How to block ads on Android

Android devices and Android apps are often overwhelming with ads: from banners, pop-ups, full-page ads, videos, in-app purchases, rewards, etc. There’s even a peculiar type of ads in applications that start displaying after several days of active use, thus making it difficult to determine its source.

There are also browser ads, website ads, pop-up ads, frequent AirPush ads and so on that could be triggered by conventional apps or unwanted software. To block ads on Android you’d have to identify what exactly causes such ads. Below, we will list a few ways to get rid of annoying ads, and highlight step-by-step instructions, including browser settings, data saver mode, installing ad blockers.

Method 1: Block ads in Chrome

If you use Chrome as a default web browser on your Android devices, it’s possible to disable ads, interstitial ads, ads with sound, pop-ups, and others in its settings. Follow the next steps:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap More, then Settings.
3. Go to the Site Settings.
4. Make sure that ads and pop-ups are blocked.

Method 2: Use Lite mode in Chrome

Google Chrome browser provides Lite mode for Android phones. It is designed to decrease data use and faster webpage loading. To use it, follow the next steps:

1. Open Chrome and go to settings.
2. Scroll down, find Lite mode and switch it.

Method 3: Website settings

If one allows website notifications, they are often displayed over the locked screen of Android devices. In fact, many sites earn money from push notifications. But there’s a way to avoid it:

1. In a browser (Chrome in our case), enter the Menu, press Settings.
2. Scroll down to Site Settings and tap on it.
3. Tap on Notifications and move the toggle to disable ads.

Method 4: Block ads on Android using ad blockers

There is a great variety of ad blockers for Android available in the Play Store, capable of blocking ads in games, apps, and even websites. They allow users to block ads without root permissions, however, it may not be 100% effective. So all you have to do is choose an ad blocker, for example, AdBlock or Free Adblocker Browser, install it, and then configure the rules if needed.

NB: Most ad blockers for Android intercept DNS traffic only, so they won’t be able to block 100% of unwanted ads.

Additionally, there are ways to manage advertisement appearance on a smartphone to make it less intrusive.

1. Minimize ads in Google account settings. As a lot of new Android devices synchronize with Chrome desktop browser and Google account, it makes sense to turn off Ads personalization first. This method will not prevent seeing all unwanted content but at least one can opt-out of personalized Google ads that track browsing activity. To do this:

• Go to Settings in Chrome desktop browser, then tap on Manage your Google Account.
• Tap Data and personalization, scroll down to Ad personalization, then choose Go to ad settings.
• Move the toggle to switch off personalized ads, then select Turn off.

2. Disable ads personalization in Android device settings. After the previous steps are taken, one can also turn off targeted ads on the phone. This will work even if the device isn’t synchronized with Google account on desktop.Though some content will still continue to appear, it won’t be bound to a search history. To disable ads directly on the device, do the following:

• Go to Settings on your smartphone, then scroll down to Google.
• Tap Ads, then Opt out of Ads Personalization.

Read next: 12 top ad blockers for Chrome.

Method 5: Use Private DNS (Android 9+)

Starting with Android 9 (Pie), Google introduced a system-wide Private DNS feature. By pointing it to an ad-blocking DNS provider you can filter ads across every app and browser without installing anything extra.

1. Open Settings on your Android device.
2. Go to Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung).
3. Tap Private DNS and select Private DNS provider hostname.
4. Enter an ad-blocking DNS host, for example: dns.adguard-dns.com
5. Tap Save.

This routes all DNS queries through the ad-filtering server. Ads in most free games, apps and browsers will be blocked system-wide. No root access is needed.

Popular ad-blocking DNS providers:

• AdGuard DNS – dns.adguard-dns.com
• NextDNS – dns.nextdns.io (customizable filters via their dashboard)
• Cloudflare for Families – family.cloudflare-dns.com (blocks malware; limited ad blocking)

Method 6: Firefox + uBlock Origin on Android

Unlike Chrome, the Android version of Firefox supports browser extensions. Installing uBlock Origin gives you desktop-grade ad blocking on your phone:

1. Install Firefox for Android from the Play Store.
2. Open Firefox, tap the three-dot menu → Add-ons.
3. Find uBlock Origin and tap Add to Firefox.
4. uBlock Origin works immediately with sensible default filter lists.

This is the most effective browser-based solution for Android because uBlock Origin uses content filtering (not just DNS), catching inline ads and tracking scripts that DNS-level blockers miss.

Which method should you choose?

Each approach has trade-offs. Here is a quick comparison:

For the best results, combine Private DNS (system-wide baseline) with Firefox + uBlock Origin for browsing. This two-layer approach catches ads that either method would miss on its own.

Frequently asked questions

Can I block ads on Android without root?

Yes. Every method listed above works without rooting your device. Private DNS and ad-blocker apps are the most effective root-free options.

Will ad blockers break apps or websites?

Occasionally. Some apps detect ad blockers and may refuse to load content. If that happens, temporarily whitelist the app in your ad-blocker or disable Private DNS.

Are ad blockers legal?

Yes. Using an ad blocker is legal in virtually all jurisdictions. However, some websites may ask you to disable it before showing content.

Does blocking ads save mobile data?

Absolutely. Ads often include heavy images, videos and tracking scripts. Blocking them can reduce data usage by 20–40% on ad-heavy sites.