Ads have become an inescapable part of our online experience. Annoying, intrusive, and often disrupting our video-watching or web-browsing sessions, they can be a major source of frustration. What’s more, if your phone is plagued by adware, it can significantly impact your device’s battery life and overall performance.
Traditionally, one solution to this nuisance was rooting your Android device, a process that grants deep system access. However, many users are hesitant to undertake this due to the risks involved, such as potentially bricking your phone or exposing it to security vulnerabilities.
But what if we told you there’s a way to liberate your Android from ads without the need for root access? Enter the “Private DNS” feature of Android, introduced by Google in Android Pie. This feature allows users to effortlessly change or connect to different Domain Name System (DNS) servers, thereby enabling an ad-free experience. It’s a one-stop solution for setting a specific DNS server for both Wi-Fi and mobile networks simultaneously.
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Introducing Adguard DNS
Adguard DNS, as described on their official website, is a foolproof method for blocking internet ads without the need to install additional applications. The best part? It’s free and compatible with virtually every device. AdGuard DNS provides a rootless, system-wide ad-blocking solution for Android devices, eliminating the need for rooting or tinkering with Chrome flags to disable ads.
In this article, we will guide you through a working method to block ads on your Android device using the Private DNS feature.
READ ALSO: 5 Best AD Blocker Apps for Android
Steps to Block Ads on Android Using Private DNS
Before we proceed, ensure your Android device is running Android 9 Pie or a more recent version. If you’re on Android Pie, follow these simple steps:
- Open your Android app drawer and tap on “Settings.” Under the Settings tab, select “Connections” or “Network & Internet.”
- Within the Connections setting, click on “More connection settings.”
- Under the more connection settings, locate and click “Private DNS.”
- Tap on the “Private DNS provider hostname” option, and in the hostname field, enter “dns.adguard.com.” Then, click “Save.”
- Save the settings and open the Google Chrome browser.
- In the URL bar, enter “chrome://flags” and press Enter.
- Search for ‘DNS‘ and disable the ‘Alpn DNS‘ option.
- Next, enter “chrome://net-internals” in the URL bar and hit enter.
- In the resulting page, select the DNS tab and tap on the ‘Clear Cache’ option.
That’s it! You’re done. Simply restart your Chrome browser to apply the changes.
Choosing the Best DNS for Ad Blocking on Android
While Adguard DNS is an excellent choice for ad blocking, there are other DNS providers for enhancing privacy and security on your Android device. Here are some notable alternatives:
- LibreDNS: This public DNS provider not only blocks ads but also bypasses certain restrictions, providing enhanced security during your browsing experience. To set it up for ad blocking, use ‘noads.libredns.gr’ in the “Configure Private DNS” field.
- Control D: Another reputable public DNS provider, Control D, claims to stop ads, malware, and trackers from accessing your device. You can use ‘p2.freedns.controld.com’ in the Private DNS configuration if your primary goal is ad blocking.
- NextDNS: NextDNS is a comprehensive security-focused DNS provider that can protect your device from various online threats. It blocks malicious websites, ads, trackers, and more. To utilize NextDNS, you’ll need to create an account and configure your settings. Afterward, download the NextDNS app and set it up to enable the DNS server.
These DNS providers offer effective ad blocking solutions for Android, enhancing your browsing experience by removing ads from web pages, apps, and games.
Conclusion
While Adguard DNS won’t eliminate every single ad, it will tackle the most intrusive and irritating ones. The method outlined in this article is a valuable tool to enhance your online experience and minimize disruptions.