On every Android phone, here's how to turn off advertisements
Without root access or any third-party apps, here's how to disable ads on any Android smartphone in a few simple steps
Getting rid of pesky, unwanted ads was one of the main reasons I started rooting my Android phones years ago. However, today the process of blocking ads has been simplified to a great extent, allowing you to use third-party browsers, for instance, to make sure you don't see ads during your browsing sessions.
However, this still means you will see ads on your phone when using browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The good news is that you can block all browser tricks and even ads that come with apps with a simple feature called Private DNS.
Most newer Android phones have private DNS setup options, which you can utilise to block advertisements. This is how you do it.
Step 1: Find the Private DNS setting
On your phone, look for the Private DNS option. This option is normally found under the Network and Connectivity banner or a similar heading. If you can't find it directly, simply type "private DNS" into the Settings search box, and the option should appear.
If you can't find the Private DNS option on your phone, it's because your device doesn't support the capability, and this method won't work for you. On Android 9.0 Pie and later, private DNS is usually customizable.
Step 2: Select 'Private DNS provider hostname'
When you turn on the Private DNS feature, you'll see three options: Off, Auto, and Private DNS provider hostname. Select the last option, and a column should appear where you may specify your own DNS hostname provider.
Step 3: Type 'dns.adguard.com' (without the quotes)
Simply put 'dns.adguard.com' without the quotations in the column and save. That is all there is to it. AdGuard's DNS server will now be used by your phone to prohibit advertising from reaching your device.
In most browsers and apps, you should now be entirely ad-free. However, certain advertising that have been disabled may still appear as blank spaces or greyed-out boxes.
Please note that the method will not stop app-based advertising such as those seen on Spotify and YouTube. You may be unable to connect to some websites, such as Chartbeat, if you use the Private DNS feature.
To turn off the feature, go back to the Private DNS option in Settings and select the first option, 'Off,' to turn it off. This should resolve any connectivity issues caused by the functionality, but you will no longer be able to simply block advertisements.
