Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones often encounter intrusive advertising banners that appear in the most unexpected places: in the notification shade, when unlocking the screen, or directly in system applications. For brand devices running on the HiOS shell, this problem is especially relevant, since the manufacturer sometimes integrates advertising modules to monetize the low cost of the gadget. This is not only annoying, but also wastes mobile traffic and also reduces system speed. Tecnorunning on the HiOS shell, this problem is especially relevant, since the manufacturer sometimes integrates advertising modules to monetize the low cost of the gadget. This is not only annoying, but also wastes mobile traffic and reduces system speed.
Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize these manifestations or completely remove ads from your device. You don't have to have programming skills or get root access to restore the comfort of using your phone. In this article, we will look at both built-in security settings and third-party solutions that effectively block unwanted content on Tecno smartphones.
Before taking drastic measures, it is important to understand the nature of the appearance of banners. Most often, the source of the problem is not viruses, but legal but aggressive system services or permissions that you accidentally granted to sites in your browser. Understanding how advertising networks work will help you specifically disable sources of spam without disrupting the operation of useful applications.
Disabling system recommendations and personalization
The shell HiOSinstalled on Tecno smartphones has built-in services that analyze your actions and show “recommended content”. Essentially, this is disguised advertising integrated into the launcher and system utilities. To get rid of it, you need to go into the deep system settings, which are often hidden from the eyes of the average user.
The first step is to disable the recommendation service. To do this, go to menu Settings → System → System and updates. Here you need to find an item related to personalization or advertising. It may be called differently in different firmware versions, for example, “Recommendation Service” or “User Experience”. Disabling this setting will stop collecting data about your habits to serve targeted ads.
Next, you should check the settings of the desktop itself. A long press on an empty area of the screen will bring up the launcher menu. Select item Desktop settings or Advanced settings. Look for a switch with a name like "Recommendations," "News," or "Feed." If it is active, the system will load advertising articles and banners when you swipe right or left.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may differ depending on the version of Android and the specific Tecno model (Spark, Camon, Pova). If you do not find the specified item, try using the search in the settings by entering the word “advertising” or “recommendations”.
It is also worth paying attention to the application Phone Master, which is pre-installed on many brand devices. Although it is positioned as a cleaner and antivirus, it often contains a module inside for displaying promotional materials. Go to the settings of this application and disable the "Receive notifications" or "Recommendations" option to clear the status bar of garbage.
Ad blocking in the Chrome browser and other browsers
A significant part of the advertising noise comes not from the system, but from the websites you visit. If you accidentally allowed a site to send notifications, your phone will regularly receive spam messages even when the browser is closed. This is a common mistake made by users who click “Allow” on a pop-up window without reading the text.
To fix the situation in the browser Google Chrome, open the application and click on the three dots in the upper right corner. Go to section Settings → Site settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all resources that are allowed to send messages. Carefully study the list and look for suspicious addresses with unclear names.
Click on the site name and select the option Block or completely remove the permission by clicking on the trash can icon. It is recommended to block all sites except those that you use daily and trust (for example, email services or instant messengers). This simple procedure will instantly clear the notification curtain of annoying banners.
For more advanced protection, you can use the "Safe Browsing" function or install an extension to block content, if your browser supports it. There is no such option in mobile Chrome, so many users are switching to alternative solutions, such as Brave or DuckDuckGothat have built-in trackers and ad blockers.
Periodically clear your browsing history and browser cache. This will not only free up memory space, but will also reset some of the cookies used to track your activity by advertising networks.
Using a private DNS to filter traffic
One of the most effective and user-invisible ways to remove advertising is to set up a private DNS (Domain Name System). This method works at the level of the entire operating system Android, blocking requests to known ad servers even before the content is loaded on the screen of your Tecno.
To activate this feature, you do not need to install additional applications. Go to Settings → Connection and sharing (or simply "Connections"). Find the item Private DNS (Private DNS). By default it is set to "Auto" or "Disabled". You need to select the "Private DNS Provider Hostname" mode.
In the field that appears, enter the address of a trusted blocker. The most popular and proven option is the AdGuard DNS service. Enter the following line:
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Your phone will now route all DNS requests through AdGuard filters, which automatically filter out domains known to be sources of ads and trackers. This will help remove banners not only in the browser, but also inside some free applications and games that use standard advertising networks.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNS Mode | Auto / Disabled | ISP Hostname | Filtering Activation |
| Host Address | - | dns.adguard.com | Ad Blocking |
| Protocol | Standard | DoT (DNS over TLS) | Request encryption |
| Impact on speed | Neutral | Minimum | Pages load faster |
⚠️ Attention: If the Internet stops working after entering the address, you may have made a typo or this server is temporarily unavailable in your region. Return the setting to "Auto" mode and try an alternative address, for example
one.one.one.one(although it does not block ads, it will ensure connection stability).
