To remove ads from your phone, especially on Android, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify and Remove Ad-Generating Apps
- Ads often come from third-party apps installed on your phone. Identify apps that show pop-up ads by checking recently used apps in the Google Play Store under "My apps & games" > "Installed" > "Last used" and uninstall suspicious or rarely used apps
2. Disable "Appear on Top" Permission for Apps Sending Ads
- Some apps misuse the "Appear on top" permission to show ads over other apps. To stop this:
- Long press the app icon, tap "App info."
- Find "Appear on top" or similar permission and toggle it off.
- If the app is unnecessary, uninstall it
3. Use Private DNS to Block Ads System-Wide
- Android supports Private DNS that can block ads across apps and browsers:
- Go to Settings > Connections > More connection settings > Private DNS.
- Select "Private DNS provider hostname" and enter
dns.adguard.comordns.dogadguard.com(or similar DNS ad-blocking services). - Save the setting to block many ads automatically
4. Block Ads in Web Browsers
- In Google Chrome:
- Tap the three-dot menu > Settings > Site settings.
- Disable "Pop-ups and redirects" and "Ads" to reduce web ads
- Alternatively, use browsers like Samsung Internet or Firefox that support ad-blocker extensions
5. Opt Out of Personalized Ads and Disable Ad Notifications
- On Samsung phones, you can opt out of personalized ads:
- Settings > Samsung Account > Privacy > Customization service > Turn off.
- Disable ad notifications by going to Settings > Notifications and turning off notifications for apps sending ads
6. Use Dedicated Ad Blocker Apps
- Install reputable ad blocker apps like AdGuard, which block ads across apps, browsers, and games, protect privacy, and save data and battery life. AdGuard works on both rooted and unrooted devices
7. Manage Advertising Emails and Notifications
- Unsubscribe from advertising emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of such emails.
- In browsers, disable notification permissions for websites sending ads via Settings > Notifications
By combining these methods—removing offending apps, adjusting permissions, configuring Private DNS, blocking ads in browsers, opting out of personalized ads, and using ad blocker apps—you can significantly reduce or remove ads from your Android phone.
