How to Turn Off Ads on Your Android Phone

Where ads appear on Android and what you can actually control

Android shows ads in three places: inside apps you've downloaded, on your home screen and lock screen, and in Google services like Gmail and YouTube. You cannot turn off all ads on Android — Google's business model depends on them — but you can reduce how many you see, stop personalized ads from following you across apps, and remove ad-supported apps entirely.

The most effective single step is resetting your advertising ID and turning off personalized ads in Google settings. This stops advertisers from building a profile of your interests and showing you targeted ads based on your browsing and app use. You can also block ads within individual apps, remove ad-heavy apps, and use a DNS-level ad blocker if you want to stop ads across your entire phone.

Key Takeaways

Resetting your advertising ID and disabling personalized ads in Google settings stops advertisers from tracking your behavior across apps and websites.
Most ad-blocking on Android happens at the app level — you can uninstall ad-heavy apps, switch to ad-free versions, or use in-app settings to reduce ads.
DNS-level ad blockers like NextDNS or Blokada block ads across your entire phone, including in browsers and apps, but require setup and may slow your connection slightly.
YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube but costs money; free alternatives like NewPipe play YouTube videos without ads but are not available in the Google Play Store.
Some apps show fewer ads if you turn off location services and limit app permissions, because advertisers have less data to work with.

Turn off personalized ads in Google settings

Open Settings on your phone, then go to Google (or Accounts, depending on your Android version). Tap Manage your Google Account, then the Data & Privacy tab. Scroll down to Ad personalization and toggle it off. This tells Google not to use your search history, YouTube watch history, and app activity to target ads to you.

Turning off ad personalization does not stop ads from appearing — it stops them from being tailored to your interests. You will still see ads, but they will be generic rather than based on what you've searched for or watched. The change takes effect within a few hours.

You can also reset your advertising ID in the same section. Tap Reset advertising ID and confirm. This gives you a new ID and clears your old ad profile. Do this every few months if you want to make it harder for advertisers to build a long-term picture of your behavior.

Uninstall or replace ad-heavy apps

Some apps show far more ads than others. Free games, flashlight apps, and weather apps are notorious for aggressive advertising. If an app shows ads every few seconds or covers half the screen, you have three options: uninstall it, pay for an ad-free version if one exists, or find a different app that does the same thing with fewer ads.

Check the Google Play Store for the app you use. Many popular apps have both free ad-supported versions and paid ad-free versions — for example, Spotify Free shows ads but Spotify Premium does not. Some apps let you pay a one-time fee to remove ads rather than paying a subscription. Read the reviews and screenshots before downloading to see whether users complain about ad frequency.

For common functions like flashlights, calculators, and note-taking, dozens of lightweight alternatives exist with little or no advertising. Searching "best [app type] no ads" in the Play Store usually surfaces options that prioritize functionality over monetization.

Use a DNS-level ad blocker for system-wide blocking

DNS-level ad blockers intercept ad requests before they reach your phone, blocking ads across all apps and browsers at once. Popular options include NextDNS, Blokada, and AdGuard. These work differently from app-level ad blockers because they operate at the network level rather than inside individual apps.

NextDNS is free for up to 300,000 queries per month (enough for most users) and requires you to change your phone's DNS settings in Settings > Network > Advanced > Private DNS. Enter the NextDNS address provided when you sign up. Blokada is also free and works as a local VPN that filters traffic on your device without sending data to an external server.

The trade-off is that DNS blockers can occasionally break apps or websites if they block something the app needs to function. They may also slow your connection slightly because every request has to pass through an extra filter. Test one for a few days to see if it causes problems with apps you use regularly.

Remove ads from YouTube and Google services

YouTube shows ads before, during, and between videos on the free version. YouTube Premium removes all ads but costs money (the price varies by country and whether you bundle it with other Google services). If you use YouTube heavily, the cost may be worth it to you.

If you do not want to pay, NewPipe is a free app that plays YouTube videos without ads. It is not available in the Google Play Store because Google does not allow it, but you can download it from F-Droid, an open-source app store. NewPipe also lets you download videos and play them in the background, features YouTube Premium charges for.

Gmail and Google Search show ads, but they are less intrusive than in-app ads because they are clearly labeled and do not cover the content. You cannot turn them off without paying for Google Workspace, which is designed for businesses. For most users, these ads are not aggressive enough to warrant paying.

Limit app permissions to reduce ad targeting

Advertisers use location data, contacts, and browsing history to target ads more precisely. Turning off permissions for apps that do not need them makes it harder for advertisers to build a detailed profile. Go to Settings > Apps > Permissions and review what each app can access.

Most apps request more permissions than they actually need. A flashlight app does not need access to your contacts or location. A calculator does not need your camera. Deny permissions that seem unnecessary, and apps will show less targeted ads because they have less data about you.

Turn off Location Services entirely in Settings > Location if you do not need it. Many apps request location permission and sell that data to advertisers even if the app does not use it. You can also turn off Personalization in Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy to prevent Google from using your location history for ad targeting.

Use a browser with built-in ad blocking

If you browse the web on your phone, your browser choice affects how many ads you see. Chrome (Google's browser) does not block ads because Google makes money from advertising. Firefox and Brave have built-in ad and tracker blocking that reduces ads and speeds up page loading.

Brave is particularly aggressive about blocking ads and trackers — it also blocks JavaScript-based ads that other blockers miss. Firefox lets you enable tracking protection in settings, which blocks many ad networks. Both are free and available in the Google Play Store.

If you switch browsers, your bookmarks and history stay in Chrome unless you export them. Most browsers have an import function that pulls your data from Chrome automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off personalized ads stop all ads from showing?

No. Turning off personalized ads stops Google from using your behavior to target ads to you, but ads will still appear in apps and Google services. They will just be generic rather than based on your interests. To stop ads entirely, you need to use a DNS blocker, uninstall ad-heavy apps, or pay for ad-free versions.

Can I block ads in a specific app without blocking them everywhere?

Most apps do not have a built-in setting to disable ads. Your options are to uninstall the app, pay for an ad-free version if one exists, or use a DNS-level blocker that blocks ads across all apps at once. Some apps show fewer ads if you turn off location and other permissions.

Does using a DNS ad blocker slow down my phone?

DNS blockers add a small amount of latency to every network request because they filter traffic before it reaches your phone. Most users do not notice a difference, but on slower connections or with poorly configured blockers, you might see slightly slower page loads. Test one for a few days to see if it affects your experience.

Is NewPipe safe to use?

NewPipe is open-source software maintained by volunteers and does not require a Google account. It is safe, but because it is not in the Google Play Store, you have to download it from F-Droid instead. Make sure you download from the official F-Droid website, not a third-party source.

What happens if I reset my advertising ID?

Resetting your advertising ID clears your ad profile and gives you a new ID. Advertisers can no longer connect your old browsing and app history to your new ID. Over time, a new profile will build up again based on your future behavior, so resetting it every few months makes it harder for advertisers to track you long-term.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.