If you're tired of ads interrupting every video, game, or website you open on your mobile, you'll be interested to know that You can block most advertising simply by changing your DNS.Without installing any unusual apps, without rooting your phone, and without breaking anything on your device. It's a quick adjustment that anyone can make and that makes a huge difference to your daily experience.
In the following lines you will see, step by step, How to change your DNS to block ads without apps on Android, in your browser, on your router, and even on your computerIn addition, you'll learn about other popular methods (blocking apps, Pi-hole, airplane mode, etc.), all the ad-blocking DNS services worth using, and why this technique barely uses any battery and improves your privacy.
What options are there for blocking ads on mobile?
Blocking ads on your mobile phone can be done in several different ways.And not all of them are equally simple or efficient. Before diving into the DNS change, it's a good idea to review the options so you know what you're choosing and why.
There are three main approaches: VPN-based blocking applications, Pi-hole-type personal blockers, and DNS filtering That's what we're going to work on in detail. Each one has its advantages, disadvantages, and target audience.
Ad-blocking apps Services like AdGuard, Blokada, AdAway, and RethinkDNS typically use a local VPN profile on the device to filter all traffic. The result is usually very good, but in return They consume more battery and require a background app always on.
Then there are the more advanced solutions, such as Build your own blocker on a Raspberry Pi using Pi-holeThis system filters advertising across your entire home network, but it requires some investment, setup time, and a certain level of technical knowledge to get everything working perfectly.
For most users, the easiest thing to do is simply change the DNS. Choose one that's already set up to block ads, trackers, and even adult content, if you're interested. You don't need to install anything, you won't lose performance, and it's a method that can be used on your phone, router, or PC.
How DNS ad blocking works
To understand why banners disappear when changing DNS, it's important to understand that Online advertising is served from specific domains, just like any other websiteThat banner you see in an app or browser isn't "stuck" there; it's downloaded from external ad servers.
When an app or website wants to display advertising, They send requests to ad servers and trackers (with their own domains) to download the creatives, tracking scripts, and everything else needed to display the ad. Without that connection, the ad simply won't load.
This is where DNS comes into play, which is the system that translates domain names like www.google.es into numerical IP addressesEvery time your mobile phone tries to access a domain, it first queries a DNS server for the destination IP address. If the DNS server doesn't respond or returns a special result, the connection is not completed.
DNS providers with ad filtering They maintain lists of domains associated with ads and trackersWhen your device tries to resolve one of those domains, the DNS server blocks it: it may not respond, return a null IP address, or redirect you to a blocking destination.
The practical effect is that The advertising resources are not downloaded and the ads stop appearingThis applies to both websites and many applications that rely on standard ad networks. It's not as granular a blocker as a browser extension, but it's very clean and works system-wide.
Change your DNS settings on Android to block ads without installing apps.
Since Android 9 (Pie), most phones include the option to Configure a private DNS directly in the system settingsThis is the cleanest way to block ads across your entire device without installing anything extra and without resorting to VPNs.
The mechanism is very simple: You specify a hostname from a DNS provider with filtering. Android sends all DNS requests to that server using DNS over TLS (encryption). If your provider blocks advertising domains, your phone will stop resolving them.
The general steps to set up a private DNS on Android are these (the exact names may vary slightly depending on the customization layer):
- Open the system settings and go to the network or connections section.
- Accede to Network and Internet, Connections or similar, depending on your brand.
- Look for the option called Private DNS or, if it doesn't appear, something like More connection settings.
- In the drop-down menu, select Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter the address of the ad-blocking DNS server you want to use and save the changes.
With this, your device will begin to Use that filtering DNS for all system trafficThis includes web browsing and many of the requests made by background applications.
Recommended DNS servers for blocking ads
In the world of ad-blocking DNS services, there are quite a few options, but Not all of them offer the same stability, geographical proximity, or level of filtering.We will review the most used and reliable services, including both configurable and pre-set ones.
Among the most popular providers are AdGuard, ControlD, DNS0.eu, DNS4EU, NextDNS, Mullvad and RethinkDNSSome have free versions with predefined rules, others allow an advanced panel with full customization and real-time statistics.
AdGuard DNS It is one of the leading platforms. It offers two approaches: an account option with a user panel (with approximately 300.000 free monthly resolutions and more if you pay) and a pre-configured public version with different levels: standard, unfiltered, and family protection.
