# Block Ads on Every Device in 5 Minutes with AdGuard DNS
**Author:** Ivan Misic
**Published:** 2026-01-05
**URL:** https://ivanmisic.net/blog/tech/block-ads-every-device-adguard-dns
> A simple DNS change blocks most ads on your phone, TV, and every other device. No apps required, no technical skills needed. The free solution.
Your smart TV is showing you ads. Your phone apps are riddled with them. Even your weather app has figured out how to interrupt your morning with a banner for something you don't need.
Browser extensions help, but they only work in your browser. What about your TV? Your kids' tablets? That smart fridge that somehow needs to show you promotions?
There's a simpler approach that works everywhere, takes about 5 minutes to set up, and costs nothing.
## What DNS Actually Does (30-Second Version)
Every time you open an app or visit a website, your device asks a question: "Where is youtube.com?" or "Where is ads.tracking-company.com?"
A DNS server answers that question with an IP address. The internet's phone book.
By default, your internet provider handles these lookups. They answer every question honestly, including the ones asking for ad servers and tracking services.
But what if the phone book just... didn't have those numbers?
That's DNS filtering. When your device asks "Where is annoying-ad-server.com?", the DNS server just plays dumb: "Never heard of 'em. No idea what you're talking about. Are you sure that's a real website?" 🤷
The ad can't load because your device literally never finds out where to get it. Ignorance is bliss.
## What This Actually Blocks
DNS filtering catches a surprising amount of garbage:
- **Banner ads** in apps and websites
- **Tracking pixels** that follow you around the web
- **Smart TV telemetry** (your TV reports what you watch, more than you'd think)
- **Mobile app trackers** running in the background
- **Malware domains** trying to phone home
- **Phishing sites** on known blocklists
### What It Won't Block
Let's be honest about the limitations:
- **YouTube ads** - they come from the same servers as the videos
- **In-stream social media ads** (TikTok, Instagram) - same deal
- **Streaming service ads** on ad-supported plans (Netflix, Hulu)
> DNS filtering is like a bouncer who kicks out 70-90% of the trash before it reaches your devices. Not perfect, but a massive improvement over nothing.
## The 5-Minute Setup (AdGuard DNS)
AdGuard offers free public DNS servers that already have ad-blocking built in. No account needed, no app required, just change a setting on your device.
> **Recommended:** For the most up-to-date setup instructions, use [AdGuard's official setup guide](https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html) and select **"Option 2: Configure AdGuard DNS manually"**. It covers every device type with screenshots.
### Quick Setup: Android (Easiest)
This is the simplest method and takes 30 seconds:
1. Open **Settings**
2. Search for **"Private DNS"** (or go to Network & Internet > Private DNS)
3. Select **Private DNS provider hostname**
4. Enter: `dns.adguard-dns.com`
5. Save
Done. Your Android device now blocks ads system-wide using encrypted DNS.
### Quick Setup: iPhone/iPad
1. Open **Settings** > **Wi-Fi**
2. Tap the **(i)** next to your network
3. Scroll to **Configure DNS** > **Manual**
4. Delete existing servers, add:
- `94.140.14.14`
- `94.140.15.15`
5. Save
### Quick Setup: Your Router (Covers Everything)
This is the power move. Change DNS on your router and every device on your network gets protection automatically, including:
- Smart TVs
- Game consoles
- Smart speakers
- IoT devices
- Guest devices
Every router is different, but the general steps:
1. Log into your router (usually `192.168.1.1` or `192.168.0.1`)
2. Find DNS settings (often under WAN, Internet, or DHCP settings)
3. Change DNS servers to:
- Primary: `94.140.14.14`
- Secondary: `94.140.15.15`
4. Save and restart the router
After changing router DNS, devices will pick up the new settings within a few hours (or immediately if you reconnect to Wi-Fi).
## Other Free DNS Options
AdGuard isn't the only option. Here are alternatives with similar ad-blocking:
| Provider | DNS Addresses | Notes |
|----------|---------------|-------|
| AdGuard DNS | `94.140.14.14`, `94.140.15.15` | Good balance of blocking |
| Quad9 | `9.9.9.9`, `149.112.112.112` | Security-focused, less ad blocking |
| Cloudflare (no filtering) | `1.1.1.1`, `1.0.0.1` | Fast, but no ad blocking |
| NextDNS | Custom | Free tier with more control |
I'd start with AdGuard DNS. It works well and blocks most of what you'd want blocked.
## Want More Control?
The public DNS works great for most people. But there are levels to this:
### Level 1: Public DNS (What You Just Set Up)
No account needed, blocks ads and trackers automatically. Zero customization, but zero maintenance.
