Advertising in mobile games has become a real scourge of modern gamers. Banners, pop-ups, forced videos before bonus levels - developers use all possible methods of monetization, often to the detriment of user experience. According to research Adjust 2026, the average player spends up to 23% of gaming time viewing advertising, and in free-to-play projects this figure reaches 40%. But are there legal and technical ways to reduce this impact?

In this article we will look at 10 current methods from simple settings in the device itself to advanced modifications of APK files. It is important to understand that not all methods are equally safe: some may violate the rules Google Play, others require root access, and others are completely blocked by anti-cheats. We will honestly talk about the risks of each approach and give recommendations on how to minimize the consequences.

We warn you right away: bypassing advertising in online games with server verification (for example, Clash of Clans, PUBG Mobile) is practically impossible without the risk of account blocking. But in offline projects or games with local advertising, the chances of success are much higher. Let's start with the safest methods and gradually move on to more radical ones.

1. Built-in game settings: limiting personalized advertising

Many players do not know that even without third-party tools you can significantly reduce the number of ad impressions. Most modern games use personalized advertising, which adapts to your interests. By disabling it, you will reduce the frequency of impressions, although advertising will not disappear completely.

How to do this:

  1. Open the game settings (usually the gear icon in the main menu).
  2. Find the section Privacy, Advertising or Account Settings.
  3. Disable options like:
    • 🔹 Personalized advertising
    • 🔹 Activity tracking
    • 🔹 Show interest-based advertising
  • Save the changes and restart the game.

    • The effect will not be noticeable immediately - advertising networks (AdMob, Unity Ads) require up to 24 hours to update the profile. In some games (for example, Homescapes) this reduces the number of videos by 30-40%.

    ⚠️ Attention: In games from Chinese developers (Lilith Games, FunPlus), disabling personalization can lead to an increase in the number of random advertisements. Test the setting in each game separately.

    2. Ad blockers at the DNS level: AdGuard, Blokada, NextDNS

    One ​​of the most effective and safest methods is blocking advertising domains at the DNS level. This works for most banners and some videos, but will not help against embedded advertising in Unity or Unreal Engine.

    The best tools for Android:

    • 🛡️ AdGuard —supports filters for mobile games, there is a free version with restrictions.
    • 🔒 Blokada —open source, blocks trackers and ads without root.
    • 🌐 NextDNS —cloud service with custom filters (50,000 requests/month free).

    Instructions for AdGuard:

    1. Download the application from Google Play or from official site (APK for devices without Google services).
    2. Launch and select Settings → Filters → Mobile advertising filters.
    3. Activate:
      • 📱 AdGuard Mobile Ads filter
      • 🎮 EasyList Cookie (for game trackers)
  • Enable DNS protection and select AdGuard DNS or NextDNS.

    • For maximum effect, manually add these domains to the blacklist: 

    googleads.g.doubleclick.net

    pagead2.googlesyndication.com
    

    adservice.google.com
    

    unityads.unity3d.com

    📊 Which ad blocker are you using?
    AdGuard
    Blokada
    NextDNS
    Other
    I don’t use

    3. Editing the hosts file: manually blocking ad servers

    If DNS blockers do not help, you can go further edit the file hosts - it is responsible for matching domain names with IP addresses. This method requires root access or use ADB (for non-rooted devices).

    Step-by-step guide:

    1. Download the current block list (for example, StevenBlack/hosts).
    2. Connect your phone to the PC and do command: 
      adb pull /system/etc/hosts C:\hosts_backup

      (will create a backup copy of the current file).

    3. Edit the file hosts in any text editor, adding lines like: 
      127.0.0.1 adservice.google.com

      127.0.0.1 unityads.unity3d.com

    4. Download the file back: 
      adb push C:\hosts_modified /system/etc/hosts

      adb shell chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts

      5. For devices without root you can use an application Hosts Gothat emulates changing hosts via VPN.

      ⚠️ Attention: Incorrect file editing hosts can lead to problems with the Internet connection. Always make a backup and check the syntax (each line must end with a newline).

