Constant pop-up banners, intrusive notifications and advertising inserts in system applications turn using a modern smartphone into a test. Many users are wondering how to get rid of advertising on Android once and for all, without resorting to complex manipulations with superuser rights. Fortunately, the operating system provides a number of built-in tools and also allows you to use third-party solutions to block unwanted content at the network level.

In this guide, we'll take a comprehensive approach to cleaning up your device. We will start with the simplest and safest methods that do not require the installation of additional software, and gradually move on to more advanced settings. It is important to understand that advertising traffic often comes not only from installed games, but also from Google system services and shell manufacturers.

Ignoring this problem can lead not only to irritation, but also to reduced device performance. Constant loading of advertising scripts consumes RAM and drains the battery faster than usual. Let's take a look at the specific steps that will give you back control of your gadget.

Blocking ads through Private DNS settings

The most effective and safe way to remove advertising at the system-wide level is to use the function Private DNS (Private DNS). This technology, available starting with Android 9, forwards all of your device's DNS requests through an encrypted channel to a server that automatically blocks known advertising domains.

You don't need to install any apps or get root access. Just go to the network settings and enter the address of a special server. This action will block the loading of banners in browsers, games and most free applications without affecting their functionality.

To activate this function, follow these steps:

  • 📱 Open Settings your smartphone and go to the Connections or Network and Internet.
  • 🔍 Find the item Others connection settings and select the option Private DNS (sometimes called Private DNS).
  • 🛡️ Select mode DNS provider hostname and enter the address in the field: dns.adguard.com.
  • ✅ Click Save and reboot the device to apply the changes.

⚠️ Attention: If, after enabling this function, some applications stop loading content or work incorrectly, temporarily disable Private DNS by returning the setting to Auto. Some services may conflict with blockers at the DNS level.

This method is a universal solution for most users. It does not require constant monitoring and works out of the box immediately after setup. However, it is worth remembering that it does not block advertising within YouTube applications or native advertising on social networks, since it is loaded from the same domains as the main content.

📊 Which ad blocking method have you tried before?
Antiviruses only
DNS settings
Manually disabling notifications
Nothing helped

Disabling personalized Google advertising

Google collects huge amounts of data about your preferences in order to show the most relevant advertising. Although you cannot completely disable advertising in the search giant's services, you can prevent the use of your data for targeting it. This will make ads less intrusive and random.

To manage these settings, you need to log into your Google account. There you will find a section responsible for privacy and. personalization. Disabling this function will not reduce the number of advertisements, but will make it less “intimidating” with its awareness of your recent search queries.

Follow the following sequence of actions:

  1. Go to Settings smartphone and find the section Google at the very bottom of the list.
  2. Select item Advertising (Ads).
  3. Activate the switch Disable ad personalization.
  4. Additionally press Reset advertising identifierto clear accumulated interest profile.

It is also recommended to check the settings inside the browser itself. Go to the browser menu, select Google Chrome. Go to the browser menu, select Settings → Privacy and Security and disable the option Safe Browsing in advanced protection mode if it sends data to servers Google for real-time analytics, although this may reduce security.

💡

Resetting your advertising ID forces systems to rebuild your interest profile, which temporarily reduces targeting accuracy.

Managing system notifications and junk applications

Often the source of annoying banners is not Internet sites, but installed applications themselves or even system utilities from the smartphone manufacturer. Chinese brands, such as Xiaomi, Huawei or Realme, often embed advertising modules into their MIUI shells. EMUI and Realme UI.

The first step should be a thorough audit of the list of installed apps. Remove all dubious utilities: “memory cleaners”, “battery boosters”, “flashlights” with unnecessary permissions. They are the ones that most often generate pop-up windows on top of other applications.

For system applications that cannot be removed, you need to disable them. notifications:

  • 🔔 Go to Settings → Applications.
  • 📂 Find in the list applications with names like MSA, GetApps, Mi Video, Music (system).
  • 🚫 Click on the application, select Notifications and disable them completely.

⚠️ Attention: Be careful when disabling system processes. Do not disable notifications from Google Play Services or Android systems, as this may lead to malfunctions of push notifications from instant messengers and mail.

In some shells there is a hidden setting "Receive recommendations". It can be found in the section Advanced settings → Privacy. Unchecking this item significantly reduces the number of promotional materials in system folders and menus.

What is MSA in Xiaomi smartphones?

MSA (MIUI System Ads) is a system service responsible for displaying advertising in standard shell applications MIUI. Its forced stop or removal via ADB is the most effective way to combat advertising on devices of this brand, but requires caution.

