It is difficult to imagine the modern mobile data without intrusive banners, pop-ups and videos that interrupt the reading of articles. For the user Yandex Browser on the platform Android this problem is especially acute, since by default the application includes many services that broadcast content. Excess visual noise is not only annoying, but also significantly wastes traffic, and also reduces page loading speed.
Fortunately, the developers have provided built-in protection mechanisms, and advanced users can use additional blocking methods. In this article we will analyze in detail how to remove advertising from the Yandex browser on an Android phoneusing standard settings, special DNS servers and third-party extensions. You will learn to distinguish system recommendations from malicious scripts and regain control over browsing the web.
It is important to understand that complete removal of all elements may require a comprehensive approach. We will look at both basic privacy settings and more in-depth technical solutions available to owners of smartphones with or without them. By following the instructions below, you can significantly clean up the interface and speed up the browser. root access or without them. By following the instructions below, you can significantly clean up the interface and speed up your browser.
Built-in ad blocking functions in Yandex Browser
The first and most logical step is to activate native filters that are already integrated into the browser code. Yandex has implemented technology AdGuard directly into its product, which allows you to block most banners on sites without installing additional apps. However, by default these settings may not be activated or work in a gentle mode.
To enable protection, you must go to the application settings menu. Click on the button with three dots at the bottom or top of the screen (depending on the interface version) and select Settings. Next, scroll the list to the Advertising and tracking blockingsection. Here you will see a switch that needs to be switched to the active position.
⚠️ Attention: Enabling aggressive blocking may disrupt the display of some sites where advertising is part of the page structure. If the site does not work correctly, try temporarily disabling the filter.
In addition to the standard blocking, in the same menu you can find the “Blocking shocking advertising” option. This feature hides banners with inappropriate content, which is especially important when children use the device. It is also worth paying attention to the setting Traffic compression, which, although it does not block advertising directly, does speed up loading by filtering unnecessary elements on the company’s servers.
For maximum efficiency, enable the “Blocking trackers” option in the same settings menu. This will prevent ad networks from collecting data about your actions.
After activating the features, the browser will prompt you to reload your open tabs to apply the changes. It is worth noting that the built-in filter is not able to remove all types of advertising, especially native ones that are embedded in the text of an article, or video adverts before videos on hosting sites. For such cases, there are more powerful tools, which we will talk about later.
The built-in Yandex blocker is based on the AdGuard engine and effectively removes up to 80% of standard banners without reducing device performance.
Disabling recommendations and the Zen news feed
Many users confuse regular web advertising with content platform Zen, which is displayed on the scoreboard and in the news feed. Although technically this is not an advertising banner in the classical sense, the abundance of clickbait headlines and promotional articles creates a feeling of clutter in the interface. This layer of content can only be removed through deep application settings.
To clear the main page, go to Settings -> Home page. Here you will find a toggle for “Show Recommendations Feed.” By turning it off, you will remove the endless stream of news, leaving only the search bar and bookmarks. This radically changes the appearance of the start screen, making it minimalistic and fast.
It is also worth checking your notification settings. Often, sites ask for permission to display push notifications, which later turn into a source of spam. Go to the section Sites -> Notifications and forcefully block sending messages for all resources or select specific suspicious domains to block.
☑️ Cleaning the interface of unnecessary content
If you want to remove specific tile with advertising on the board, just hold it with your finger for a few seconds. A context menu will appear where you can select “Block site” or “Delete”. This action will prevent similar resources from being automatically added to quick access in the future.
Using private DNS for blocking at the network level
One of the most effective methods that does not require the installation of heavy applications is setting up Private DNS (Private DNS). This feature is available in Android 9 and higher and allows you to redirect all DNS requests through a server that automatically blocks ad network domains before they are loaded in the browser.
To configure, go to your smartphone's system settings (not browser settings). Find the section Connections or Network and Internet. In the menu, select Private DNS (sometimes it is hidden in the “Advanced” subsection). By default, the value is “Auto”, which needs to be changed to “Provider Host Name”.
| DNS Provider | Host address for input | Features |
|---|---|---|
| AdGuard DNS | dns.adguard.com |
Blocks ads and trackers |
| Control D | p2.freedns.controld.com |
Blocks ads and malware |
| Mullvad | adblock.dns.mullvad.net |
Focus on privacy |
| NextDNS | [ID].dns.nextdns.io |
Requires registration for fine-tuning |
Enter the address of the selected service, for example dns.adguard.com, and save the settings. Now all traffic in Yandex Browser and other applications will pass through the filter. This is a universal solution that works even in cases where the built-in site blocker is powerless.
What to do if the Internet is lost after changing DNS?
Some providers or corporate networks can block third-party DNS servers. If sites stop opening, return the Private DNS setting to “Auto” or “Disabled.”
