digital junk.

Ignoring the problem can lead to more serious consequences, such as theft of personal data or installation of malware. Therefore, you need to act quickly and consistently. We will look at both built-in tools Androidand specific shell settings One UIthat will help return the phone to cleanliness and performance.

Diagnostics of the source of advertising notifications

Before proceeding with removal, you need to determine exactly which application generates pop-up windows. Ads may appear due to a recently installed flashlight, QR code scanner, or even a memory “optimizer.” Often, users do not pay attention to the permission to display notifications when installing such utilities.

The easiest way to identify the culprit is to pay attention to the moment the banner appears. As soon as an advertisement pops up on the screen, do not close it immediately. Tap the Recent Apps button (the square or three bars at the bottom of the screen). In the list that opens, you will see the icon of the app that is currently active. This is the source of the problem.

If advertising appears spontaneously when the phone is idle, check the list of recently installed apps. Go to Settings → Applications and sort the list by installation date. Suspicious utilities with names like “Clean Master”, “Battery Saver” or unknown games often contain aggressive advertising modules.

Disabling advertising in Samsung system applications

Shell One UI from company Samsung contains a number of built-in services that can show recommendations and news. Although this is not a viral advertisement, many users want to disable these features to increase privacy and speed of the interface.

One ​​of the main sources of such notifications is the service Samsung Global Goals or the Review application. To remove them, you need to go to the settings of a specific application. Find “Overview” (or Samsung Daily) in the list of apps, go to the “Notifications” section and uncheck all the boxes.

It’s also worth checking the lock screen settings. Sometimes advertising wallpapers or news from partners are displayed there. Go to Settings → Lock screen and disable the "Short Message Services" or "News" function. This action will make the lock screen clean and informative only to the extent that you need.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system services may affect the operation of some Samsung proprietary features, such as automatic widget recommendations. Make sure that you disable advertising modules, and not critical system services.

Cleaning the browser from pop-ups and notifications

Often the source of annoying banners is not the application, but the web browser. Accidentally clicking the Allow button on a questionable website gives it the right to send push notifications at any time. This is especially true for a standard browser Samsung Internet i Google Chrome.

First, you need to clear the history and site data. In your browser settings, find the “Privacy” or “Personal Information” section. Select "Clear browsing data" and make sure the "Cookies" and "Cached Images" boxes are checked. This will reset most temporary permissions.

Next you need to prevent sites from sending notifications. In Chrome follow the path Settings → Notifications. You will see a list of sites that are allowed to send push notifications. Click on each suspicious address and select "Block" or "Delete". A similar procedure is carried out in Samsung Internet through the menu Settings → Sites and downloads → Notifications.

Browser	Path to settings notifications	Recommended action
Google Chrome	Settings → Notifications	Disable all or delete specific sites
Samsung Internet	Menu (three bars) → Settings → Sites and downloads	Block notifications for all sites
Opera Mini	Menu → Settings → Privacy	Clear personal data
Firefox	Settings → Notifications	Uncheck "Block new requests"

Why does advertising return after cleaning?

Advertising scripts can be embedded in the code of the sites you visit. The use of blocker extensions (for example, AdGuard for Samsung Internet) solves this problem at the traffic filtering level, preventing scripts from even loading.

Removing malicious applications and viruses

If the previous methods did not help, there is a high probability that malware has settled on your Samsung A12 e. Such apps are often disguised as system processes or do not have an icon in the menu, which makes them difficult for the average user to detect.

First, use the built-in antivirus McAfeewhich is integrated into the Samsung security system. Go to Settings → Device maintenance → Protection and start scanning. The system will automatically check installed apps for known threats and offer to remove dangerous elements.

For a deeper scan, it is recommended to install a third-party antivirus, for example Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light. These utilities specialize in finding adware that standard scanners often miss. After installation, run a full system scan and follow the app's instructions for quarantining or deleting files.

Pay special attention to applications with administrator rights. Attackers often use this status to prevent the user from removing the virus. Go to Settings → Biometrics and security → Other security settings → Device administrator applications. If you see an unfamiliar app there, immediately revoke its rights and delete it.

Using ad blockers and DNS

The most effective way to prevent ads from appearing in the future is to set up a private DNS or use of specialized blockers. This method works at the level of the entire system, filtering traffic before it even reaches the browser or application.

Modern versions Android, including the one at Samsung A12, have a built-in “Private DNS” function. It allows you to redirect requests through a server that automatically filters out advertising domains. This does not require the installation of additional apps and has virtually no effect on Internet speed.

To activate, go to Settings → Connections → Other connection settings → Private DNS. Select the “DNS Provider Hostname” mode and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save your settings. Now most of the banners in free applications and the browser will stop loading.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party DNS servers can sometimes slow down the opening of some specific sites or disrupt the operation of local networks (for example, printers in the office). If you notice problems with the connection, return the setting to “Auto” mode.

Resetting settings as a last resort

If none of the above methods helped get rid of intrusive advertising, the system may be deeply infected or damaged. In this case, the only reliable solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings. This will return the phone to the condition it was in when you purchased it.

Before performing this procedure, it is critical that you back up all your data. Photos, contacts and documents will be deleted permanently. Use the service Samsung Cloud or copy the files to your computer. Make sure you remember the password for your Google accountas it will be required to activate the phone after resetting.

The reset process is performed through the recovery menu. Turn off your phone, then hold down the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time. In the menu that appears, use the volume buttons to select Wipe data/factory reset and confirm the action with the power button. After the reboot, the phone will be completely clean.

What to do after the reset?

Do not restore the application backup immediately. Install only the most necessary apps from the official Play Market store and watch the phone work for a couple of days. This will help you understand whether the copy was infected with a virus.

Preventing the appearance of advertising in the future

To prevent the problem from returning, you need to change your smartphone usage habits. The main reason for infection is the installation of applications from unverified sources. Never download APK files from forums, file hosting services or third-party sites that promise “hacked” versions of games.

Regularly audit installed apps. If you haven't used an app for more than a month, delete it. The less software garbage there is on the device, the lower the risk of catching an adware module. Also keep an eye on system updates, as Samsung regularly closes security vulnerabilities in patches.

• 🛡️ Install a reliable antivirus and scan once a week.
• 🚫 Disable installation from unknown sources in the security settings.
• 👀 Carefully read the permissions that the application requests during installation.
• 🔄 Regularly update your browser and system software to the latest versions.

Following these simple rules will allow your Samsung Galaxy A12 to remain a fast and secure device throughout its entire service life. Advertising is not a necessary evil, but a consequence of specific actions or settings that can be controlled.

Is it possible to remove Samsung system advertising forever?

It is impossible to completely remove built-in services without root access, but they can be disabled in notification settings and through developer mode. Using DNS filtering also hides most of the built-in promotional materials.

Why do ads appear even in airplane mode?

If ads pop up without the Internet, it means that a malicious application is installed on the phone that caches banners or generates them locally. You need to find and remove such an application through the list of installed apps.

Is it safe to use dns.adguard.com?

Yes, this is a public and secure service that simply filters requests to well-known advertising networks. It does not collect your personal data and does not encrypt all traffic, but only blocks requests to advertising domains.

What to do if the “Delete” button is inactive for the application?

Most likely, the application has received device administrator rights. Go to the security settings, find the “Device administrator applications” section, uncheck the desired app, and then try to remove it again.