How to block ads in Google Chrome on Android

Mobile web surfing often turns into an ordeal when the smartphone screen is filled with intrusive banners, and videos are interrupted by advertising inserts. Users Google Chrome on the platform Android are especially vulnerable, since the default browser does not have as powerful built-in filters as some desktop counterparts. However, there are several effective ways to restore clean browsing without the need to be an expert in the field of cybersecurity.

In this article we will look in detail at how to block ads in Google Chrome on Android, using both standard system capabilities and third-party tools. You'll learn about setting up private DNS, which filters traffic at the connection level, and how to properly configure notifications, which are often disguised as system messages. These methods will help significantly speed up the loading of sites and save mobile traffic.

Built-in pop-up window protection settings

The first step in the fight against digital garbage should be to study the internal settings of the browser itself. The developers Google implemented basic protection mechanisms, which by default may not be aggressive enough or may be accidentally disabled by the user. You should make sure that your pop-up blocker is enabled, as this will prevent new tabs from appearing if you accidentally click on the banner.

To access these options, open the browser menu by clicking on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. Next, go to the Site settingssection, where you will find the key switches. Here it is important to check the status of the option Pop-ups and redirects —it should be strictly disabled. It is also worth looking into the subsection Advertisingif it is available in your version of the software, and block the display of aggressive ads.

Despite the presence of these functions, they do not block all advertising entirely, but only cut off the most intrusive formats. Regular banners inside page content will remain in place, since the browser considers them part of the web resource. However, disabling redirects is critical for security, as many malicious scripts use this very mechanism to redirect the victim to phishing resources.

⚠️ Attention: If ads continue to appear after you enable pop-up blocker, this may indicate the presence of a malicious extension or a separately installed virus application on your device.

Using a private DNS for traffic filtering

One of the most effective and elegant solutions that does not require the installation of additional apps is setting up a private DNS (Domain Name System). This method works at the operating system level, filtering requests to ad servers before they reach the browser. The system simply will not be able to find the address of the advertising domain, and instead of a banner, an empty space will be loaded. Androidby filtering requests to ad servers before they even reach the browser Chrome. The system simply will not be able to find the address of the advertising domain, and instead of a banner, an empty space will be loaded.

To activate this function, go to the general settings of your smartphone, not the browser itself. The path may vary depending on the manufacturer, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Connections → Other connection settings → Private DNS. In some shells, for example MIUI or OneUI, this item may be located in the Advanced or directly in the settings search.

In the menu that opens, select a mode Hostname of the private DNS provider and enter the address of a reliable filter. The most popular and proven solution is the service AdGuard DNS. In the input field you must enter the following address:

dns.adguard.com

After saving the settings, restart the device or simply restart the browser. The effect should be immediate: most banners on news sites and blogs will disappear. It is important to understand that this method blocks ads in all applications using a standard network connection, which is an additional bonus for the entire system as a whole.

Third-party content blockers and browsers

If built-in tools and DNS settings are not enough, specialized applications come to the rescue. However, it is worth remembering that the policy Google Play limites the functionality of blockers that work directly inside other applications. Therefore, many solutions work as an intermediate proxy surfer or offer to use your own browser on the engine. A popular solution is to install an application. Chromium.

A popular solution is to install an application AdGuard or Blokada. These apps create a local VPN tunnel on the device through which all traffic passes. Unlike a real VPN, the data does not go to remote servers, but is filtered locally. This allows you to cut out ads even inside applications, not only in Chrome.

An alternative approach is to use browsers with built-in protection, such as Brave or DuckDuckGo. They are fully compatible with the ecosystem Chrome (support the same extensions and synchronization in some cases), but have aggressive filters by default. If you do not want to change the main browser, you can try extensions supported by mobile Chrome, although their list is extremely limited compared to the PC version.

• 🛡️ AdGuard - a powerful all-in-one tool with the ability to fine-tune filters and protection against trackers.
• 🚀 Blokada 5 - a lightweight open source solution that works without root access.
• 🦁 Brave Browser - full-fledged browser with a built-in shield that blocks scripts and miners.