      Create a backup of the current hosts file

      Download the current block list

      Check availability ADB drivers

      Disable antivirus (may block changes)

      Reboot the device after application-->

      4. Modified APK (MOD games): risks and where to download

      The most radical method is installation modified versions of games (MOD APK, where advertising is removed at the code level. This works in almost 100% of cases, but has serious disadvantages:

      • 🚨 Account ban in online games (especially those linked to Google Play Games or Facebook).
      • 🦠 Viruses and spyware - many MOD versions contain Trojans.
      • 🔄 Lack of updates —mods often lag behind the original versions.

      Where to look for relatively safe MOD games:

      Source Pros Cons Risk of viruses
      RevDL Frequent updates, support forum Registration required Average
      PlatinMods Checking files for viruses, modder ratings Paid premium mods Low
      Mobilism Large game base, active community Lots of advertising on the site High
      APKMirror (unofficial modifications) No registration, direct links Few mods for new games Low

      Critical: before installing the MOD version, check the file hash (MD5/SHA-1) through the service VirusTotal and compare with the data on the forum. Even one mismatched character is a sign of file substitution.

      How to check MOD APK for viruses?

      1. Upload the file to VirusTotal.

      2. Check the number of detections (the norm is 0-2 false positives).

      3. Compare the hash of the file with the original one on the modder site.

      4. Use a sandbox (for example Sandboxie for Android) for the first launch.

      5. Using a VPN with traffic filtering

      Some VPN services can filter advertising traffic at the connection level. This is less effective than editing hosts, but does not require root access and works on any device.

      Top 3 VPN for blocking ads in games:

      • 🌍 ProtonVPN - built-in blocker NetShield (free up to 10 Mbit/s).
      • 🛡️ Windscribe —filter ROBERT blocks trackers and advertising.
      • 🔒 AdGuard VPN —specialized solution with a database of gaming advertising domains.

    How to set up in ProtonVPN:

    1. Install the application and register.
    2. Go to Settings → NetShield.
    3. Select Block ads, trackers and malicious sites.
    4. Connect to any server (preferably in your country for minimum ping).

    Method limitations:

    - Does not block built-in advertising in Unity/Unreal Engine.

    - Can increase ping in online games by 10-50 ms.

    - Free plans limit traffic (for example, 10 GB/month in ProtonVPN).

    💡

    For best results, combine a VPN with a DNS blocker. For example, use ProtonVPN + NextDNS —this blocks more advertising channels.

    6. Alternative methods: turning off the Internet and offline modes

    If the game allows you to play without a network connection, the most reliable way to get rid of ads is to turn off the Internet. This works for many casual games (Candy Crush, Angry Birds), but is not suitable for online projects.

    How to do it correctly:

    • 📴 Airplane mode - a quick solution, but blocks all notifications.
    • 📡 Disable mobile data for the game:
      1. Go to Settings → Applications → [game name] → Mobile data.
      2. Disable switch Background data and Mobile traffic.
  • 🔌 Blocking via firewall (requires root):
    • Use AFWall+ or NetGuard.
    • Block Internet access for the game, leaving only the local network (if synchronization with the cloud is needed).

    • Disadvantages of the method:

    - Some games (Clash Royale, Brawl Stars) require a mandatory connection to the network, even for single-player mode.

    - Disabling the Internet can reset progress if the game does not save data locally.

    ⚠️ Attention: In games with cloud saves (Google Play Games), disconnecting the Internet for a long time (more than 7 days) can lead to loss of progress. Synchronize your data manually regularly.

    The most honest and safe method is purchase of a premium version of the game or subscription. Many developers offer:

    • 💎 One-time purchase (for example, Minecraft for $6.99).
    • 📅 Subscription (monthly payment for removing ads, like in Homescapes).
    • 🎁 In-game purchases (one-time payment for disabling advertising, as in Alto’s Odyssey).

