How to block ads on mobile games: 6 methods for Android and iOS

1. Play offline or use airplane mode on your phone

Often, mobile games use the internet to load ads in real time. In such cases, turning off your mobile data connection (whether cellular or Wi-Fi) can solve the issue. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on whether the game requires internet connection to be playable. In addition, some games may preload ads while you’re connected to the internet and display them even when you’re offline. But if your game doesn’t need online connection and doesn’t preload ads, disconnecting from the internet should be an effective way to block them.

Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data

To block ads by turning off Wi-Fi and mobile data, simply do the following:

1. 1.Find “Wi-Fi” and “Mobile data” in your phone’s settings (or by swiping down from the top right of the screen of your Android or iOS smartphone).
2. 2.Toggle these settings off. If you’re using your on screen menu, simply tapping on the Wi-Fi (ᯤ) and mobile data (⇅) icons will do the trick. 

Use airplane mode

Using airplane mode is another easy way to limit your mobile data usage and block unwanted game ads (provided the game is playable while offline). Here’s how to use airplane mode to enjoy games without ads.

Turn on airplane mode on Android

To turn on airplane mode on your Android device:

1. 1.Navigate to your device’s settings and then tap “Connections.”
2. 2.Find “Airplane mode” and slide the toggle on.

   

You can also turn on the airplane mode by:

1. 1.Swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen on your phone and finding the airplane mode icon.
2. 2.Tapping the icon once.

   

Turn on airplane mode on iPhone and iPad

To turn on airplane mode on your iOS device:

1. 1.Navigate to your device’s settings and find “Airplane mode.”
2. 2.Slide the toggle on.

   

You can also turn on the airplane mode by:

1. 1.Swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen on your phone and finding the airplane mode icon.
2. 2.Tapping the icon once.

   

2. Use a VPN on your phone

Using a VPN on your phone might be an effective solution for blocking ads on mobile games, but only if the VPN app has ad blocking or DNS filtering features. Some VPN providers, such as NordVPN, include these benefits in their offers, saving you time and effort in setting up additional ad blockers. Here’s how a VPN might help you access mobile games without ads.

Use ad blocking features

As mentioned, some VPNs may come with additional ad blocking features. These are technically DNS blockers, which means they can only block ads that aren’t embedded in the game’s code. In addition, VPN providers don’t want to make DNS filters too aggressive (to avoid disrupting legitimate websites or apps), so some ads might occasionally slip through. 

NordVPN users can use the DNS filtering feature to further customize the ad blocker.

How to block ads on mobile games with NordVPN's DNS filtering feature

NordVPN’s Threat Protection (and Threat Protection Pro™ for desktop users) offers users a DNS filtering feature — an option that is generally considered a reliable method of blocking ads in mobile games. However, it’s important to note that it’s impossible to block all ads, as aggressive blocking can interfere with loading standard content or break website functionality. Despite that, using DNS filters while playing mobile games can significantly lower the number of ads for those disgruntled with poorly made pop-ups. 

To enable NordVPN’s DNS filtering feature, tap on your NordVPN app and find the Threat Protection logo in the bottom row (a shield with a lightning sign in it). Tap on it and toggle “Use Threat Protection” on.

You can also add a custom DNS address to further limit the number of ads in your mobile games. To do that, open the NordVPN app and go to settings. Then, pick “DNS” and select “Custom.” Type your preferred DNS server address and tap “Done.” Once finished, restart the app to enable the changes.

3. Use a third-party ad blocker

If you’re not a fan of using a VPN for ad blocking, you can get yourself a third-party ad blocker. However, when choosing the best available option, be sure to pick a tested solution from a reputable provider. Avoid free, unverified ad blockers.

Keep in mind that sometimes even a trusted ad blocker might not block all the ads.

Why don't ad blockers always work?

You could find at least a few reasons why your ad blocker may not be working. The most common causes usually include outdated ad blocker software, cache and cookie issues, and ad block detectors (some websites rely on them heavily). If you notice your ad blocker has started acting funny, make sure to check for updates and clear your browsing cache and cookies. 