Blocking intrusive push notifications

Often users confuse advertising in the browser with push notifications that come to the Android notification curtain. This happens when you accidentally click the Allow button on a site that asks for permission to show notifications. Subsequently, such sites begin to send spam, which looks like a system message, but is actually an advertising mailing.

To get rid of this, you need to manage the list of permissions in the settings Chrome. Go to Settings → Site settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all resources that you have agreed to display messages to. Study it carefully and look for suspicious domains with strange names or icons.

Click on a specific site from the list and select the option Delete or Block. This action will instantly stop spam from entering your curtain. It is recommended to regularly clean this list, leaving only those resources that you actually use, for example, mail or instant messengers in the web version.

Permission type	Risk	Recommended action
Notifications	High (curtain spam)	Block everything except trusted ones
Pop-up windows	Medium (opening tabs)	Strictly block
Camera/Microphone	Critical (spying)	Ask permission every time
Geolocation	Medium (data leak)	Request permission every time

⚠️ Attention: If you see notifications from a site that is not in the Chrome permissions list, you may have a separate application installed on your phone, masquerading as a system one process. Check the list of installed apps.

Clearing data and resetting browser settings

Sometimes the problem with advertising lies not in the absence of a blocker, but in the accumulated cache or damaged cookies. Malicious scripts can store data in the browser's local storage to bypass standard protections and continue to show ads even after the tab is closed.

To resolve this issue, perform a deep data wipe. In the Settings browser menu, find the Privacy and security section and select Clear history. In the window that appears, set the time range All the time and be sure to check the boxes Cookies and site data, as well as Images and other files saved in the cache.

After cleaning, you will need to re-login to your accounts on the sites you visit, as the sessions will be reset. It's a small price to pay for a clean system. If advertising continues to haunt you even after completely reinstalling the browser and resetting the phone settings, you should think about more serious security measures.

Advanced methods: hosts files and root access

For users with superuser (root) rights, system ad blocking options are available at the file level hosts. This method is the most radical and effective, as it prohibits access to advertising domains for any application on the system, including games and utilities.

The essence of the method is to edit the system file /system/etc/hosts, where the addresses of known advertising servers are written with reference to a local address 127.0.0.1. There are many ready-made lists, such as Steven Black's hoststhat contain tens of thousands of domains. However, editing system files requires caution: one mistake can lead to unstable network operation.

Without root access, this method is not available by standard means, but some blocker applications emulate its operation through a local VPN, as mentioned earlier. If you do not plan to get root access, using DNS filtering remains the best alternative that does not require interference with system memory partitions.

Where can I get a list of domains for the hosts file?

The most up-to-date and secure list is maintained by the community on GitHub in the “StevenBlack/hosts” repository. There, databases of domains that distribute advertising, malware and fake news are regularly updated.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why are YouTube ads not blocked via DNS or AdGuard?

Advertising in the application YouTube and on the website is broadcast from the same domains as the main video content. Filtering at the DNS level or a simple blocker cannot distinguish an advertising video from a useful video, since they come from the same source. Blocking ads on YouTube requires specialized modified clients or browser extensions, such as AdGuard for YouTube (works only in the browser, not in the application).

Will enabling private DNS slow down the Internet?

In most cases, the Internet speed will not change or will even increase due to the fact that the browser does not need to load heavy advertising scripts. However, if the selected DNS server is geographically far from your region or is overloaded, the response time (ping) may be slightly longer. The server dns.adguard.com has a global network of nodes and usually works very quickly.

Is it safe to use third-party blockers?

Use proven open source applications such as Blokada or the official version AdGuard, safe. They run locally on the device. However, you should avoid little-known "boosters" and "cleaners" from the Play store that promise to block ads, but in fact may collect your data or show their own ads.

Is it possible to block ads only on specific sites?

Yes, in settings Chrome you can manage permissions for each site separately. Go to Site Settings, click on the address bar or find the site in the list of exceptions. There you can disable pop-ups or notifications only for this resource, leaving other settings global. Applications like AdGuard also have a “White List” function to disable filtering on trusted resources.