      • Where to look for discounts on premium versions:

      Platform Discounts Features
      Google Play Up to 80% on "Games without extra water" Section is updated every Wednesday
      Amazon Appstore Free premium game every month Requires an Amazon account
      Humble Bundle Game bundles with up to 90% discount Part of the proceeds goes to charity

      Advantages of the paid approach:

      - ⚡ No risk of account ban (as opposed to MOD versions).

      - 🔄 Regular updates and support from developers.

      - 🛡️ Security - no viruses or spyware.

      💡

      If you play an online project with a server check (MMORPG, strategy), purchasing the premium version is the only legal way to remove ads without the risk of losing your account.

      8. Android emulators: play on PC without wasting money

      If you play on an emulator (BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MuMu), you have additional ways to block ads:

      • 🖥️ Blocking via hosts — edit the file hosts on a PC (path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts).
      • 🛡️ AdBlock for browser —if advertising is displayed via web view (for example, in Roblox).
      • 🔧 APK modification —it’s easier to edit game files on a PC than on a phone.

        • Instructions for BlueStacks:

        1. Close the emulator.
        2. Go to C:\app Files\BlueStacks\Engine\UserData\SharedFolder.
        3. Create a file hosts and add to it: 
          127.0.0.1 adservice.google.com

          127.0.0.1 unityads.unity3d.com
          

          127.0.0.1 applovin.com

        4. Save and restart BlueStacks.

      They also work for emulators MOD versions of games, but you need to install them through APK Installer in the emulator interface.

      ⚠️ Attention: In emulators with virtualization enabled (VT-x), some anti-cheats (BattlEye, Easy Anti-Cheat) can block the launch modified games. Disable virtualization in the emulator settings if the game does not start.

      FAQ: Frequently asked questions about blocking ads in games

      ❓ Is it possible to remove advertising in PUBG Mobile or Free Fire?

      In online shooters with a server-based anti-cheat system (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Call of Duty Mobile), blocking ads is almost impossible without risk permanent account ban. The only legal ways:

      • Purchasing a premium subscription (for example, PUBG Mobile Elite Pass).
      • Using official promotional codes for free rewards (sometimes they give temporary removal of advertising).

      MOD versions or editing game files will lead to a ban in 99% of cases.

      ❓ Why did the game stop launching after blocking ads?

      This is a typical problem for games with file integrity checking (Among Us, Brawl StarsPossible reasons:

      • You have deleted critical ad SDK files. (for example, libunityads.so).
      • The game has detected changes in AndroidManifest.xml (typical for MOD versions).
      • The ad blocker has blocked access to the main game servers (for example, playfabapi.com).

        • Solution: return the original game files or add game domains to the blocker exceptions.

      ❓ How to check if ad blocking is working?

      Use these methods:

      1. Traffic logs: in AdGuard or Blokada look at what requests are blocked (section Log).
      2. Test games: install Ad Testing App from Google —it shows which advertising networks are active.
      3. Ping domains: in Terminal run: 
        ping unityads.unity3d.com

        If the answer 127.0.0.1 —blocking works.

      ❓ Is it legal to use ad blockers?

      From a legal point of view:

      • 📜 In most countries (including Russia, USA, EU) blocking ads on your device does not violate law.
      • ⚖️ However, some developers (Supercell, Tencent) consider bypassing advertising a violation user agreement and can block the account.
      • 💰 Using MOD versions with removed advertising is considered to be piracy and can be prosecuted under copyright law.

      Conclusion: DNS blockers and editing hosts are legal, but MOD games are not.

      ❓ Why do ads appear in some games even with a blocker?

      This happens due to:

      • Local advertising: some banners are loaded along with the game's APK file and are not blocked by DNS methods.
      • Obfuscated domains: advertising networks (AppLovin, IronSource) constantly change server addresses.
      • Built-in SDK: engines Unity and Unreal Engine have their own advertising modules that difficult to block without root.

      Solution: combine several methods (DNS + VPN + editing hosts).