How to remove ads on Android: a complete guide

Constant pop-up banners, intrusive notifications and full-screen videos turn using a smartphone into a real challenge. Advertising on Android can appear not only in the browser, but also in system interfaces, games, and even after uninstalling applications. Users often wonder how to remove ads on Android without obtaining root access and without installing dubious software.

There are many methods of dealing with digital garbage: from simply changing the DNS server to deep cleaning the system via a computer. In this article, we will look at effective and safe methods that will help you regain control of your device. You'll learn how to distinguish system spam from malware and which tools actually work in 2026.

Disable personalized advertising in Google settings

The first step to a clean interface is to limit Google's data collection. The company uses your search history and location to serve targeted ads. Although this will not remove advertising completely, it will become less intrusive and random.

First, you need to go to the menu Settings of your smartphone. Find the section Google, which is usually located at the very bottom of the list or in the “Services” category. Inside this menu, select Advertising. Here you will see the “Disable ad personalization” switch - activate it.

The button Remove Ad IDis also available in this section. Clicking this will reset the unique code assigned to your device for interest tracking. Marketers will lose touch with your profile, and algorithms will begin to show less relevant content.

⚠️ Note: Disabling personalization does not mean that banners will disappear completely. You will continue to see ads, but they will be selected randomly and not based on your personal data.

Additionally, it is worth checking the settings of the browser itself. Chrome. Go to the three-dot menu, select Settings → Privacy and Security. Make sure the Safe Browsing option is enabled and location access for sites is restricted.

Blocking ads through private DNS (without installing apps)

One of the most effective and easy ways to remove ads on Android is to use the “Private DNS” function. This method works at the level of the entire operating system Android 9 and above, blocking requests to known ad servers before they even reach your screen.

You do not need to download additional applications or obtain superuser rights. It is enough to change one parameter in the network settings. The system will redirect all DNS requests through a secure server, which automatically filters out domains associated with advertising and trackers.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the section Connection or Network and Internet.
• 🌐 Find the item Other connection settings or immediately Private DNS.
• 🔧 Select the “DNS Provider Host Name” mode (in some firmware “Manual”).
• 📝 Enter the address: dns.adguard.com and save the changes.

After applying the settings, it is recommended to reboot the device. Now, when opening websites or launching free applications, most banners simply will not load. This significantly saves mobile traffic and speeds up the browser.

However, this method has a nuance. Some large platforms, such YouTube or social networks, use the same domains to deliver content and advertising. In rare cases, this may lead to errors loading videos or images.

⚠️ Attention: If some sites or applications no longer open after enabling Private DNS, return the setting to Auto or Disabled. Details of how DNS filters work may vary depending on the firmware version.

Identification and removal of viruses that display advertisements

Often users are faced with a situation where advertisements appear on the desktop even when applications are closed. This is a sure sign of the presence of malware (adware). Such apps disguise themselves as useful utilities: flashlights, QR code scanners, memory cleaners, or simple games.

To find the culprit, open the application manager. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Scroll through the list carefully. Look for apps without a name and without an icon (empty white square). Usually they are located at the very beginning or at the very end of the list.

Having detected a suspicious element, click on it and select Delete. If the delete button is grayed out, the virus may have acquired device administrator rights. In this case, go to Settings → Security → Device administrators and uncheck the suspicious application.

Sign of infection	Probable cause	Solution method
Advertising on the desktop	Hidden virus application	Removal through application settings
Pop-up windows in browser	Notifications from sites	Clearing browser permissions
Rapid battery drain	Background mining or spam	Checking battery statistics
Spontaneous installation of APK	Malicious script	Prohibition of installation from unknown sources

Another way to identify the problem is to look at battery usage statistics. Go to Settings → Battery. If you see an application that you haven't used, but it consumes a lot of energy, it is almost certainly an ad source.

What to do if the virus is not removed?

