How to Turn Off Ads on Your Phone

Where ads come from on your phone, and what you can actually control

Ads on your phone come from three separate places, and each one requires a different approach. App store ads — the ones you see in free apps — are controlled partly by the app maker and partly by you through your phone's ad settings. Web ads — banners and videos on websites you visit in your browser — can be reduced with browser settings and extensions. System ads — notifications and lock screen ads from your phone's manufacturer — are turned off in your phone's main settings. You cannot eliminate all ads without paying for premium versions of apps or services, but you can reduce what you see significantly.

The reason you see ads at all is that your phone has a built-in advertising ID — a unique identifier that follows you across apps and lets advertisers build a profile of your interests. This ID is resettable and controllable, which is where most of your power lies. Understanding which ads come from where helps you target your efforts where they actually work.

Key Takeaways

Your phone has a built-in ad ID that tracks you across apps; resetting it or turning off personalized ads in your phone's settings reduces targeted ads in free apps.
On Android, go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Ads to reset your ad ID or turn off ad personalization; on iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Apple Advertising to turn off personalized ads.
Browser-based ad blockers like uBlock Origin (on Firefox) or extensions in Chrome can reduce ads on websites, though some sites block access if you use them.
Manufacturer ads — like Samsung or Google lock screen promotions — are turned off in your phone's main Settings under Notifications or Ads, not in individual apps.
Paying for the premium version of an app removes ads but costs money; free versions with ads are how most app makers stay in business.

Reducing targeted ads in apps on Android

Android phones use a resettable advertising ID to track which apps you use and what you do in them. Advertisers buy this data to show you ads they think you will click. You have two options: reset the ID so advertisers start over with no history, or turn off personalized ads entirely so your ID is not shared with advertisers.

To reset your ad ID on Android, open Settings, tap Google, then Manage Your Google Account. Go to the Ads tab and tap Reset advertising ID. This clears your history but does not stop future tracking — advertisers will start collecting data about you again immediately. To actually stop personalized ads, stay in the Ads tab and toggle off "Opt in to Ads Personalization." You will still see ads in free apps, but they will be random rather than based on your behavior.

Some Android phones from Samsung, OnePlus, or other makers have their own ad settings separate from Google's. Check your phone's main Settings menu under Privacy or Ads to see if your manufacturer has additional controls. Samsung devices, for example, often have a separate Ads section where you can manage both Google ads and Samsung's own promotional content.

Reducing targeted ads in apps on iPhone

iPhones use an Advertising ID similar to Android's. Apple does not let you reset it the way Android does, but you can turn off personalized ads so your ID is not shared with app makers and advertisers.

Open Settings, tap Privacy, then Apple Advertising. Toggle off "Personalized Ads." Like Android, you will still see ads in free apps — Apple just will not let advertisers target you based on your phone activity. You can also limit ad tracking across apps by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and toggling off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This prevents apps from asking permission to follow you across other apps and websites.

Apple's approach is stricter than Android's in one way: when you turn off personalized ads, Apple actually prevents apps from accessing your ad ID for targeting purposes. On Android, turning off personalization still allows the ID to exist; it just tells advertisers not to use it. Both approaches reduce targeted ads, but the outcome is slightly different.

Blocking ads in your web browser

Ads on websites work differently than ads in apps. You can install an ad blocker — a browser extension that hides ads before they load. The most effective free ad blocker is uBlock Origin, available on Firefox for both Android and iPhone, and on Chrome for Android (though Chrome's app store version is limited). On desktop, uBlock Origin works on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Safari.

To install uBlock Origin on Firefox mobile, open Firefox, tap the menu button (three lines), go to Add-ons, search for uBlock Origin, and tap Add to Firefox. On Chrome mobile, open Chrome, tap the menu button (three dots), go to Extensions, then search for an ad blocker in the Chrome Web Store — note that Chrome limits what extensions can do on mobile compared to desktop. Once installed, the extension runs automatically and blocks most banner ads, video ads, and pop-ups before they load.

Some websites detect ad blockers and refuse to load content or show a message asking you to turn it off. You have the choice to disable the extension for that site, reload the page, or leave. No ad blocker works on every site, and some sites rely on ad revenue to stay free. This is a deliberate choice by the website owner, not a failure of the blocker.

Turning off manufacturer and system ads

Your phone's maker — Samsung, Google, Apple, OnePlus — may send you ads through lock screen notifications, the home screen, or system apps. These are separate from app ads and browser ads and often go unnoticed because they come from your phone's own settings rather than third-party apps.

On Android, open Settings and search for "ads" or look under Notifications. Samsung phones have a separate Ads section in Settings where you can turn off lock screen ads and promotional notifications. Google Pixel phones let you manage ads in Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Ads. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll to the bottom to see which system apps are sending notifications; you can turn off notifications from Apple News, Apple TV, or other Apple apps individually. You can also go to Settings > Apple Advertising to manage Apple's own promotional content.

What you cannot block, and why

Some ads are baked into the app itself and cannot be blocked by your phone's settings or browser extensions. These are called in-app ads — video ads that play before you can use a feature, banner ads at the bottom of the screen, or ads between levels in a game. The only way to remove them is to pay for the premium version of the app, which the app maker offers as an alternative to watching ads.

Your mobile carrier may also inject ads into websites you visit, especially if you are on a free or low-cost plan. These are harder to block because they are added by your carrier's network, not by the website. A VPN can sometimes hide this, but it slows your connection and introduces its own privacy questions — most free VPNs sell your data to advertisers, defeating the purpose. If carrier ads are a problem, contact your carrier to ask if they offer a plan without injected ads, or use WiFi instead of mobile data when possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off personalized ads stop all ads?

No. You will still see ads in free apps and on websites. Turning off personalization just means the ads are not based on your behavior — they will be generic ads instead of targeted ones. The only way to see no ads is to pay for premium versions of apps or use paid services like ad-free streaming.

Is it safe to use ad blockers?

Yes, reputable ad blockers like uBlock Origin are safe. They are open-source, meaning anyone can read the code to check for problems. Avoid ad blockers from unknown sources or ones that ask for unusual permissions. Free ad blockers make money by being useful, not by selling your data — that is their business model.

If I reset my ad ID, will advertisers forget about me?

Temporarily, yes. Resetting your ad ID clears the history advertisers have built about you. But your phone will immediately start building a new profile as you use apps. If you want to stay less tracked, turn off personalized ads instead of just resetting your ID.

Can I block ads from my phone company?

Carrier ads injected into websites are difficult to block without a VPN, and most free VPNs are not trustworthy. Your best option is to contact your carrier and ask if they offer a plan without injected ads, or to use WiFi instead of mobile data when possible.

Why do some websites not work with my ad blocker on?

Websites that rely on ad revenue sometimes detect ad blockers and block access or show a message asking you to turn it off. You can disable the ad blocker for that site, pay for an ad-free version if available, or find an alternative website. This is the website's choice, not a failure of the ad blocker.

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.