Identifying and removing malicious applications
Sometimes advertisements appear due to an installed application that you downloaded from an unverified source or even from an official store, but which turned out to be dishonest. Such apps can run in the background and generate pop-ups on top of other applications. On Tecno smartphones this often happens after installing “optimizers”, “flashlights” or simple games.
To find the culprit, pay attention to the moment the advertisement appears. If the banner appears immediately after unlocking or at random times, go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications. View a list of recently installed apps. Applications without an icon or with an empty name should be especially suspicious - scammers often disguise them to hide their presence in the system.
If you cannot find the application in the list, try the following trick: when the advertisement appears, press the "Recent applications" button (square or swipe with a delay). You will see the card of the application that caused the pop-up. Remember its name or icon, then immediately remove it through the settings.
☑️ Diagnosis of suspicious applications
It is also worth checking permissions for creating pop-up windows. In the application settings, find the special section “Access to accessibility” or “Overlay on top of other windows”. Remove access from all apps that do not need it for their main work (for example, a calculator does not need the right to draw on top of other windows). This will prevent full-screen advertising from appearing.
Configuring notifications from Tecno system services
In addition to third-party sites, Tecno system services themselves can generate notifications with offers to install games, clear memory, or buy accessories. These messages come from official applications, such as Carlcare, HiOS Launcher or the system application store Palm Store.
To stop this flow, you need to specifically disable notifications for each such service. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications. Scroll down the list to system apps. Look for "App Store", "Themes", "Security" or similar names.
Inside the settings of each application, you will see a switch for "All notifications". You can disable it completely if you do not use the functions of this service, or go into detailed settings and leave only critical options, disabling the “Marketing”, “Recommendations” and “Promotions” sections.
Pay special attention to the application HiSearch or search widgets on the desktop. They often load news feeds with advertising inserts. If you do not use Tecno's built-in search, remove the widget from the screen and disable notifications for the corresponding service in the settings.
What should you do if advertising returns after a reboot?
If advertising appears again immediately after turning on the phone, most likely it is built into a system application that cannot be removed in the usual way. In this case, only disabling notifications for this application or using a blocker at the DNS level, described above, will help. In extreme cases, you can disable the application itself in the settings menu, if the system allows this.
Installing specialized ad blockers
If the built-in Android tools and DNS settings are not enough, you can use powerful third-party tools. The leader in this area is the application AdGuard. It works as a local VPN filter, passing all traffic through itself and cutting out advertising blocks before displaying on the screen.
To install, download the APK file from the official website of the developer, since in Google Play application versions are often cut down due to store policies. Once installed, you will need to give the app permission to create a VPN connection. This is safe, since the traffic does not go to third-party servers, but is processed inside your phone.
In the AdGuard settings for Tecno, it is recommended to enable the "Russian", "English" and "Mobile advertising" filters. Also activate protection against phishing and trackers. The application may slightly increase battery consumption, but the comfort of the absence of advertising usually outweighs this disadvantage.
An alternative is a browser Bravewhich can be set as the main default browser. It automatically blocks trackers and ads on websites, speeding up page loading. This is an excellent solution for those who do not want to configure complex system settings.
⚠️ Attention: When using blockers that work through a local VPN, conflicts may arise with other applications that use the VPN (for example, corporate clients or some games). In such cases, you will have to choose: either protection from advertising, or the operation of a specific application.
An integrated approach that combines setting up a private DNS, disabling system recommendations and installing a reliable blocker guarantees maximum cleanliness of the interface of your Tecno smartphone.
Is it safe to disable Tecno system applications?
Disable system applications, such as the theme store or the manufacturer's browser, is safe for the phone. They are not completely deleted, but they stop running in the background and consuming resources. However, you should not disable Google Play services or Android system components, as this may lead to unstable operation of the device.
Why do advertisements appear even after resetting the settings?
Advertising is part of the HiOS firmware. After a factory reset, all system permissions return to factory settings, which often include consent to show recommendations. You will have to go through the process of turning off recommendation and personalization services again in Settings.
Can ads be a sign of a virus?
Yes, if ads appear as pop-ups on top of other applications or on the desktop when the browser is closed, this is a high probability indicator of malware. In this case, you need to scan your phone with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and remove suspicious applications.
Does blocking ads affect the operation of legal sites?
In rare cases, aggressive filters can break the layout of some sites or block useful content (for example, social networking buttons). If you notice problems with displaying a specific resource, add its domain to the white list (exceptions) of your blocker or temporarily disable protection.
Are root access needed to completely remove advertising?
For most of the described methods (DNS, notification settings, third-party blockers), root access is not required. They are needed only for deep modification of the system and physical removal of Tecno system applications, which is recommended only for experienced users due to the risk of turning the phone into a brick.