Android is the most popular smartphone Operating System. It has a massive 86% share in the global smartphone market from the past many years. The vast user base on Android platform has also attracted various app developers. As a result, there are thousands of free apps on the Google Play Store. Most of these apps display advertisements for monetization.

The advertisements help developers to sustain and earn their livelihood. A well-optimized ad always helps in conversions and brings a better user experience. However, the incorrect placement and the over-optimization of ads are too annoying and intrusive. It hampers the overall experience. Some Chinese OEMs also display banner advertisements to generate revenue and bridge the profits. Xiaomi is a perfect example following the same tactic to garner some benefits. There are many other ways through which developers are injecting ads and are deteriorating the overall user-experience. It is the only reason which forces users to block unnecessary advertisements. However, some developers offer a premium ads-free version of their apps, but still many users prefer free version.

There are many ways to remove system-wide ads on Android, but most of them need root access. Those who are claiming to block without root are either not effective or drain the battery. To give you respite, we have come across such an app which allows users to block ads on your smartphone entirely. It even gives you the option to toggle advertisements on different apps.

The app called DNS66 is an Android app developed by Julian Klode, it blocks advertisements at the DNS level. It is effective as it does not slow down your device. It is better than any other VPN-based adblocker and considerably is more efficient as it does not drain the battery. The new app even saves bandwidth. However, there are many similar apps such as Netguard, AdGuard, No root ad-blocker, and others. Unlike its competitors, Klode’s ad-blocking app is open source and free.

Note: GizmoChina does not support blocking the ads as it is the sole source of income for publishers and developers. GizmoChina does not endorse the removal of ads. People should show some love towards the developers and publishers who work to bring useful information and entertainment for them.

Requirements: 

  • Download DNS66 app
  • Android 5.0+ device needed
  • Authorize smartphone to install apps from “unknown sources.”

Steps: Block System-Wide ads on Android 

Follow the steps below carefully to get rid of the annoying ads on your smartphone without root.

  1. Enable smartphone to install apps from third-party sources by enabling “Unknown sources” installation. You can head over to Settings>Security>Unknown sources and then enable it.
  2. Download APK from above and install it on your smartphone.
  3. Once done with the installation, open the app and ‘Get Started’ guide will pop up to let make aware of the features. The start screen will allow you to choose the ‘Resume on system start-up‘ option.
    Note: The DNS66 app will affect the battery in the beginning, but once it is fully working with optimal settings, there won’t be any significant battery drain. 
  4. User can easily filter and block the selected ads. The app carries ‘Hosts‘ tab, which gives the ability to filter hosts. The user can toggle every ad host passing data over your device.
  5. After refreshing the hosts’ tab, you will get the full list of ad hosts serving ads on your device. You can deny or allow access to each host.
  6. Once you’re done with the selection of hosts, browse back to the app home.
  7. On the Home or Start interface, the user can quickly initiate the VPN connection to block ads by pressing the ‘Start‘ button at the bottom of the page.
  8. DNS66 app also carries the capability to bypass the selected app to show ads. It is a necessary feature, as the user can enable advertisements on apps which are not affecting user experience.
  9. User can easily enable or disable the service from the notification bar. The app will show a small key icon on the notification bar while the service is active.

It is the most logical, efficient, and effective way to block ads on the Android system.

Steps to Block Ads on Android without any App

It is easily possible to block ads on any Android device without installing any application on your smartphone. It is really to block unnecessary ads from your device by following these points:

  1. Open your device’s Settings>WiFi&Internet or More Connection Settings > Private DNS.
  2. Tap the Private DNS provider hostname option.
  3. Now you can select any one of all these DNS options to get protection from a specific type of ads:
    – dns.adguard.com- dns-family.adguard.com (To block adult sites)
    – dot-de.blahdns.com (small hobby project with AdBlock)
  4. After typing the relevant DNS in the field, Press ‘Save.
  5. Now, you can enjoy ad-free browsing.
  6. For Chrome users, there’s an additional step to disable #enable-async-dns flag by going into the chrome://flags.
  7. Xiaomi Users also need to perform an additional step to enable the private DNS. (Note: Private DNS setting is disabled on MIUI 10 devices. So, this is a must step for Xiaomi MIUI 10 users.)

These are a few methods to eliminate advertisements on your Android device without affecting the battery life. If you have any other option, do let us know also.

Up Next: 6 Best Android TV Boxes you Can Buy at Lowered Prices [Coupons]