How to Turn Off Ads on Android Phones

Ads appear in apps, browsers, and even phone settings on some Android devices. They waste data, distract you, and sometimes track your behavior. You can reduce or completely block most of them using built-in settings and simple steps.

1. Turn Off Personalized Ads from Google
Google uses your activity to show targeted ads. You can limit this easily.

• Open Settings on your Android phone.
• Tap “Google.”
• Tap “Ads.”
• Turn on “Opt out of Ads Personalization.”
  This stops apps from using your profile for personalized ads. It does not remove all ads, but it makes them less intrusive.

2. Disable Ads in System Settings (for Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, etc.)
Some brands add ads inside their system apps. You can disable them manually.

Xiaomi Phones

• Open “Settings.”
• Go to “Additional Settings.”
• Tap “Privacy.”
• Turn off “Ad Services.”
• In each app like File Manager, Music, or Themes, open settings and turn off “Recommendations.”

Samsung Phones

• Open “Settings.”
• Go to “Privacy.”
• Tap “Customization Service.”
• Turn off “Personalized Ads and Direct Marketing.”

Realme or Oppo Phones

• Open “Settings.”
• Tap “Additional Settings.”
• Tap “System Services.”
• Turn off “Personalized Recommendations.”

3. Use Chrome’s Built-in Ad Blocker
If you see pop-up ads in Chrome:

• Open Chrome.
• Tap the three dots, then “Settings.”
• Tap “Site Settings.”
• Tap “Pop-ups and redirects” and turn them off.
• Tap “Ads” and turn them off.
  This stops most pop-ups and redirects from websites.

4. Block Ads with Private DNS
Android supports DNS filtering. You can use a clean DNS service to block ads across all apps.

• Open Settings.
• Tap “Network and Internet.”
• Tap “Private DNS.”
• Select “Private DNS provider hostname.”
• Enter dns.adguard.com or dns.family.adguard.com.
• Save.
  This blocks most ads and trackers system-wide without any app.

5. Remove Adware Apps
If ads appear suddenly on your home screen or lock screen, you may have installed an adware app.

• Open Settings → Apps.
• Check recently installed apps.
• Uninstall unknown or suspicious ones.
• Restart your phone.
  To confirm, start your phone in Safe Mode and see if ads stop. If they do, the issue is from a third-party app.

6. Use YouTube Without Ads (Legally)
If you watch YouTube often, ads can be annoying. Use YouTube Premium, which removes ads and lets you play videos in the background. Avoid third-party YouTube apps; they are unsafe and often banned.

7. Use an Ad-Blocking Browser
If you browse a lot, try browsers like Brave or Firefox with uBlock Origin. They block most website ads by default.

8. Reset Ad ID Regularly
Android lets you reset your advertising ID to stop tracking.

• Go to Settings → Privacy → Ads.
• Tap “Delete advertising ID.”
  This reduces tracking across apps.

9. Keep Your Phone Updated
Updates fix security issues and remove hidden ad modules from system apps. Always keep your Android version and security patches updated.

Conclusion
You can remove most ads from your Android phone using built-in settings, ad-free DNS, and careful app management. Avoid installing unknown apps, check permissions before granting access, and disable ad personalization in your Google account. A few minutes of setup keeps your phone cleaner, faster, and private.