### Level 2: AdGuard DNS Free Account
Want visibility and control without running your own server? Register a free account at [adguard-dns.io](https://adguard-dns.io). The Starter tier gives you:
| Feature | Free Tier |
|---------|-----------|
| Monthly requests | 300,000 |
| Devices | 5 |
| Custom servers | 2 |
| Filtering rules | 100 |
You get a dashboard showing blocked queries, basic statistics, and the ability to whitelist or blacklist specific domains. More than enough for one person.
### Level 3: AdGuard Home (Self-Hosted)
For complete control, run your own DNS server at home. Unlimited everything, full query logs, per-device policies. I cover this in [Part 2: AdGuard Home](/blog/tech/adguard-home-network-wide-ad-blocking).
## Why This Actually Matters
Beyond just "fewer annoying ads," this is what you're actually getting:
### Your Phone Works Harder
Every ad that loads is code running, images downloading, trackers pinging servers. CPU cycles, network requests, and battery drain, all for content you never asked for.
With DNS filtering, those requests get blocked before they even start. Users typically see 30-40% of all DNS queries blocked. That's not a typo. A third of everything your phone tries to connect to is advertising or tracking infrastructure.
Less network activity = longer battery life. It's not dramatic, but it adds up.
### Pages Load Faster
No more waiting for slow ad servers to respond before the page finishes loading. The content you actually want appears faster because it's not competing with fifteen different ad networks for bandwidth.
### Cleaner Experience Everywhere
Unlike browser extensions that only work in one app, DNS filtering covers everything: games, weather apps, smart TV interfaces, that sketchy flashlight app your kid installed. If it tries to phone home to a known ad server, it gets blocked.
## Try It For Five Minutes
My challenge to you: pick one device, change the DNS settings using the steps above, and browse normally for a day.
You'll notice fewer ads, pages that load a bit faster (no waiting for ad servers), and that weird feeling of "where did all the garbage go?"
If you don't like it, just change the DNS back. No apps to uninstall, no accounts to delete.
The worst case is five minutes of your time. The best case is a noticeably better experience on every device you own.
## AdGuard DNS vs AdGuard Home: Which One Should You Choose?
If you're wondering whether to stick with the simple DNS setup from this guide or go further with a self-hosted solution, here's the quick breakdown.
| Feature | AdGuard DNS | AdGuard Home |
|-|-|-|
| Setup time | 5 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
| Hardware needed | None | Raspberry Pi or always-on PC |
| Customization | Limited (free tier: 100 rules) | Unlimited filter rules |
| Cost | Free tier available | Free (self-hosted) |
| Network-wide blocking | Yes (via router DNS) | Yes (local DNS server) |
| Custom filter rules | Basic whitelist/blacklist | Full regex, per-device rules |
| Query logging | Basic stats on dashboard | Full query log with search |
| HTTPS filtering | No | Yes (with certificate setup) |
| Per-device policies | No (same rules for all) | Yes (different rules per device) |
| Best for | Quick setup, any skill level | Power users who want full control |
Start with AdGuard DNS. If you find yourself wanting more control after a few weeks, read [the AdGuard Home guide](/blog/tech/adguard-home-network-wide-ad-blocking) for the self-hosted upgrade path.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Does AdGuard DNS slow down my internet?
No. AdGuard's DNS servers are globally distributed and typically respond in under 20ms. Most users see no difference in browsing speed. Pages may actually feel faster because blocked ads and trackers no longer compete for bandwidth. The DNS lookup itself adds no measurable latency compared to your ISP's default servers.
### Is AdGuard DNS completely free?
The public DNS servers (what this guide covers) are 100% free with no account required. AdGuard also offers a free account tier with 300,000 monthly requests, 5 devices, and basic customization. Paid plans exist for families or power users who need more, but most individuals won't hit the free limits.
### Does AdGuard DNS work on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. You can configure it manually by changing DNS settings on your Wi-Fi connection (Settings > Wi-Fi > your network > Configure DNS). For system-wide protection including cellular data, the easiest method is changing DNS on your home router so all connected devices are covered automatically.
### What percentage of ads does DNS filtering actually block?
Typical users see 30-40% of all DNS queries blocked. This covers most banner ads, app trackers, telemetry, and malware domains. It won't block ads served from the same domain as the content (YouTube ads, Instagram sponsored posts, streaming service ads) since those share servers with the videos and posts themselves.
### Can DNS filtering break websites or apps?
Rarely, but it can happen. Some apps depend on tracking domains to function. If something breaks, you can whitelist that specific domain through an AdGuard DNS account (free tier), or temporarily switch back to your default DNS. In practice, most people never encounter issues with the default filter lists.
### Is DNS filtering enough, or do I still need a browser ad blocker?
DNS filtering and browser extensions complement each other. DNS filtering works across all apps and devices but can't block same-domain ads. A browser extension like uBlock Origin catches what DNS misses inside your browser (YouTube ads, inline social ads). Use both for the best coverage.