Brand smartphones Tecno offer excellent price-performance ratio, but users often encounter intrusive content. Developers use system apps and widgets to monetize low-end devices, which results in banners and pop-ups. This is not only annoying, but also reduces the speed of the processor and also consumes battery power.
Owners of devices based on Android can fix this problem themselves without obtaining root access. In this guide, we will look in detail at how to disable advertising in system utilities, browsers and third-party apps. You don't have to install complex antiviruses, just change a few parameters in the settings menu.
The process of optimizing the interface takes only 10-15 minutes. The result will be a clean desktop and no sudden redirects to bookmaker sites or online stores. We will look at both standard blocking methods through settings, and more advanced methods through DNS.
Analysis of sources of advertising traffic
Before you start deleting, you need to understand where exactly the malicious content comes from. Often, users mistakenly believe that the device itself is the culprit, although the problem lies in specific applications. In the ecosystem HiOS or XOS (Tecno shells), advertising can be embedded at different levels.
The most common culprits are pre-installed system utilities. This could be Phone Cleaner, Task Manager, Music or Video. Developers deliberately leave advertising modules in the code of these apps to generate passive income. The source can also be weather or news widgets on the main screen.
Sometimes the problem occurs after installing third-party software from unreliable sources. Malicious code can disguise itself as useful apps: flashlights, QR code scanners, or simple games. Such software often requests permission “on top of other windows,” which allows it to display banners at any time.
- 📢 System applications from the manufacturer (Clean Master, Phone Master).
- 🌐 Pop-up notifications from the browser when visiting sites.
- 📱 Third-party widgets on desktop with news feeds.
⚠️ Attention: If advertisements appear even on a locked screen or on top of other windows at random times, it is highly likely that a miner virus or spyware is installed on the device.
Disabling advertising in Tecno system applications
The most effective way to combat this is to manually disable advertising modules in the settings of each application. In shells Tecno this feature is often hidden deep in the menu, but it is present in most standard utilities. You will need to sequentially go through the list of pre-installed software.
Start with the “Phone Manager” or “Cleaning” application. Go to the settings inside this application (usually the gear icon in the corner). Find the item responsible for “Recommendations”, “Personalized advertising” or “Receive notifications”. Turn the switch to the inactive state.
Similar steps must be performed for the Music, Video and Files applications. Each of them may have its own hidden section with advertising settings. The interface may differ depending on the version Android and smartphone model, so carefully study all menu tabs.
☑️ Checking system utilities
Some system services do not allow you to completely disable data collection, but you can limit their background activity. To do this, go to the general settings of your smartphone, select the “Applications” section and find the desired app. In the “Notifications” menu, disable the display of any notifications from this service.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface may vary slightly on different Tecno models (Spark, Camon, Pova). If you haven’t found the exact name of the item, look for synonyms like “Personalization” or “Marketing.”
Blocking ads through browser settings
Often the source of pop-up windows is not the system, but the web browser. Even if you are using a standard Chrome or built-in browser Tecno Browser, sites may ask for permission to send notifications. Users often accidentally click “Allow”, after which they begin to receive spam.
To correct the situation, open your browser settings. Find the "Privacy and Security" or "Site Settings" section. Go to the “Notifications” subsection. Here you will see a list of all resources that are allowed to send push notifications.
Please study this list carefully. If you see unfamiliar domains or sites with suspicious names, revoke their permission immediately. The best solution would be to completely block all sites from sending notifications by enabling the “Do not allow sites to send notifications” option.
What to do if ads do not disappear after disabling notifications?
If blocking notifications did not help, a malicious extension may be installed on your device. Try clearing your browser cache completely or resetting your browser to factory settings in the same settings menu.
It is also recommended to activate the built-in anti-malware feature. It is located in the “Safe Browsing” section. This feature warns about dangerous sites and blocks the loading of suspicious scripts that can generate ads. Chrome it is located in the "Safe Browsing" section. This feature warns about dangerous sites and blocks the loading of suspicious scripts that can generate advertisements.
