{"id":264,"date":"2025-07-15T01:54:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adblock-tester.com\/ad-blockers\/?page_id=264"},"modified":"2025-07-15T01:54:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:54:10","slug":"block-ads-android","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adblock-tester.com\/ad-blockers\/block-ads-android\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Ways to Block Ads on Android Devices: Apps, DNS & More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I don\u2019t know about you, but I play a lot of games on my Android. And with more and more free games flooding the Google Play Store, there are two main ways publishers make their money from microtransactions and ads. While there\u2019s not much you can do about microtransactions, you can actually get rid of the ads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s not just the static banner ads at the bottom, it\u2019s the pop-ups, the intrusive video ads, and more. It\u2019s harder with some apps like Facebook and YouTube. But other than that, most ads can be eliminated. Except for the fact that Google makes it very hard for these ad blockers to stay live on the Google Play Store. But that\u2019s not going to stop up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will be discussing multiple methods of blocking ads on Android. They all block ads in different ways, and the setup processes are different. Moreover, each of them are more appropriate for different use cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the easiest way to block ads on Android? (Sideloading)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to block ads on Android is by sideloading a solid ad blocker like Total Adblock or AdGuard. These methods use VPN tunneling and local CA certificates to intercept network traffic and block ads. They work for both in-app ads and browsers. However, these services usually require a paid subscription to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to block ads on Android with Total Adblock?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Go to the Total Adblock site and download the .apk file to your Android phone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. If your browser gives you a security warning, just click \u201ckeep\u201d or \u201cdownload anyway\u201d (as long as you\u2019re on the official site, you\u2019re good).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Once downloaded, tap the file to install.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. If your phone blocks it, go to settings > enable installs from unknown sources for your browser or file manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Once installed, open the app and go through the setup wizard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. It\u2019ll ask you to install a VPN profile, allow it. (This lets Total Adblock scan and filter your traffic).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. It\u2019ll also ask you to install a CA certificate. (This part is important for blocking ads in apps and HTTPS sites.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. If it asks you to do it manually: save the .crt file somewhere easy (like Downloads), then go to Settings > Security > Encryption & Credentials > Install a certificate > CA certificate > select the file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Once that\u2019s done, go back to the app and toggle the ad-blocking switch on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    And you\u2019re done. Ads in apps, games, and most browsers should now be blocked system-wide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to block ads on Android with AdGuard?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Go to the AdGuard website and download the .apk file for Android.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. If your browser warns you about the file, tap \u201ckeep\u201d or \u201cdownload anyway.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Once the download finishes, tap the file to begin installation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. If your phone blocks the install, go to settings > enable installs from unknown sources for the app you used to download it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. After it\u2019s installed, open the AdGuard app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Follow the setup instructions. First, it\u2019ll ask you to set up a local VPN. Tap \u201callow.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. To enable HTTPS filtering, download the AdGuard certificate, then go to Settings > Security > Encryption & Credentials > Install a certificate > CA certificate > select the file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Back in the app, enable ad blocking from the home screen toggle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. You can also customise filters, blocklists, and app-specific rules from the settings panel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      You don\u2019t need to install a certificate unless you want to enable HTTPS filtering (which is optional but improves ad blocking inside apps and browsers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      Block Ads on Android with DNS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Don\u2019t want to sideload anything or mess with certificates? Using a DNS-based blocker is one of the other cleanest, safest ways to block ads on Android. DNS cuts off ad domains before they even load, so the ads never make it to your apps or browser in the first place. It also means no battery drain, background apps, or VPN conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s definitely not as aggressive as a full ad-blocking app, but surprisingly effective, and worth trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to Block Ads on Android with AdGuard DNS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Open the Settings app on your Android phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Go to Network & Internet (or Connections, depending on your device).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Tap on Private DNS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Select the Private DNS provider hostname.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. In the text box, type dns.adguard-dns.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Tap Save and back out of settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        That\u2019s it. Give it a few minutes to kick in. You should see fewer banner ads in browsers, in-app ads in games, and even a bit less tracking overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        AdGuard also lets you set up custom DNS that allows you to add or remove blocklists, see stats, and much more. You can read about it on How AdGuard DNS Blocks Ads on Android, iOS, Windows & Mac<\/a>.
        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        How to Block Ads on Android with NextDNS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        NextDNS is like DNS for power users. It works the same as AdGuard DNS but has a dashboard where you can customise blocklists, create device-specific rules, and view analytics of what\u2019s being blocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Go to nextdns.io and create a free account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Follow the setup guide to generate your unique DNS hostname (it\u2019ll look something like abcd1234.dns.nextdns.io).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Choose a Private DNS provider hostname.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Paste your NextDNS hostname.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. Tap Save.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          NextDNS gives you more control over your blocklists and DNS, and the free plan includes up to 300,000 queries per month, which is plenty for most users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n\n\n\n

          How Does DNS Ad Blocking on Android Work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          DNS (Domain Name System) is what your device uses to turn website names into IP addresses. Every time an app or browser tries to load something (e.g, a website or an ad), it sends a request through DNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Those requests get filtered when you use a DNS ad blocker like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS. If the DNS recognizes a domain as an ad server or tracker, it just blocks the request or redirects it to nothing. The result? The ad never loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          This type of ad blocking works at the network level, blocking ads in apps, browsers, and even games, without needing to install an app or root your device. It\u2019s not perfect (it won\u2019t block YouTube ads inside the app), but it\u2019s one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce ads on your Android device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          How to Block Ads on Android with AdAway (Root Only)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          It\u2019s a terrible idea in 2025 to root your Android phone. But for some reason, if your phone is rooted, you can access some powerful system-level tools. And AdAway is one of my favorites. It modifies your phone\u2019s hosts file to redirect ad domains to nothingness. That means ads are blocked before they even try to load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Here\u2019s how to set it up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Make sure your phone is rooted. (No, we\u2019re not giving you a guide for that)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Go to adaway.org and download the latest version of AdAway apk from f-droid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Install the app like you would any sideloaded file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Open the app and grant it root access when prompted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Tap \u201cDownload files and apply ad blocking\u201d to fetch the latest blocklists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Once it updates the hosts file, restart your phone to apply the changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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            Block Ads on Android Using Ad-Blocking Browsers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            If you\u2019re mostly worried about ads while browsing the web (and not in other apps), switching to a browser with built-in ad blocking is the easiest fix. There is no setup or sideloading. You just have to install, open, and browse in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Here are some of the best options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n