In its pre-configured mode, AdGuard offers:
- Default serversThey block ads and trackers.
- Non-filtering serversThey act as normal DNS servers, without ad blocking or tracking.
- Family protection serversIn addition to ads and trackers, they block adult content and force SafeSearch and Safe Mode when the service allows it.
Another interesting option is ControlDCreated by the team behind Windscribe VPN. It also offers a service layer with a payment control panel y predefined free profiles with different levels of blocking for ads, malware, and trackers.
For those concerned about data sovereignty in Europe, DNS0.eu (from the creators of NextDNS) is a public DNS focused on EU users. In its Kids profile, It includes ad blocking combined with restrictions on social media and adult content., ideal for children's devices or shared use.
DNS4EU, co-financed by the European Union and maintained by a consortium of companies from the continent, is a fully European anycast DNS service with different levels of filteringIts objective is to provide a sovereign alternative to major non-European players, with good performance and protection against malware.
If you prefer something very granular, NextDNS It offers one of the most advanced control panels on the market. The paid version includes 300.000 free monthly requests for a trial. You can activate specific blocklists, filter trackers from Amazon, Apple, Google, and many others.and see in real time which domains are being allowed or blocked on each device.
In the realm of pure privacy, Mullvad DNS It is a free service associated with Mullvad VPN, with European servers, various filtering profiles (malware, parental control, advertising) and a strong commitment to privacy. They only provide resolution via DoH and DoT, without "classic" IPs, and do not use ECS (EDNS Client Subnet), so geolocations to CDNs are based on the DNS server location.
Lastly, RethinkDNS It is part of the Mozilla Builders program and focuses exclusively on offering Secure DoH/DoT servers with multiple customizable filter listsThey do not offer traditional IP pairs, but rather encrypted access points designed to integrate with apps or systems that support encrypted DNS.
Configure DNS with ad blocking on Android step by step
One of the simplest ways to apply all of the above is Use AdGuard's DNS directly from Android settingsThis service offers free public profiles that block ads and trackers very effectively.
To use it as a private DNS on Android, the steps would be:
- Access the Settings Of the device.
- Sign in Connections o Network and Internetdepending on your mobile phone model.
- Tap on Private DNS (or in More connection settings (if the option is not immediately visible).
- Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter the host of the DNS server with ad blocking. For example, one of the AdGuard hosts for general or family filtering.
With this setting, your phone It will filter out a large portion of the advertising on both websites and apps. that rely on well-known advertising domains. Furthermore, since it's DNS over TLS, the requests are encrypted, preventing your internet service provider from easily monitoring the websites you visit.
A very powerful alternative is NextDNSwhere you can create an account, define exactly which blocklists to activate, and then use the "DNS over TLS/QUIC" link they provide to enter it in the field of Private DNS hostname on Android. Thus, You can fully customize what gets blocked and what doesn't., including trackers from large platforms.
The only limitation of NextDNS in its free version is that It allows up to 300.000 monthly queries.which in practice are usually sufficient for a single device, but may fall short if you connect many devices to the same account.
Configure a DNS with ad blocking only in the browser
If you prefer limit ad blocking to web browsing And leaving the applications as they are, you can configure a secure DNS directly in the browser, without touching the device's global settings.
In the specific case of Google Chrome for Android and desktop, the process for using a DNS with ad filtering would be something like this:
- Opens Chrome and enter the settings menu.
- Go to the section Privacy & Security.
- Locate the option Use secure DNS.
- Check the Secure DNS box and choose Choose another provider.
- Enter the URL of the DNS server with ad filtering in HTTPS (DoH) format.
In this case, it is fundamental Write the address in the correct format for DNS over HTTPS, in the style of:
- https://servidor-dns-ejemplo.com/dns-query
If you use an AdGuard profile with ad blocking, you'll need to enter the corresponding DoH URL, and the same applies if you choose other providers like ControlD, DNS0.eu, or Mullvad. Each service documents its DoH and DoT URLs; simply copy them exactly.
There are two important details about this scenario:
- The browser's DNS takes precedence over the system's DNS.If you've set up a DNS on Android that blocks ads and adult content, but in Chrome you configure one that only removes ads, parental filtering may not apply from Chrome because the browser uses its own DNS.