Using content blockers in the browser

If the bulk of advertising garbage appears while surfing the Internet, then setting up the browser will become your main weapon. Standard mobile browsers often do not have built-in powerful protection, so it is recommended to use it. specialized solutions or extensions.

The most popular and effective solution is the browser Brave, which blocks trackers and ads at the kernel level without the need to install add-ons. However, if you prefer Google Chrome or Firefox, the situation is a little more complicated.

Firefox for Android allows you to install full-fledged extensions, such as uBlock OriginThis is one of the lightest and most effective filters available today. In Chrome, the situation is limited, but you can enable built-in protection:

Settings → Privacy → Safe browsing → Advanced protection

You can also activate the item Blocking intrusive adsin Chrome settings. This feature prevents the display of advertising that does not meet the Better Ads Standards (for example, full-screen pop-ups or videos with sound without warning).

💡

For maximum protection in mobile browsers, use filter lists EasyList and Russian List. They are regularly updated by the community and block most local advertising networks.

Table of comparison of blocking methods

To make it easier for you to choose the optimal strategy, we have prepared a summary table comparing the considered methods in terms of effectiveness and complexity of implementation.

Method Efficiency Complexity Impact on battery
Private DNS (AdGuard) High (system) Low No
Disable notifications Medium (spot) Average Positive
Browser Brave / Firefox + uBlock High (web) Low Minimum
Blocker applications Maximum High Average

As can be seen from the table, the setting Private DNS is the golden mean: it provides wide blocking coverage without the need to install heavy software. However, for complete comfort, a combination of several methods is often required.

Installing specialized blocking applications

For those who do not have enough built-in tools, there are powerful applications that create a local VPN tunnel on the device. They filter all passing traffic. The leader in this niche is AdGuard (the version is not from the Play Market, but from the official website, since Google prohibits ad blockers in its store).

Such apps work deeper than DNS filters. They can filter HTTPS traffic, remove ads from video players, and block trackers in apps that bypass regular DNS filters. However, you have to pay for this with device resources.

The installation process is as follows:

  1. Download the installation file apk from the official website of the developer.
  2. When you first start, the system will ask for permission to create VPN connections. This is necessary to intercept traffic.
  3. In the application settings, enable filters for the browser and installed applications.
  4. Set up exceptions for banking applications to avoid security problems.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party VPN filters may conflict with other applications that use VPN (for example, corporate clients or other security services). Only one VPN connection can work at a time.

Application interfaces and menu names may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the model of your smartphone. If you do not find the specified item, use the settings search or refer to the manufacturer's official documentation.

☑️ Checking the cleanliness of the system

Done: 0 / 4

Advanced methods: ADB and removing system software

For experienced users who want to clean the phone to a bare Android state, there is a method of using USB debugging and utilities ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to remove system applications that usually cannot be removed through the interface.

Using ADB, you can remove packages such as com.miui.msa.global (Xiaomi advertising) or com.google.android.adservices. This requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and entering commands in the terminal.

Example command to remove a package:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name

Using this method carries certain risks. Removing critical system components may lead to a bricked device or a cyclic reboot. Always check the purpose of the package before deleting it on specialized forums.

💡

The ADB method is irreversible without resetting to factory settings. Use it only if you understand exactly what package you are removing and what consequences this may entail.

Is it safe to use Private DNS with the address dns.adguard.com?

Yes, it is completely safe. AdGuard servers do not log your personal data and do not sell it to third parties. They only check requests for advertising domains and block them. The traffic is encrypted using the TLS protocol.

Why do ads appear even after installing a blocker?

Some applications use their own algorithms for loading ads or replace domains to bypass standard filters. In such cases, only an integrated approach helps: DNS + browser extension + disabling notifications.

Will ad blocking slow down the phone?

On the contrary, the phone can work faster. Ad blocking prevents heavy scripts and images from loading, saving traffic, CPU time and battery power. Only heavy VPN applications can slightly affect the speed in the background.

Is it possible to remove ads on YouTube without Premium?

Officially - no. Third-party clients (for example, YouTube ReVanced) allow you to do this, but their installation requires complex manipulations and is not guaranteed by the developers of the article. DNS filters do not block advertising within the YouTube application.

What to do if the Internet is lost after the settings?

Most likely, the entered DNS server address contains an error or the server is temporarily unavailable. Return to settings Private DNS and select mode Auto or Disabledto restore the connection.