Many websites and applications are provide free service, free content and free software because someone else is paying them to keep them up. Thus, the service provider has to serve ads to you in return for the income that is keeping them in business, and in development for updates of the apps and so on. As the user, you reap the benefit of using the product for free. Someone summarized Ads as a Necessary Evil.
Sometimes the ad placements can be really annoying, contributing to not-so-appealing user experience. So, in today's post we will look at how to block ads from showing up on #Android devices. You can block ads from appearing in apps and games and also on browsers.
These methods may work for both rooted and non-rooted devices. The methods will be specified for each type of android device (rooted and non-rooted). Before we begin, you need a
File Manager, e.g.
ES file Explorer,
Astro File Manager or any other file manager.
Disclaimer: Ad-blocking is solely at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for any effects on your device resulting from these methods. This tutorial is for those who really find ads annoying. So, if you are in this category, lets rock!!!
1. Adblock Plus (ABP)
This method uses ad-blockers (apps) to block all ads in your device, including the ads shown in installed apps and games. There are many ad-blockers for Android, thanks to the ever-growing Android developers but we are gonna rely on Adblock Plus. The top two would be Adblock Plus (ABP) and AdAway;
How to Use Adblock Plus
We’re using Adblock Plus: an open source project that has the option to allow non-intrusive ads. This method works for both rooted and non-rooted devices. Installing an ad-blocker app requires your device to allow applications from unknown sources.
Sideloading is required to continue. Google removed ad-block apps from #GooglePlayStore and that means you need to sideload any ad-blocker, i.e. install ad-blockers using its .APK file and not from downloading it from Google Play Store.
Follow the steps below to set this configuration: Go to
Settings >>
Applications (or
Security on 4.0 and above) on your Android device.
Navigate to the >>
Unknown Sources option.
If unchecked, tap the
Checkbox, and then tap >>
OK on the
Confirmation Pop-up.
Good!! Your Android device is now ready to install ad-blockers.
Installing And Configuring Adblock Plus
Step 1. Open a browser in your device and download Adblock Plus for Android. Your device will receive the APK file:
adblockplusandroid-version.apk. You can get from this link:
Adblock Plus Step 2. Navigate to where your downloaded files are kept (or if saved from your PC to your SD Card, you will find it in your SD Card using the File Explorer), then tap on the
file and install. (If you open the APK file using a file manager, select
Open App Manager and then click on
Install.)
Step 3. For #rooteddevices: after installing, open Adblock Plus. It will request for super user permissions. Allow super user permissions to Adblock Plus and you are good to go.
Step 3. For #non-rooteddevices: you need a few more steps, to manually set up proxy in your Android. You will need to follow the instructions here as instructions are different for Android versions up to 3.1 and 4.0+.s
Now Adblock Plus will start blocking ads. You can
set more options in Adblock Plus like ads filter lists, non-intrusive ads, etc in
Settings.
Adblock Plus – Browser Extension
Adblock Plus is also available as a browser extension for Firefox. With this method, only the ads shown on web pages inside the browser are blocked. Ads in apps or games are not affected. This method works for both rooted and non-rooted devices.
Setting Up Adblock Plus (Extension)
1. First you need to get
Firefox App. If dont have Firefox as a browser on your Android yet,
get it here. Run the browser on your device and go to the Adblock Plus add-on here. Add it to Firefox and
Install it.
2. Restart Firefox and browse ad-free. You can set more options in Adblock Plus by going to the
Menu > Adblock Plus and going through the options you can configure.
2. Block Ads using ‘hosts’ file
This method uses ‘hosts’ file to block ads. This method blocks all ads in your device, including the ones shown in various apps and games but works only for rooted devices.