How to get rid of ads on cellphones (HP)
According to Android Police, Google Chrome has a built-in ad blocker feature to disable annoying or misleading ads. Here are the steps to enable it on an Android phone:
- Open Google Chrome on your device.
- Tap on the three dot menu in the top right corner and select “Settings”.
- Scroll down and select “Site settings”.
- Select “Pop-ups and redirects” and activate the toggle located on the right.
- Return to the “Site settings” menu and select “Ads”.
- Turn on Ads switch.
However, if you want to remove ads while browsing the web, it is recommended to use a third-party web browser on Android, as Chrome does not support ad blocker extensions on mobile devices.
Check Google Chrome site notifications
Advertising notifications from the Google Chrome site are often annoying because they usually send a lot of ad spam. Here’s how to turn off notifications for unnecessary websites:
- Long press the Google Chrome app icon and select the “App info” button.
- Select the “Notifications” menu.
- Scroll down and select the “All Sites” option.
- Check the list of allowed sites and the number of notifications each site sends in a week.
- Disable notification permission for unknown websites from the list.
- By following the steps above, users can reduce ad interruptions from Google Chrome site notifications on their devices.
Block ads on the main screen
Ads that appear on the Android device’s home screen are more intrusive than ads in a web browser or notification center. These full banner ads appear in any app on an Android phone or tablet. The Android system allows app developers to request “Show over other apps” permission to work normally. However, some apps try to trick users into granting those permissions and continuously show ads on the main screen. If the user receives such an advertisement, find the name of the application that sent it on the home screen and follow these steps to disable the permission:
- Long-tap on the app icon and select the “App info” option.
- Scroll down and select the “Show over other apps” option.
- Disable the “Allow display over other apps” switch.
- If the user doesn’t need the app, it’s best to uninstall it from the same “App info” menu.
- By following the steps above, users can get rid of the ads that appear on the main screen of their Android device.
Disable wallpaper notifications on the lock screen
Ads don’t only appear on the main screen of Android devices, but can also appear up to the lock screen. To disable lock screen notifications on your Android tablet or phone, follow these steps:
- Swipe up from the home screen to open the app drawer menu.
- Select “Settings”.
- Scroll down and select “Apps and Notifications”.
- Go to “Notifications”.
- Scroll down and tap on “Notifications on lock screen”.
- Select the “Don’t show notifications” option.
App developers rely on ads to support their app development. Some developers offer a one-time purchase, while others provide a monthly or yearly subscription to remove ads and unlock new features. For example, users can buy a premium subscription to get rid of non-skippable ads on streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
Be careful with application installation
It is best to avoid using an Android phone or tablet to install unnecessary apps, third-party app launchers, or apps with a one-star or two-star rating. Android phones also don’t need an antivirus app. Before installing any app, it is important to read app reviews first. If a lot of people are complaining about the amount of ads, it’s best to avoid the app or find a better alternative. Google offers Google Play Protect to prevent malicious apps from appearing on the Play Store. However, the company has no control over the ads that appear in other apps. Users can also root their Android phones and install a system-wide ad blocker to block ads. However, one has to be careful while rooting the phone. Errors during the process can cause data loss on the device and void the manufacturer’s warranty. According to research from the University of Southern California reported by the Android Authority, ads can increase data usage by up to 79%. In addition, ads can use up to 16% more battery power and 22% more memory. Ads may also contain trackers that can analyze browsing behavior and collect personal data without the knowledge of the phone owner. This data can then be sold to third party companies for profit. With this concern in mind, it is important to implement a way to remove ads on cellphones so that users can use their Android devices more comfortably.