Are you tired of seeing annoying ads on your Android apps? Do you want to enjoy your favorite games, videos, and social media without being interrupted by unwanted pop-ups and banners? If you answered yes, then this blog post is for you.
In this post, I will show you two of the safest and most effective methods to block ads on Android apps. These methods do not require root access, and they work on most Android devices. By using these methods, you will be able to save your battery, data, and privacy from intrusive ads.
Table of Contents
Method One: personalDNSfilter
The first method I recommend is using personalDNSfilter, a DNS filter app for Android. This app hooks into the domain name (DNS) resolution and blocks access to filtered hosts. It can be used for filtering any unwanted hosts that are related to malware, phishing, tracking, and more based on a host list.
personalDNSfilter is a free and open-source app that you can download from the Google Play Store. It also supports encrypted DNS servers via DoH (DNS over HTTPS) and DoT (DNS over TLS). Filtering is completely local, so no data is sent to anyone.
To use personalDNSfilter, you need to follow these steps:
- Install the app from the Google Play Store and grant it the necessary permissions.
- Open the app and VPN service will automatically activate. You will see a key icon on your status bar indicating that the VPN is running.
- Optionally, you can customize the settings of the app, such as choosing the DNS server, the filter list, the whitelist, and the blacklist. You can also view the live log of the app to see which domains are being blocked or allowed.
- Enjoy your ad-free Android apps!
The advantage of using personalDNSfilter is that it is simple, lightweight, and efficient. It does not consume much battery or data, and it can block ads on most apps and browsers. It also protects you from malicious and tracking domains.
The disadvantage of using personalDNSfilter is that it may not block all ads, especially those that are embedded in the app or use the same domain as the app. It may also cause some apps or websites to malfunction or not load properly. In that case, you can try to whitelist the app or website in the settings of personalDNSfilter.
Method Two: AdAway
The second method I suggest is using AdAway, an ad blocker app for Android. This app uses a modified hosts file to redirect requests to ad servers to your local device. It can be used for blocking ads and other unwanted hosts on your Android device.
AdAway is also a free and open-source app that you can download from GitHub. It doesn’t require access and It also allows you to choose your own sources of hosts files, and to add your own entries to the hosts file.
To use AdAway, you need to follow these steps:
- Install the app from GitHub.
- Open the app and tap on “VPN based ad blocking”. Then simply tap on next three times. The app will download the hosts files from the sources and apply them to your device. You Can see the VPN icon in the status bar when app is started.
- Optionally, you can customize the settings of the app, such as adding or removing sources, whitelisting or blacklisting hosts, and scanning for adware. You can also check the log of the app to see which hosts are being blocked or allowed.
- Enjoy your ad-free Android apps!
The advantage of using AdAway is that it is powerful, flexible, and reliable. It can block ads on almost all apps and browsers, and it can also prevent adware and malware from infecting your device. It also gives you full control over the hosts file and the sources of hosts files.
The disadvantage of using AdAway is that It may also block some legitimate hosts or domains that are not related to ads. In that case, you can try to whitelist the host or domain in the settings of AdAway.
Comparison Table
To help you compare the two methods, here is a table that summarizes their main features, advantages, and disadvantages.
Table
| Method | Root Required | Sources of Hosts Files | Customization | Effectiveness | Battery/Data Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| personalDNSfilter | No | Built-in or user-defined | Yes | High | Low |
| AdAway | No / Optional Yes | Built-in or user-defined | Yes | Very high | Very low |
Conclusion
In this blog post, I have shown you two of the safest and most effective methods to block ads on Android apps. These methods are personalDNSfilter and AdAway, and they both use a hosts file approach to block unwanted hosts on your device.
Both methods have their pros and cons, and you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should also be aware that both methods are not working with YouTube, as YouTube uses a different mechanism to serve ads. If you want to block ads on YouTube, you may need to use a different app or browser.
I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and leave a comment below. I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions. Thank you for reading!
