How to Block Ads on Android: 6 Methods That Really Work

Ads on Android aren’t just annoying; they can slow down your phone, eat into your data allowance, and track what you do online. Some can even expose you to scams or malware. 

If you’re tired of constantly closing pop-ups, autoplay videos, and endless banners on your Android device, you don’t have to be. This guide will show you how to block ads on an Android phone or tablet without complicated setup or risky tools.

What Is the Best Way to Block Ads on Android?

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to block every ad you encounter on your Android device, but combining a few smart tools and settings will significantly cut down on the ads you see. 

Here’s a quick summary of the most popular tools:

1. Your Android’s built-in privacy settings to depersonalize your ads and limit tracking.
2. Private DNS filtering to block known ad and tracker domains.
3. An ad blocker to remove ads across apps and websites.
4. A browser with built-in ad blocking to stop ads while you browse the web.
5. Your browser’s privacy settings to reduce pop-up ads.
6. Android’s Appear on top settings to disable home screen ads and overlays.

Here are the best methods that can help cut down on ads across apps, websites, and even your entire system, without needing to root your Android device.

1. Turn Off Personalized Ads in Settings

✅ Types of ads it affects: Personalized or targeted ads, which are ads that use data such as your search history, app usage, or location to show you products and services directly related to your behavior.

The simplest way to reduce targeted ads is by tweaking your phone’s built-in privacy controls. You’ll still see ads; you’re just limiting how much data advertisers can use to target you. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find and adjust these settings on your Android phone:

1. Go to Settings > Google.

   

2. Under Google Services > All services, tap Ads.

   

3. Here, depending on your Android version, you’ll see some or all of the following settings:
   • Ad privacy (Android 12+): This is where you can control how your activity, interests, and data are used for ads.
   • Reset advertising ID: Tapping this will change your phone’s unique ad tracking ID so advertisers can’t easily link your past behavior to new ads.
   • Delete advertising ID (Android 12+): Tap this to remove your ad tracking ID entirely so apps can’t use it to target you with ads.

   

4. Select Ad Privacy, and you’ll find these settings to manage how ads are personalized and tracked:
   • Ad topics: Google assigns “ad topics” to you based on your activity. These help advertisers show ads that match your interests. Toggle it off to stop interest-based ads.
   • App-suggested ads: Some ads are suggested because of apps you’ve installed or used (for example, a fitness app might lead to more sports gear ads). Toggle it off to stop ads linked to your app activity.
   • Ad measurement: This setting lets Google and advertisers track how effective their ads are, for example, whether you clicked an ad or later bought the product. Toggle it off to stop Google from sharing your clicks and purchases for ad performance tracking.

   

2. Set Up Private DNS

✅ Types of ads it affects: Network-level ads, which are ads loaded from known ad servers, including banners, pop-ups, and many in-app ads.

DNS services convert domain names (e.g., google.com) into numerical addresses your phone uses to access the corresponding websites or services. If your phone runs Android 9 or newer, you can switch to a DNS provider that filters ads and trackers. This will block requests to known ad servers, cutting down on pop-ups, banners, and annoying in-app ads. 

Here’s how to switch to a private, ad-blocking DNS on your Android:

1. Go to Settings > Connections.

   

2. Tap More connection settings > Private DNS.

   

3. Select Private DNS provider hostname and enter one of the following in the blank:
   • dns.adguard-dns.com: Blocks most ads and trackers.
   • family.adguard-dns.com: Blocks ads and adult content.

   

4. Save and exit. Once you save the settings, your phone will start using the private DNS service you entered. This will block many ads and trackers across apps and websites. The blocking will stay active as long as Private DNS is turned on, though it may stop working if the DNS provider goes down or if a network blocks encrypted DNS traffic.

3. Install a Trusted Ad Blocker App

✅ Types of ads it affects: In-app ads, browser ads, pop-ups, banners, and even video ads.

Ad blocker apps stop ads before they load by cutting off requests to ad and tracker servers. They do this in different ways: some block entire domains at the DNS level, while others filter traffic directly on your device to catch harder-to-block ads, like video ads or ads baked into apps.

PIA MACE is a built-in ad blocker inside the Private Internet Access VPN app. It blocks domains linked to ads, trackers, and even some malware, making your browsing cleaner and faster while reducing background tracking. Because it works at the DNS level, it’s lightweight and won’t slow your device down. MACE is effective against content coming from known ad networks, but it won’t filter ads that share the same domain as legitimate content or ads that are directly embedded in apps. 

Note: MACE isn’t available in the Google Play Store version of our app; to use it on Android, download the .apk directly from our website.

Here’s how to enable MACE inside the PIA app on Android.

1. Open the PIA app and go to Settings > Privacy.

   

2. Toggle PIA MACE on.

   

3. You may have to disconnect and reconnect the VPN to apply the changes. Once that’s done, PIA MACE will protect you from ads on your Android.

Other ad blockers, like AdGuard or AdLock, use local traffic filtering to catch the kinds of ads DNS-level blocking can’t touch, such as video ads or hardcoded in-app ads. These can be installed either from their official websites or, in some cases, the Google Play Store.

4. Use an Ad-Blocking Browser

✅ Types of ads it affects: Web ads only, including banners, pop-ups, and in-page video ads.

If most of your ad annoyance comes from browsing, a browser with built-in ad blocking might be enough. Here are some popular browsers for blocking ads on Android:

• Brave: Fast, private, and blocks ads and trackers by default.
• Firefox: Supports ad-blocking add-ons like uBlock Origin.
• Samsung Internet: Lets you install ad-block extensions.

5. Stop Pop-Ups in Browser Settings

✅ Types of ads it affects: Pop-up windows, new tabs with ads, auto-redirects, and in-page pop-up banners that appear while browsing.

