Most Android websites and apps rely on ads to generate sustainable revenue. However, some ads can be annoying or malicious. Also, frequent pop-up ads on other apps, lock screen, and home screen can spoil the experience on top Android phones. If you encounter the same issues frequently, read on to learn how to block ads on your Android phone and tablet.
Ads popping up out of nowhere on your Android phone or tablet is never a desirable experience. You can stop pop-ups on the default Chrome browser, prevent unknown apps from showing full banner ads on other apps, disable wallpaper services on the lock screen, and purchase the subscription to the premium app to remove ads.
Block pop-ups, redirects and ads on Google Chrome
Google Chrome has a built-in pop-up and ad blocker to disable intrusive or misleading ads. Follow the steps below to activate them on your phone.
- Open Google Chrome on your Android phone.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and open Settings.
- Scroll to Site settings.
- Open Pop-ups and redirects and enable the toggle in the next menu.
- Come back to Site settings and select Ads.
- turn it on Ads to toggle.
If you want to remove ads while browsing the web, use one of the third-party web browsers on Android, as Chrome does not support an ad blocker extension on mobile. Samsung Internet and Firefox are two popular Chrome alternatives that offer ad blocking extensions on Android.
Samsung Internet offers a built-in extension store for downloading ad blockers. Brave is another ad blocker browser on Android that provides an ad-free browsing experience.
Check Google Chrome Site Notifications
It’s not a good idea to allow every website to send real-time notifications to your Android phone or tablet. Besides sending helpful alerts, some websites may spam your device’s notification center with irrelevant partner content.
Here’s how to turn off notifications for unnecessary websites:
- Long press the Google Chrome app icon and tap the I button.
- Open Notice.
- Scroll to Notifications from all sites.
- Check the list of allowed sites and the number of alerts each website sends in a week.
- Disable notification permission for unknown websites from the list.
Block ads on home screen
Ads appearing on the home screen are worse than ads in a web browser or notification center. These full banner ads appear on any app on your phone or tablet. The Android system allows app developers to request “Show over other apps” permission to work normally.
Apps like Messenger and Truecaller require such permissions to show bubble chat heads and identify incoming callers. However, some sketchy apps prompt users to allow permission and keep pushing ads on the home screen. When you receive such advertisements, find the name of the app that sent them on the home screen. Once you have identified these apps, follow the steps below to disable the permission.
- Long press the app icon and open the app info menu.
- Scroll to Show on other apps.
- turn it off Allow display on other apps to toggle.
If you no longer need the app, uninstall it from the same app info menu.
Disable wallpaper services on the lock screen
To enhance your device’s lock screen experience, wallpaper services like Glance display app recommendations, news, and partner content on the lock screen. It is available on low-end and mid-range devices from Samsung and Xiaomi. Follow the steps below to disable wallpaper services on your Android tablet or phone.
We are using a Samsung Galaxy A52 running One UI 4.1 in the screenshots below.
- Swipe up from the home screen to open the app drawer menu.
- Select the Settings equipment.
- Scroll to Lock screen.
- Open Wallpaper Services.
- Tap the radio button next to None.
Buy premium app subscriptions
Developers rely on advertisements to support app development. Some app developers offer a one-time purchase, while others offer monthly or yearly subscriptions to remove ads and unlock new features. For example, you will continue to receive non-skippable advertisements on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Spotify until you purchase the premium subscription.
What about Android tablets?
Since your kids frequently stream videos and play games on a big screen, you need to be equally careful when dealing with ads on an Android tablet. A simple misstep can plague your tablet with fake files and useless app installations. Although we’ve used screenshots from an Android phone throughout the post, you can follow the same steps to block ads on your Android tablet.
Be careful with app installation
It’s best not to fill your Android phone or tablet with useless flashlight apps, third-party app launchers, or apps with one or two stars. Your Android device also does not require an antivirus application. Before installing any app, read the app reviews. If other people are complaining about the number of ads, stay away from those apps or look for better alternatives.
Google offers Google Play Protect, but it blocks malicious apps from appearing on the Play Store. The Company has no control over advertisements appearing in other applications.
You can also root your Android phone and install a system-wide ad blocker to block ads. However, be careful when rooting your phone. One misstep during the process can leave you with a bricked device and void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Eliminate ads on your Android phone
The growing advertising situation is one of the reasons users are switching from Android to iOS. Before you settle for a less than average experience, use the tips above to remove ads on your Android phone.