4. Use a private DNS on your phone 

Using a private DNS (domain name system) on your device can block ads in your mobile games with varying effectiveness. A DNS acts as an internet phonebook, translating human-readable domain names (nordvpn.com, for example) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. So when an app or a game connects to a server (say, to load an ad in your game), it sends a DNS query to the DNS service for it to translate a domain name into an IP address, which makes the connection possible.

Some private DNS providers have the so-called blocklists, where they store blocked domains. If a domain is in that list, the DNS will automatically block it from loading. These lists may often include known ad domains, meaning the ads might fail to load when playing the game.

However, there’s a small catch. Some mobile games serve ads from the same domains as their game content or use direct IP connections, bypassing DNS entirely. This means DNS blocking won’t affect these ads. DNS blocking also doesn’t work on ads that are embedded into the game’s code. On the other hand, DNS blocking may sometimes work so well that it can disrupt the functionality of the game (for example, crashing the daily reward system).

Still, even if not a superior solution, private DNS can potentially reduce the number of ads, making your gaming experience more enjoyable.

Set up private DNS on Android

To set up a private DNS on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. 1.Open your device’s settings and navigate to “Connections.” Then, choose “More connection settings.”

   

2. 2.Select “Private DNS.”

   

3. 3.Choose “Private DNS provider hostname.”

   

4. 4.Enter your DNS provider addresses.
5. 5.Tap “Save.”

Set up private DNS on iPhone and iPad

To set up a private DNS on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

1. 1.Open your Wi-Fi settings and tap on “i” next to your Wi-fi network.

   

2. 2.Tap “Configure DNS.”

   

3. 3.Choose “Manual” and then tap “Add server.”

   

4. 4. Enter your preferred DNS address and then tap “Save.”

   

5. Purchase an ad-free version or a subscription for a particular game

While the least attractive, purchasing the ad-free version of the game might be the best option to get rid of in-game ads. Once you pay for an ad-free version (or purchase a subscription), you’ll be able to enjoy the game without any ads, embedded or not. Keep in mind, though, that not all games have ad-free versions!

6. Report offensive ads on particular mobile games

Finally, you can try and report ads to potentially limit the number of them in the mobile game. However, this is a very niche method which only works for particular ads that could be deemed offensive (for example, ads that feature gambling or explicit content) — and only in countries where such ads are illegal. 

In addition, not all games may include a “Report an ad” (or an “i” icon, or three dots in the corner of an ad) option, so you might have to contact the authorities (such as FCC or FTC in the US, Ad Standards in Australia, or ASA in the UK) to notify them about potential violations of the country’s advertising policies and laws. 

Why do mobile games have so many ads?

The reason why video games have so many ads usually has to do with the developer’s choice. Since the mobile game industry is huge and highly competitive, small studios and developers have to monetize their games, whether by putting a price tag on them or enabling in-game ads, in order to cover development, marketing, and operational expenses. 

That’s why paying for the game you like (if the game has a paid tier) may sometimes prove a better tactic than suffering a ton of ads. Choosing an ad-free version of the game is the best way to support the developer and get rid of any in-game ads. You can also try to block the ads using methods described above, but remember that they might not be 100% effective.

Here’s a quick comparison of all six ad blocking methods that we’ve covered:

Some of the disadvantages of blocking ads in mobile games

Blocking ads in mobile games can also come with its own disadvantages. For one, using tools such as an ad blocker may also cause games to freeze, crash unexpectedly, or fail to load certain features like leaderboards or daily rewards. 

Similarly, using airplane mode as an ad-blocking method completely disables all network connectivity, making it impossible to access online features, receive messages, make calls, or use any internet-dependent functions while gaming.

Private DNS servers, another popular ad-blocking solution, can introduce their own complications, including potential latency issues and configuration challenges for non-technical users. These methods may also cause unexpected bugs or crashes in games that weren't designed to function without their ad components, ultimately creating a more frustrating experience than the ads themselves.

Finally, while using a VPN may be a good option for your mobile safety in general, its capabilities for blocking ads in games are also limited and may cause some gameplay issues. Turning off the ad blocker and paying for the ad-free version of the game might be the best option to block all those annoying ads.

That said, if you’re dedicated to searching for ways on how to block ads on different devices, consider checking out our other blog posts.