To remove ads from your Samsung phone, you need to turn off Samsung's own ad personalization service and install an ad blocker in the Samsung Internet browser. These two official methods, documented by Samsung, address the two main sources of ads: Samsung's customization service and websites you visit in the browser.
Why you see ads on your Samsung phone
Ads on your Samsung phone come from two primary sources. First, Samsung's own customization service uses your data to show personalized ads and direct marketing across the device. Second, websites you visit in the Samsung Internet browser display their own ads. Samsung documents two official ways to reduce these ads: turning off the personalization service in your Samsung Account settings and using the built-in Ad blockers menu in Samsung Internet to install third-party blockers.
Turn off Samsung's ad personalization service
Disabling Samsung's ad personalization stops the company from using your data for customized ads and direct marketing. The exact menu path varies by region and device interface, but the control is available on all Galaxy phones.
- Open Settings on your Samsung phone.
- Go to your Samsung Account settings. Path: Settings > Accounts and backup > Accounts > Samsung account > Personalization > Marketing information, then toggle off Receive marketing information.
- Tap Privacy.
- Tap Customisation Service (on UK models, the path is Settings > Samsung Account > Privacy > customisation service).
- Follow the link to Privacy Settings and turn off the service.
- On Australian models, go to Settings > Privacy > Customisation Service and turn off both Customise this phone and Customised ads and direct marketing.
- Return to Privacy settings > Ads and turn on Opt out of Ads Personalisation.
This toggle is labeled Customized ads and direct marketing on many Galaxy devices. Turning it off stops Samsung from serving personalized ads based on your activity, but it may not remove all ads from third-party apps or websites.
Install an ad blocker in Samsung Internet
Samsung Internet has a built-in menu that lets you install third-party ad blockers. This only blocks ads inside the browser, not system-wide, but it makes browsing much cleaner.
- Open Samsung Internet on your phone.
- Tap the Menu or Tools icon (usually three lines or three dots).
- Tap Extensions to find AdBlock Plus.
- Tap Ad blockers.
- You will see a list of available ad blockers. Tap the Install icon next to the one you want.
- After installation, the blocker is automatically turned on and appears in the Installed list.
- To turn a blocker on or off, tap the switch next to it.
Samsung Internet ad blockers work on every Android device with Samsung Internet for Android 4.0 and later, but only Samsung Galaxy devices can browse and download the pre-registered ad-blocking apps in Galaxy Store. The list includes multiple third-party blockers, not just AdBlock Plus. Package Disabler Pro can disable specific packages or system apps responsible for displaying ads without rooting. Installing a custom ROM with no ads requires wiping data/factory reset in recovery mode first.
Block pop-ups in Samsung Internet
Pop-up ads can be especially intrusive. Samsung Internet includes a setting to block them, though the menu wording varies by region.
- Open Samsung Internet.
- Tap Menu and then Settings.
- On US models, go to Privacy dashboard and turn on Block pop-ups.
- On Australian models, go to Sites and download and turn on Block pop-ups.
This setting prevents most pop-up ads from appearing while you browse, freeing up phone storage space by reducing the number of unwanted files and cached ads that accumulate over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Samsung have ads in its own services?
Yes. Samsung's support pages confirm a personalization and customization service tied to customized ads and direct marketing in Samsung Account or Privacy settings. This is the service you turn off using the steps above.
Can Samsung Internet block ads system-wide?
No. Samsung's support pages only document ad blockers inside Samsung Internet, not across the whole phone. To block ads in other apps, you would need separate solutions that are not officially supported by Samsung.
Are the exact menus the same on every Samsung phone?
No. Samsung's pages vary by region and device interface. You may see paths such as Privacy dashboard, Sites and download, Ad blockers, or Extensions/Add-ons depending on your model and software version.
Why do I still see ads after turning off personalization?
Turning off Samsung's customization service stops personalized ads from Samsung, but it does not block ads from third-party apps, websites, or services you use. You still need to install an ad blocker in Samsung Internet to block browser ads, and some apps may continue to show their own advertisements.
Will removing ads affect the security of my device?
No. Turning off Samsung's ad personalization service and installing official ad blockers from the Galaxy Store do not compromise your device's security. These methods are documented by Samsung and use trusted sources.
Can I remove ads from certain apps without affecting others?
Yes. Samsung Internet ad blockers only affect the browser.