- You can combine different DNS depending on the app.Nothing prevents you from using a DNS with strong system-level blocking and a more lenient one within the browser, or vice versa. This allows you to tailor the filtering level to your actual needs.
Configure ad-blocking DNS on your router, PC, and other devices
Besides the mobile phone, All filtered DNS services can be configured on routers, computers, and other equipment.The classic way is to enter a pair of IP addresses from the DNS servers, and the modern way is to use DoH or DoT when the system supports it.
If you choose to set the DNS on the router, the idea is that You configure the IPs of the ad-blocking DNS servers in the administration panel. from your network equipment, so that they are distributed via DHCP to all connected devices.
The advantages of this approach are clear: a single point of configuration, protection for all devices on the network, and zero extra battery consumption on mobiles and tabletsThe blocking is applied to all devices using the home network without each user having to do anything.
You can also set the pair of IPs directly on the device's network connection (Windows, macOS, Linux, console, smart TV, etc.). It's the tried and true method: you edit the interface properties (WiFi or wired) and replace the automatic DNS with those of the ad-blocking provider.
In the realm of encrypted DNS, Many systems already support DoH or DoT as standardFor example, Windows 11 includes the option to configure DNS over HTTPS directly in the network settings, combining Classic IPs as a backup and DoH as the primary method for more privacy.
In earlier versions, such as Windows 10, native support for DoH/DoT is not as polished, but it can be done. Add this functionality using tools like YogaDNS, which act as intermediaries and send the requests to a DoH or DoT server of your choice.
In Linux environments (Ubuntu, Debian and derivatives), the traditional way to define DNS servers involves edit the /etc/resolv.conf file using a text editor from the terminal and restart the network with commands like /etc/init.d/networking restartDepending on the distribution, NetworkManager or other network managers may also come into play.
Advantages and limitations of DNS blocking compared to other solutions
One of the main reasons many people choose this technique is that There's no need to install additional software or keep an app running in the backgroundOn mobile devices, this translates to lower battery consumption compared to VPN-based blocking apps.
Another powerful advantage is that DNS blocking can be extended to the entire network by configuring it on the router.This way, your cheap mobile phone, tablet, laptop, TV, and virtually any connected device receive the same protection against ads, trackers, and malware, without you having to touch each one individually.
It is worth clarifying, however, that DNS blocking is not as precise as that of a browser extension or a specialized app.Extensions like uBlock Origin can remove gaps, reorder page elements, or stop specific scripts, while DNS simply cuts off access to entire domains.
In terms of performance, the differences of a few milliseconds in resolution time They are practically irrelevant, mainly thanks to server and operating system level caches.What really becomes noticeable are the outages or drops in the DNS service, which is why it's important to choose stable providers with good infrastructure.
The issue of geolocation must also be considered: Services like AdGuard implement ECS to improve routing to CDNsSo, even though they don't have servers in Spain, resolutions to content services remain well optimized. Others, like Mullvad, forgo ECS for privacy reasons, which can mean that some CDNs place you at the point of presence closest to the DNS server and not your actual location.
Statistics, privacy, and advanced blocking control
In addition to the blocking itself, some providers offer control panels with detailed statistics of DNS requestsThis is especially useful if you want to see which domains your devices are querying, what's being blocked, and adjust the rules on the fly.
In services like NextDNS or the account version of AdGuard, You can see in real time from which country, device or date the requests are made, filter by domain types and decide whether to unblock something that is being cut off by mistake.
This type of tool allows you identify particularly "talkative" applicationsDiscover hidden trackers in seemingly innocent services and refine your block list or exceptions to find the balance between convenience and privacy.
In combination with profiles such as those from ControlD, DNS0.eu Kids or Mullvad's parental filters, You can build a fairly robust control system for minors, with simultaneous blocking of advertising, malware, social networks and adult content, adapted to each device or user.
With all this arsenal at your disposal, changing the DNS becomes A very powerful tool to improve user experience, security, and privacy, without complicating your life too much or filling your phone with additional applications that consume resources.
Knowing the different methods for blocking ads, the most reliable DNS services, the configuration options on Android, browsers, routers, and computers, and understanding how domain-level filtering works, it's easy to see that Choosing a good DNS with ad blocking is one of the most balanced ways to browse and use your apps with fewer interruptions, better privacy, and minimal maintenance effort..