Using Private DNS for Global Blocking
One of the most powerful tools in an Android user's arsenal is setting up a private DNS. This method allows you to block advertising requests at the entire operating system level, without requiring the installation of additional applications. It works for all connections: Wi-Fi and mobile network.
The essence of the method is to redirect requests to advertising servers into the “emptiness”. When an application tries to load a banner, the system contacts a special DNS server that does not return the IP address of the advertising network. As a result, advertising simply does not load, saving traffic and battery.
To implement, go to Settings → Connections → Other connection settings → Private DNS. In the menu that opens, select the “DNS Provider Hostname” mode. In the input field, you must enter the address of a reliable blocker.
dns.adguard.comAfter entering the address, save the settings. The effect is almost immediate: most built-in advertising in free games and websites will no longer be displayed. This method is safe and does not require superuser rights.
If some sites no longer open after enabling private DNS, try temporarily disabling this feature. Some large services may block access through third-party DNS filters.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNS mode | Auto (ISP) | Provider hostname | Manual control |
| Server address | Not specified | dns.adguard.com | Ad blocking |
| Applicability | Wi-Fi only | Wi-Fi + Mobile network | Global protection |
| Impact on speed | Standard | Minimum latency | Speed up page loading |
⚠️ Attention: Using third-party DNS servers theoretically allows the DNS provider to see your requests, although services like AdGuard declare a no-logs policy. For maximum privacy, use proven services.
Managing permissions and removing viruses
If the previous methods did not help, the problem may lie in the access rights that you accidentally granted to applications. There is a critical permission in Android - "On top of other windows". It allows apps to display content on top of all open applications, which is often used by viruses.
Go to the system settings and find the "Special" section. Features" or "Permissions Manager". Select "On top of other windows" (sometimes called "Display on top of other applications"). View the list of apps that have this right.
Carefully analyze the list. Only system messengers or launchers should have permission. If you see “Flashlight”, “Calculator”, “QR Scanner” or an unknown application with hieroglyphs here, immediately disable this right and uninstall the app.
- 🔍 Check the list of recently installed applications.
- 🚫 Revoke rights to access contacts from suspicious games.
- 🗑️ Remove apps that you did not knowingly install.
It is also worth checking the “Device Administrators” section in the security settings. Malware often writes itself there so that it cannot be removed in the usual way. If there is a suspicious profile there, uncheck it, after which deletion will be possible.
The “On top of other windows” resolution is the main tool of ad viruses. Controlling this parameter guarantees the absence of pop-up windows on the entire screen.
Resetting settings as a last resort
In situations where advertising permeates the entire system and no single-point settings help, a radical method remains - a complete reset to factory settings. This action will return the smartphone Tecno to the state it was in when purchased, deleting all user data and applications.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to create a backup copy of important data: photos, contacts and documents. Use Google cloud storage or copy the files to your computer, as the cleaning process will completely format the internal memory.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → System → Reset settings. Select "Erase all data (factory reset)." Confirm the action by entering your PIN code or pattern. The smartphone will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which may take several minutes.
What will happen to my data after the reset?
All data stored in the internal memory of the phone will be permanently deleted. This includes installed apps, photos, videos, music, and account settings. The data on the SD memory card is usually saved, but it is recommended to remove it before resetting for security.
Do you need to log into your Google account after the reset?
Yes, the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection system will require you to enter the login and password for the Google account that was synchronized with the phone before the reset. This is protection against device theft. Make sure you remember the data from your account.
Is it possible to cancel the reset process after it has started?
No, the formatting process has started, it cannot be interrupted. Turning off the phone during a reset can damage the file system and turn the device into a brick. Wait until the system is fully loaded.
Will advertising return after a reset?
System advertising from the manufacturer may return, as it is built into the firmware. However, all third-party advertising from viruses and applications you installed will disappear. You will only have to reconfigure the blocking in system utilities, as described at the beginning of the article.
Why do ads appear again after a system update?
When updating the firmware, the manufacturer can reset your user privacy settings to default values. It is recommended to check the “Personalization” and “Recommendations” items after each major software update.