If standard removal is not possible, try booting your phone in safe mode. To do this, hold down the power button, and when the menu appears, long press on the “Power off” item on the screen. In safe mode, third-party applications will not launch, and you can safely delete a malicious file.

Use of specialized blockers

If the built-in system tools are not enough, third-party solutions come to the rescue. There are several categories of apps to combat unwanted content: browser blockers and system filters.

One ​​of the leaders in this niche is the application AdGuard. It works on the principle of a local VPN tunnel, passing all traffic through itself and filtering out advertising requests. root access is not required for operation, but the user will need to confirm the creation of a VPN connection upon first launch.

Another popular option is Blokada. It is an open source application that also uses a local VPN mechanism to filter domains using blacklists. It is lightweight, does not consume much battery power, and allows you to set up your own blocking lists.

For those who want to remove ads specifically in the browser Chrome or Firefox on a phone, it is best to use extensions. For example, uBlock Origin works great in the mobile version of Firefox. It blocks not only banners, but also tracking scripts, making surfing safer.

Advanced cleaning via ADB (for experienced users)

For users who are not afraid to work with a computer, there is a method for removing system advertising and pre-installed software (bloatware) through the debug bridge ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to remove applications that usually cannot be removed through settings.

First you need to activate developer mode on your phone. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item Build number. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu, find the section For developers and enable USB debugging.

Connect your smartphone to the PC with a cable. On your computer, open a command prompt or terminal in your ADB tools folder. Enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

A request for debugging permission will appear on the phone screen - confirm it. If the device serial number appears in the console, the connection has been established successfully.

To remove a specific system application that causes advertising (for example, analytics services from the manufacturer), use the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name

For example, to remove Xiaomi services that often display advertising, the package is used com.miui.misys. Be extremely careful: deleting critical system components may lead to unstable operation of the device.

⚠️ Attention: Before using ADB, be sure to create a full backup of your data. Improper removal of system packages can lead to a bricked phone or an endless reboot (bootloop).

How to find the name of an application package?

Install the App Inspector application on your phone or use the adb shell pm list packages | grep "name_part". This will help to accurately identify the system process before deleting.

Setting up notifications in the browser and applications

Sometimes the problem lies not in viruses, but in the permission that the user himself has given to sites. Many resources request the right to send notifications, and then use this channel to display spam directly in the notification curtain.

To fix this in the browser Chrome, open the settings menu. Go to section Site settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all sites that are allowed to send messages. Ruthlessly delete or block all suspicious domains, especially those whose names you do not recognize.

A similar procedure should be carried out for other browsers, such as Opera, Yandex Browser or DuckDuckGo. Each of them has its own permission manager. Also check the settings of the applications themselves: go to Settings phone → Applications, select a specific app and disable the slider Notificationsif it is not vital.

Advertising often comes from news, weather or flashlight aggregator applications. If the application is not critical, the easiest way is to remove it and replace it with a better analogue without intrusive marketing.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it safe to use ad blocking applications?

Yes, using proven applications such as AdGuard or Blokada is safe. They do not require root access and work in "user space". However, download them only from the official Google Play stores or from official developer sites to avoid counterfeits.

Why do ads appear even after deleting the application?

Most likely, there is malware left on your device that disguises itself as a system process or has an empty icon. It is also possible that you accidentally subscribed to spam emails through your browser. Check the list of applications and notification settings.

Are root access needed to completely remove ads?

For most tasks, Root is not needed. Private DNS and blockers work without it. root access is required only for deep modification of the system, removing built-in manufacturer services through system partitions and using host files at the kernel level.

Does blocking ads affect the speed of the phone?

On the contrary, blocking ads often speeds up the device. The browser and applications do not need to load heavy media banners and run tracking scripts, which saves traffic, battery and RAM.

Can ad blocking disrupt the functioning of sites?

In rare cases, some sites may detect the blocker and refuse to show content, requiring you to disable it. In such a situation, you can temporarily add the site to exceptions (white list) in the settings of your blocker or DNS.