Advertising in modern smartphones has become an integral, but extremely annoying part of the user experience. Owners of devices based on Android often encounter intrusive banners, pop-ups and videos that interrupt work, games or content viewing. This problem is especially acute for users of budget models, where manufacturers provide monetization through displaying ads directly in the system interface.
There are many ways to combat this digital noise: from simple settings in the menu to installing specialized software. In this article we will examine in detail effective blocking methodswhich will help you regain control of your device. You'll learn how to change DNS settings, manage app permissions, and disable personalized advertising at the system level.
It is important to understand that not all types of advertising are created equal. Some ads are part of free applications and disappear only after purchasing the premium version, while others are the result of malware or the aggressive policy of the shell manufacturer. We will consider both scenarios and offer solutions for each case.
Changing Private DNS settings to block ads
One of the most effective and safest ways to remove most banners is to change the private DNS (Domain Name System) settings. This method does not require the installation of third-party applications and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to known ad servers.
To activate this function, you need to go to your network settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Connections → Other connection settings → Private DNS. In the menu that opens, select the option DNS provider hostname.
In the input field you must enter the address of a special server that filters traffic. The most popular and reliable solution is the service from AdGuard. Enter the following line:
dns.adguard.comAfter saving the settings, the system will begin to redirect all DNS requests through this server. If the domain contains advertising, the request will be blocked and the banner will simply not load. This significantly saves traffic and speeds up loading pages in the browser.
⚠️ Attention: If, after enabling Private DNS, some applications or sites stop loading, try temporarily disabling this feature. Some corporate networks or specific services may not work correctly with third-party DNS servers.
If you use the mobile data, this method will also help save traffic, since advertising banners often take up a significant amount of data.
Disable personalized advertising in the Google system
Google collects data about your interests, location and search queries to show the most relevant ads. While this does not remove ads completely, turning off this feature makes ads less intrusive and stops tracking your behavior.
To limit data collection, go to your account settings. On most devices, the path looks like this: Settings → Google → Advertising. Here you'll see a "Turn off ad personalization" toggle or a "Reset advertising ID" button.
Resetting your advertising ID (Advertising ID) creates a new random number that replaces your current interest profile. This is especially useful to do periodically in order to “confuse” the algorithms of data collectors.
- 🔒 Personalization is disabled: advertising networks stop linking your actions in different applications.
- 🔄 Identifier reset: the old interest profile is deleted, data collection begins from scratch.
- 📉 Number of targeted banners are reduced, although contextual advertising remains.
It is worth noting that even after these actions you will continue to see advertising, but it will be less accurate. This is a compromise between privacy and free use of ecosystem services.
Blocking notifications from specific applications
Users often confuse system advertising with spam notifications from installed applications. Browsers, games, and utilities often request permission to display notifications and then use this channel to promote their services or affiliate products.
These permissions are managed in the Applications section. Go to Settings → Applications and notifications → Application management. Select a suspicious application that often sends spam, and find the item Notifications.
Here you can either completely disable notifications for the selected app, or configure their types in detail. For example, you can leave important system alerts, but block marketing mailings.
| Application type | Recommended action | Risk of disconnection |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers | Leave enabled | High (skipping messages) |
| Games | Disable completely | Low (advertising only) |
| Browsers | Disable marketing | Medium (skipping news) |
| App stores | Leave updates | Low (skipping promotions) |
Be careful when turning off notifications for banking apps or delivery services - you may miss critical information about transactions or order status.
Regularly reviewing the list of applications with rights to notifications is the best prevention of spam appearing in the notification shade.
Searching for and removing malicious applications
If advertising suddenly appears on the desktop or on top of other windows, even when the phone is locked, most likely there is malware installed on the device. Such apps are often disguised as flashlights, QR code scanners, or memory cleaners.
The first step is to check the list of installed applications. Go to Settings → Applications and carefully review the list. Look for apps without a name, with a blank icon, or ones that you don’t remember installing.
Malware often tries to hide from the user. If you can't find suspicious apps in the regular list, try sorting them by installation time or size. It is also worth checking applications with administrator rights.
⚠️ Attention: If the “Delete” button is inactive, it means that the application has received administrator rights. First, go to
Settings → Security → Device administrators, uncheck the suspicious app, and only then delete it.
In particularly difficult cases, you may need to boot the phone in safe mode. To do this, you usually need to hold down the power button and then hold down the “Shutdown” item on the screen for a long time until the prompt to reboot into safe mode appears.
What is safe mode?
In this mode, only system applications are launched. If the advertising disappears in safe mode, it means that one of the applications you installed is to blame.
Setting up a built-in blocker in the browser
For many users, the main source of advertising is the mobile browser. Fortunately, modern browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox or Bravehave built-in tools to protect against pop-ups and malicious sites.
In the Google Chrome browser, protection is configured through the settings menu. Go to Settings → Site Settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Make sure the switch is in the “Blocked” position.
It is also recommended to disable notifications from sites. Often, sites ask for permission to display notifications in order to then bombard the user with advertising spam. In the same “Site Settings” menu, find the item Notifications and block sites from sending them.
- 🚫 Blocking pop-ups prevents the opening of new tabs with casinos and bets.
- 🔇 Blocking notifications eliminates spam in the status curtain.
- 🛡️ Protection from dangerous content warns about switching to phishing resources.
An alternative solution is to install browsers with a built-in adblock, for example Brave or DuckDuckGo. They block trackers and ads by default, without requiring complex configuration.
☑️ Browser security check
Using specialized blocking applications
If system tools are not enough, specialized blocking applications come to the rescue. They work on the principle of a local VPN, filtering all incoming and outgoing traffic on the device.
One of the most popular solutions is AdGuard. The application allows you not only to block ads in the browser, but also to filter traffic inside other applications and games. However, it is worth remembering that such apps consume additional battery power.
The installation of such applications from Google Play is often limited by store policy. Therefore, the developers offer to download versions directly from official sites in the APKformat. During installation, systems may warn about unknown sources - this is a standard security procedure.
After installation, you will be prompted to activate the local VPN tunnel. This is necessary for the filter to work. Don't worry, your data is not sent to third-party servers, filtering occurs exclusively on your device.
⚠️ Attention: Simultaneous use of several ad blocking applications (for example, Private DNS and AdGuard) can lead to conflicts and unstable Internet operation. Choose one main method.
Remember that support for developers of free blockers often comes through voluntary donations or paid versions. If the tool helps you on a daily basis, it's worth considering supporting the project.
Periodically update the filters in your blocker app. Ad networks change domains all the time, and old databases may miss new ads.
Is it safe to change DNS settings for an average user?
Yes, it is absolutely safe. You simply tell the phone to use a different “directory” of website addresses. Servers like dns.adguard.com are free and do not log your personal data.
Why do ads appear even after a factory reset?
If you restored a backup after a reset, a malicious application could come back with it. Also, advertising can be built into the firmware of the phone itself by the manufacturer.
Can ad blocking break applications?
In rare cases, some free applications may refuse to work if they cannot load advertisements. In such a situation, you will have to add the application to the blocker exceptions.
How to distinguish a virus from the manufacturer's system advertising?
System advertising usually appears only in certain menus or when the screen is unlocked. Viral advertising (adware) appears chaotically, on top of any windows and often leads to dubious sites.
Do you need root access to completely block ads?
No, modern methods like Private DNS and local VPN blockers work without root access and provide highly effective protection.