The advantage of this method is that it does not load the phone processor with additional calculations, since filtering occurs on the server side. However, it is worth remembering that such a DNS blocks advertising in all applications, which may be undesirable if you want to support your favorite blog or service with monetization.
Installing extensions and third-party blockers
Despite the power of the built-in tools, sometimes a more flexible tool is required. The mobile version Yandex Browser supports installation of extensions from the catalog Opera Addons. This opens up access to such legendary blockers as uBlock Origin or AdGuard, which can be customized to suit your needs.
To add an extension, open the browser menu and find the item Add-ons. Scroll down to the "Opera Extensions Directory" button. In the search, enter the name of the desired blocker and click “Add to Yandex”. After installation, the extension icon will appear in the address bar or in the add-ons menu.
For users who are ready for more complex solutions, it is possible to install a separate blocker application, such as AdGuard for Android. It creates a local VPN tunnel on the device, filtering all traffic. This solution is paid, but offers the maximum degree of control, including ad blocking in other applications and protection against phishing.
⚠️ Attention: When using extensions, watch your RAM consumption. On older phone models, a lot of active scripts can slow down the browser.
It is important to regularly update filters in installed extensions. Developers of advertising networks constantly change domains and scripts, so keeping databases up to date is critical for quality blocking. In the settings of each add-on there is usually an “Update filters” item, which is recommended to be run manually once a week.
Combating push notifications from sites
A separate layer of problems is intrusive notifications that sites request on the first visit. Users often click “Allow” out of habit, after which they begin to receive spam even when the browser is closed. You can remove this advertising only through the list of permissions in the settings.
Go to Settings Yandex Browser and select the section Sites. Find the subsection Notifications. Here you will see a list of all the resources that you have given consent to send messages to. Go through the list and switch the sliders to the “Off” position for all suspicious or unfamiliar domains.
To prevent the problem from returning, change the global behavior of the browser. In the same notification settings menu, find the “Ask permission before sending” item and make sure it is active. Even better, immediately block all sites from sending notifications by default, allowing only verified resources individually.
If you see a notification from an unknown site, hold it with your finger in the notification shade and select “Block notifications from this site” - this will instantly add the domain to the blacklist.
Some types of push notifications imitate system messages about viruses or winnings Remember that the browser will never notify you that your device is infected through a pop-up window. Such messages are always disguised advertising leading to fraudulent pages.
Advanced methods: hosts and root access
For users with superuser rights (root), system ad blocking options open up. The most reliable way is to edit the file hosts. This system file determines which IP addresses correspond to domain names. By redirecting ad server addresses to a local address, you will block them at the operating system level.
To do this, you will need a file manager with access to the system partition (for example, Root Explorer or MT Manager). Open the file /system/etc/hosts and add lines like this to the end of the list:
127.0.0.1 adserver.example.com
127.0.0.1 tracking.analytics.net
There are ready-made lists containing thousands of advertising network addresses that can be found in the community XDA Developers or on specialized forums. Adding such a list to the hosts file ensures that advertising will not load in any application on the phone, including Yandex Browser.
⚠️ Attention: Editing system files requires extreme caution. An error in the syntax of the hosts file can lead to loss of Internet access or system instability. Always make a backup copy before changing.
An alternative to manual editing are modules for Magenta or special applications like AdAwaythat automate the process of managing the hosts file. They regularly download current blocking lists and apply them in one click, which is much safer and more convenient for most users.
The method with the hosts file is the most energy efficient, since blocking occurs at the system kernel level without using additional processor resources.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why advertising still appears after turning on the blocker?
Some sites use methods to bypass blockers (anti-adblock), replacing advertising scripts with regular content. Also, advertising can be “native”, that is, embedded by the site developers directly into the text of the article, and technically is not a separate advertising block. In such cases, only changing the DNS or hiding elements through extensions helps.
Does blocking ads affect the income of the sites I visit?
Yes, most sites exist due to advertising impressions. By blocking ads, you deprive the resource of income. If you value the content of a particular author, consider disabling the blocker for that site (whitelist) or taking out a paid subscription, if such an option is available.
Is it safe to use third-party DNS for blocking?
It is safe to use public DNS from reputable companies (AdGuard, Cloudflare, Google). They encrypt your requests and often enhance privacy. However, you should not enter the addresses of unknown private servers, since the owner of such a DNS can intercept and analyze all your traffic.
Is it possible to remove advertising in a YouTube video through Yandex Browser?
Standard ad blockers in the browser usually cannot cope with video advertising inside the YouTube player, since it is loaded from the same domains as the video itself. This requires specialized clients (such as NewPipe) or a premium subscription, although some sophisticated filters in AdGuard Premium can partially solve this problem.
Will enabling all blocking features slow down your phone?
The built-in blocker and Private DNS have virtually no effect on the speed of the device. Third-party applications that create a VPN tunnel (like the full AdGuard) may slightly increase battery consumption and RAM consumption, but on modern smartphones this impact is almost unnoticeable.