Pop-up ads use scripts that force your browser to open new windows or tabs, often to push ads, redirects, or sometimes even scams. 

Some Android browsers have built-in protections against this. For example, Google Chrome and Samsung Internet block sites from automatically opening windows or redirecting you unless you interact first. 

If you prefer Firefox, you’ll benefit from its Enhanced Tracking Protection, which blocks requests to known ad and tracking domains.

Here’s how to check and adjust the settings in Chrome, Samsung Internet, and Firefox.

Chrome:

1. Tap the More menu (three dots in the top right corner) and open Settings.

   

2. Tap Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.

   

3. Make sure it’s set to Blocked.

Samsung Internet:

1. Tap the Menu button (three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner) and then select Settings.

   

2. Tap Security and privacy > Block pop-ups.

   

Firefox:

1. Tap the More menu (three dots in the top right corner) and open Settings.

   

2. Under Privacy and security, tap Enhanced Tracking Protection and choose Strict.

   

6. Block Ads That Appear on Your Home Screen

✅ Types of ads it affects: Ads that appear over other apps, such as floating banners, full-screen pop-ups, and full-screen ads from apps that misuse this feature.

Some pop-ups don’t come from your browser at all. Instead, certain apps can misuse Android’s “screen overlay” permission, which lets them draw over other apps. Malicious or spammy apps often use this to push ads that float on top of your screen, even when you’re doing something else. 

To stop this, you can review which apps have overlay permission and turn it off for any you don’t trust.

1. Go to Settings > Apps.

   

2. Tap Special access > Appear on top.

   

3. Toggle the switch on any app that doesn’t need it.

   

Other Ways to Block Ads

Besides the main methods covered above, you can take additional steps to reduce ads on your Android device. These methods help target ads delivered by malicious apps, reduce ad tracking, and remove problem apps.

1. Install Antivirus or Malware-Blocking Apps

Some ads are delivered by malicious or poorly designed apps. Antivirus and anti-malware apps can detect, block, and remove apps that show unwanted ads or contain malware, keeping your device cleaner and safer. Look for a reputable and highly rated mobile security app – you can find several options in the Google Play Store.

2. Clear Your Browsing Data Regularly

Browsers store cookies and cache data that advertisers can use to track your behavior and show personalized ads. Clearing your cookies, cache, and other browsing data reduces ad targeting and can make websites load faster.

Follow these steps (demonstrated in Chrome, as most browsers have a similar process for clearing cookies and cache):

1. Tap the More menu (three dots in the top right corner) and click on Delete browsing data.

   

2. Choose the time frame (All time is the safest pick to enhance privacy) in the dropdown menu.

   

3. Tap Delete data.

   

3. Uninstall Problem Apps

If you notice pop-ups or ads appearing outside your browser, a specific app may be responsible. Removing these apps can stop the ads entirely.

Go to Settings > Apps and review permissions or uninstall apps you don’t trust or no longer use.

4. Keep Your Apps Updated

Developers often release updates that fix security issues and reduce intrusive ads. Keeping your apps and Android system up to date can help minimize ad-related problems.

How to Block YouTube Ads

YouTube ads are harder to block than most because they’re delivered from the same servers as the videos. That means DNS-based blockers and most system-wide ad blockers can’t filter them out without also breaking video playback.

Still, there are some methods that help. Here’s a breakdown of what actually works and what doesn’t:

What works	What doesn’t work
✅ Watch YouTube in Brave or Firefox browsers with uBlock Origin ad blocking enabled	❌ Standard ad blockers or private DNS: YouTube ads are served dynamically
✅ Use third-party YouTube clients like NewPipe (from F-Droid)	❌ Most VPNs: They usually can’t block YouTube’s video ads
✅ Subscribe to YouTube Premium (official, ad-free experience)	❌ Modded apps from sketchy sites: Potentially unsafe and may violate YouTube’s terms of service

Common Ads You’ll See on Android

Ads on Android show up in different ways. Some are just irritating, while others can be risky. Some appear inside apps and games, while others show up when you’re browsing the web or just using your phone. Here are the main types you’ll run into:

• Banner ads: Small strips at the top or bottom of apps and websites. Not too intrusive, but they can still slow things down.
• Pop-up ads: Full-screen ads that appear between app or game screens. Very disruptive and hard to ignore.
• Video ads: Short clips that autoplay in apps, games, or before videos. They eat up data and drain your battery.
• Notification ads: Ads that arrive as push notifications, cluttering your tray and feeling intrusive.
• Native ads: Ads designed to look like part of the app or feed (usually on social media), so they blend in with the content.
• Reward ads: Videos or interactive ads in games or apps that you watch to earn in-game items, bonuses, or other rewards.
• Malicious ads (malvertising): Less common than regular ads, but more dangerous. They pose as normal ads while trying to trick you into downloading malware or giving away personal information.

Why Ad Blocking Doesn’t Always Work

Even with an ad blocker, you might still see some ads on your Android device. Here’s why:

• Advanced tracking techniques: Some ads use sophisticated tracking or encrypted connections that blockers can’t fully stop, so a few targeted ads may still appear.
• New ad formats: Advertisers constantly create new types of ads, and blockers may take time to catch up.
• Overlay and push ads: Certain apps can display ads over other apps or send push notifications. While browser-based blockers won’t stop these, you can manage them by reviewing app permissions or uninstalling suspicious apps.
• “Allowed” ads: Some blockers whitelist a small number of non-intrusive ads to support websites and apps.
• App or system limitations: Some ads are hardcoded into apps or served from the same servers as content (like YouTube ads), making them impossible to block without buying the Premium version.

Understanding these limits helps set realistic expectations and shows why combining multiple ad-blocking methods is the most effective way to reduce ads across your Android device.

FAQ