Hey there! Are you tired of those pesky ads popping up on your Android phone? Well, you’re not alone! Ads can be really annoying, right? They mess up our browsing, slow down our phones, and sometimes even eat up our battery life.
But what if I told you there’s a way to get rid of most of these ads without having to root your phone? Sounds good, doesn’t it?
In this article, we’re going to talk about how you can use something called “Private DNS” to block ads on your Android phone.
Don’t worry if you’re not tech-savvy – I’ll explain everything in simple terms. We’ll look at what Private DNS is, how to set it up, and some other cool ways to keep those ads at bay.
How To Block Ads On Android Using Private DNS?
So, let’s jump right in and learn how to make your Android experience a whole lot smoother and ad-free!
Facts Checked By: Frontline Feed
What is Adguard DNS?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about Adguard DNS. It’s a pretty neat tool that helps block ads on your device.
Here’s what you need to know about Adguard DNS:
- It’s a free service
- It works on all kinds of devices, not just Android phones
- You don’t need to install any apps to use it
- It blocks ads across your whole system, not just in one app
Think of Adguard DNS like a bouncer at a club. It stands between your phone and the internet, checking everything that tries to come through. When it sees an ad, it says, “Nope, you’re not getting in,” and blocks it. Cool, right?
The best part? You don’t need to do anything complicated or risky like rooting your phone. It’s all done through something called Private DNS, which we’ll talk about next.
How to Block Ads on Android Using Private DNS
Okay, now let’s get to the good stuff – how to actually set this up on your phone. But first, a quick check:
Important: Make sure your phone is running Android 9 (Pie) or newer. If it’s not, this method won’t work for you. But don’t worry, we’ll talk about other options later!
Here’s how to set up Private DNS to block ads:
- Open your Settings: Find the gear icon in your app drawer or pull down your notification shade and tap the gear.
- Find Network & Internet: It might be called “Wireless & Networks” on some phones.
- Look for Private DNS: Scroll down until you see this option.
- Select “Configure Private DNS”: Tap on this to open up the configuration options.
- Enter the Adguard DNS: In the hostname field, type in dns.adguard.com
- Save your settings: Tap “Save” or “Apply” (it varies by phone model).
- Restart your phone: This helps make sure the changes take effect.
That’s the basic setup! But to make sure it’s working perfectly, there are a couple more steps:
- Open Chrome: Launch your Chrome browser.
- Go to Chrome flags: Type chrome://flags in the address bar and hit enter.
- Find “Async DNS”: Use the search bar at the top to find this option.
- Disable Async DNS: Set this option to “Disabled”.
- Clear DNS cache: Type chrome://net-internals in the address bar, go to the DNS tab, and tap “Clear host cache”.
And there you have it! Your phone should now be blocking most ads across all apps and websites. Pretty cool, huh?
Block Ads on Android Using DNS Switch
If the Private DNS method seems a bit complicated, don’t worry! There’s an easier way using an app called DNS Switch. Here’s how it works:
- Download DNS Switch: Get it from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app: Tap to launch it once it’s installed.
- Find Adguard DNS: Look for “AdGuard1” and “AdGuard2” in the list.
- Allow VPN: The app will ask to set up a VPN. Don’t worry, this is safe and needed for the app to work.
- You’re done!: The app will activate Adguard DNS and start blocking ads.
This method is super simple and works just as well as the Private DNS method. Plus, you can easily switch it on and off whenever you want.
Best DNS for ad blocking on Android
Adguard isn’t the only DNS service that can block ads. Here are a few other great options you might want to try:
1. LibreDNS
What’s cool about it:
- Blocks ads
- Helps bypass some internet restrictions
- Boosts your online privacy
How to use it: In your Private DNS settings, enter noads.libredns.gr
2. Control D
Why you might like it:
- Stops ads and trackers
- Can unblock social media (if it’s blocked in your area)
- Lets you filter content
How to use it: Set your Private DNS to p2.freedns.controld.com
3. NextDNS
What makes it special:
- Blocks malicious websites
- Stops ads and trackers
- Can filter content for kids
- Protects against phishing attacks
How to use it: You’ll need to create an account on their website to get a custom DNS address.
These options all work a bit differently, so you might want to try each one to see which works best for you!
Other Ways to Block Ads on Android
Using Private DNS or DNS Switch isn’t the only way to block ads. Here are some other methods you can try:
- Ad-blocking browsers: Some browsers come with built-in ad blockers. Try these:
- Opera
- Microsoft Edge
- Brave Browser
- Firefox Focus
- Ad-blocking apps: There are apps designed specifically to block ads across your device. Some popular ones are:
- AdGuard
- Blokada
- AdAway (requires root)
- VPN services: Some VPNs offer ad-blocking as a feature. They can be a bit slower than DNS methods, but they offer extra privacy.
- Hosts file modification: This is a more advanced method that requires root access. It’s very effective but can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Remember, no method is perfect. You might still see some ads here and there, but these methods should drastically reduce the number of ads you encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I block absolutely all ads on Android?
A: Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to block 100% of ads without root access. But the methods we’ve discussed can block a large majority of ads.
Q: What if I don’t see the Private DNS option on my phone?
A: If your phone doesn’t have the Private DNS option, it might be running an older version of Android. In this case, try using the DNS Switch app or one of the ad-blocking browsers we mentioned.
Q: Why am I suddenly seeing more ads on my phone?
A: If you’re suddenly seeing a lot more ads, you might have accidentally installed an app with adware. Adware is software that shows extra ads on your device.
Q: How can I get rid of adware on my Android phone?
A: To remove adware:
- Try uninstalling recently downloaded apps
- Use an antivirus app to scan for malware
- If all else fails, you might need to factory reset your phone (but back up your data first!)
Q: Will blocking ads affect how websites or apps work?
A: In most cases, no. However, some websites might detect that you’re blocking ads and ask you to turn off your ad blocker. Some apps that rely heavily on ads might not work properly.
Q: Is it legal to block ads?
A: Yes, it’s legal to block ads on your own devices. However, some websites may not allow you to use their services if you have an ad blocker active.
Conclusion
Whew! We’ve covered a lot of ground, haven’t we? Let’s quickly recap what we’ve learned:
- Ads can be annoying and even harmful to your phone’s performance
- You can block most ads on Android using Private DNS or apps like DNS Switch
- There are several DNS services that can help block ads, like Adguard, LibreDNS, and Control D
- Ad-blocking browsers and apps are another great option for reducing ads
Remember, while these methods are great for blocking ads, they might not catch everything. You might still see an ad here and there, but your browsing experience should be much smoother overall.
The best part? All of these methods are safe and don’t require you to do anything risky like rooting your phone. They’re easy to set up and can make a big difference in how you use your Android device.
So why not give it a try? Pick a method that sounds good to you and see how it goes. You might be surprised at how much nicer it is to use your phone without all those pesky ads getting in the way!
Happy ad-free browsing, everyone!
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