We all know that ads can be annoying, but you don’t have to put up with them if you don’t want to. Here’s how to block ads on Android.
Most people know how easy it is to install an ad blocker on your desktop or laptop, but few know that you can also block ads on your Android phone or tablet.
In fact, it’s often even simpler, with ad blocking built into some mobile web browsers, so you don’t need to install anything extra.
Here’s a guide on how to stop pop-up ads on Android, including specific steps for Samsung Galaxy phone users. Just keep in mind that ads are a revenue stream that allows websites like Tech Advisor to continue offering you free content.
How to stop pop-up ads on Android
Pop-up ads can be particularly annoying, often appearing out of nowhere and obstructing your view. Here are some effective ways to prevent them from bothering you on your Android device:
Use Google Chrome’s built-in functionality
Google’s Chrome is the default web browser on many Android phones. So this is how most Android users browse the web. The good news is that you don’t have to abandon Chrome to block ads – and in fact, Chrome has built-in tools to block some, but not all, ads.
To activate them:
- Open Chrome, tap the three dots at the top right, then tap Settings.
- From there, scroll down to “Site Settings,” then look for “Pop-ups and redirects.”
- Tap it, then check that the slider is gray and the text says “pop-ups and ads are blocked” prevents sites from showing pop-ups and redirects (recommended).
The pop-up blocker will block virtually all pop-up ads when you browse the web, while the ad setting will block all ads on specific sites. This means that sites with trustworthy ads will not be affected, but you will remove the worst of the worst.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Use another browser
If you want to ditch Chrome, you may be able to block even more ads when you browse the web using another browser.
First of all, several Android web browsers have built-in ad blocking. For example, you can grab the popular Opera browser from Google Play for free. All offer more aggressive ad blocking options than Chrome, although you’ll have to forgo syncing your browsing history with Chrome on desktop.
The Samsung Internet Browser is also worth considering: it doesn’t block ads by default, but allows you to install ad-blocking extensions, just like a desktop browser.
Use a dedicated ad-blocking browser
You may also consider using a browser specifically designed to block ads.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Popular options include Brave Browser, Adblock Browser, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo Private Browser, Kiwi Browser, or Firefox with uBlock Origin extension.
These browsers offer robust ad-blocking features to keep intrusive advertisements at bay.
Use a third-party ad-blocking app
All of the solutions above focus on your web browser, but it is possible to block ads elsewhere in Android. However, Google doesn’t allow system-wide ad blockers, so you won’t find one in the Play Store.
That doesn’t mean you can’t trust them, though. Both AdGuard and AdLock come from reputable cybersecurity companies, so you can trust them even if they don’t come from the Play Store.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Still, to install them, you’ll need to follow our advice on sideloading Android apps and decide if you’re really willing to pay a subscription to get rid of the apps once the free trials end.
Use a VPN app
You can also download one of the VPN services we recommend, as some of them also offer ad blocking. Here’s a guide on how to get started using a VPN.
Adjust Google Settings
Finally, Google provides options to control personalized ads through your Google account settings.
You can opt out of personalized ads or reset your advertising ID to limit ad tracking. Go to “Settings” > “Google” > “Ads” to access these settings.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
How to stop pop-up ads on a Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy phones run on the Android operating system. However, thanks to the One UI skin, they may have slightly different settings and options than other Android devices.
Here’s how Samsung users can specifically deal with pop-up ads:
Use Samsung Internet Browser
Samsung devices come with the Samsung Internet Browser pre-installed. As noted earlier, it doesn’t block ads by default but allows you to install ad blocking extensions, just like a desktop browser.
This browser also offers a built-in feature that you can enable in the settings:
- Open the Samsung Internet app and tap the three-dot menu icon.
- Select “Settings” and navigate to “Sites & Downloads.”
- Enable the “Block pop-ups” option.
Like Google Chrome, Samsung Internet Browser Pop-up Blocker blocks most pop-up ads while browsing the web.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Install ad blocking extensions
Samsung Internet Browser also supports ad blocking extensions like AdBlock Plus and AdGuard.
Install one from the Galaxy Store, open Samsung Internet, tap the three-dot menu icon, go to “Extensions” and enable the ad blocking feature.
Use Samsung Knox
Samsung Knox is a security feature available on many Samsung devices. It includes a feature called Secure Folder, which allows you to run applications in a secure environment.
You can install an ad blocking app in Secure Folder to block ads specifically in certain apps or browsers.
Why block ads?
Blocking ads isn’t just about avoiding annoyances.
Advertisements are downloaded by your phone when you browse the web. So every time you see one, it will slightly slow down your browsing experience and potentially increase your data bill. If you notice your phone slowing down significantly, your phone’s memory may be full.
If you’ve already done everything you can to free up space on your Android, you don’t have to factory restore your phone as a last resort. Learning how to clear cache on Android will help you free up space and potentially improve its performance.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
However, there are also some caveats.
First, remember that as annoying as ads are, most websites need them to survive, including Tech Advisor. So we would prefer if you didn’t block ads, but we also understand why you might want to do so.
Second, the free solutions all focus on blocking ads while you browse the web, not the rest of your device. Many apps include ads to cover their costs, and while we’ve included a way to block them, the solutions aren’t free.
If you’re tired of ads in a specific app you use a lot, consider signing up for their premium or ad-free plan if they have one, as it might actually work out cheaper. YouTube Premium is a no-brainer, and if you’re still in school, you can get a student discount.
Chris Merriman / Foundry
Chris Merriman / Foundry
Chris Merriman / Foundry
Finally, if you see ads outside of apps on your phone, or if you see the same suspicious ads appearing over and over again, you may have a virus. Then you may want to download one of the best antivirus apps for Android and learn how to scan Android for viruses.
I probably don’t need to say whether it’s worth having antivirus on Android, but you might want to know if you need it on your iPhone.
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