You can block ads in most offline mobile games for free by turning on airplane mode or cutting the game’s data access, because ads have to download before they can appear. For games that need a connection, an ad-blocking DNS service such as AdGuard DNS filters many ad networks across the whole phone. Each method has a cost, though. Rewarded ads, the ones you choose to watch for coins or a revive, stop working as well.
Here are the four free-or-cheap methods, how to set each one up, and what you give up.
Method 1: Play in airplane mode #
This is the simplest option and works for any game that runs entirely on your phone.
- iPhone: open Control Center and tap the airplane icon.
- Android: swipe down for Quick Settings and tap Airplane mode.
With the connection off, banners and full-screen ads can’t load. Neither can rewarded videos, cloud saves, leaderboards or online events. Some games also refuse to start without a connection, so test a game in airplane mode at home before you count on it.
Capybara Crossing, the game this blog is about, is a good example of how this plays out. The game runs on the device and only the ads need a connection, so in airplane mode you get no banner and no interstitials. You also lose the optional 50-coin videos and the ad-based revive. Online, its ads are paced: no full-screen ad during your first three games of a session, never two within two minutes, and rewarded videos only play when you tap them. There are no in-app purchases, so ads are what pays for it.
Method 2: Turn off data for one game #
If you want the rest of your phone online, you can cut one game off instead.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data), scroll to the app list and switch the game off. This only covers mobile data. On Wi-Fi, the game can still connect.
- Android: open Settings > Apps, pick the game and look for its mobile data or data usage settings. Names vary by brand, and most phones only let you block mobile data per app, not Wi-Fi.
This works best on the go, when you’re on mobile data anyway.
Method 3: Use an ad-blocking Private DNS #
Every time an app loads an ad, it looks up the ad server’s address. An ad-blocking DNS service refuses to answer for known ad and tracking domains, so the ad never loads. It works across every app on the phone, including your browser.
AdGuard DNS is a free, widely used option. AdGuard says its public servers block ads, trackers, malware and adult sites (AdGuard DNS).
On Android:
- Open Settings and find Private DNS. On Pixel phones it’s under Network & internet. On Samsung phones it’s under Connections, in the more connection settings menu.
- Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter
dns.adguard-dns.comand save.
On iPhone and iPad:
- Open the AdGuard DNS page above in Safari and download the configuration profile for the default server.
- Open Settings, tap Profile Downloaded near the top, and install it.
- You can turn it off later from the VPN and device management section of General settings.
Two warnings. First, not every DNS service blocks ads. Quad9, often recommended in these guides, blocks malicious domains like phishing and malware sites, and says it doesn’t filter ads (Quad9 FAQ). Second, DNS blocking isn’t perfect. Some games serve ads from the same servers as their game content, so ads slip through or the game misbehaves.
Method 4: Pay to remove ads when it’s offered #
Many games sell a one-time “remove ads” purchase. If you play a game every day, that’s often the cleanest fix, and it supports the people who made it. If you’re a parent, set purchase approval first so a child can’t buy it (or anything else) by accident. Our guide to in-app purchases without overspending shows how.
What breaks when you block ads? #
| Method | Stops banners and full-screen ads | Rewarded ads | Other online features | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane mode | Yes | Stop working | Off | Seconds |
| Per-app data off | On mobile data only | Stop working on mobile data | Off on mobile data | A minute |
| Ad-blocking DNS | Many, not all | Often fail to load | Usually still work | About five minutes |
| Paid ad removal | Yes, in that game | Depends on the game | Work normally | One purchase |
If you rely on rewarded ads for revives or bonus coins, switch the blocker off before you start a serious run and turn it back on afterwards.
Is it OK to block ads in games? #
It’s your phone, and blocking ads isn’t against the law. Single-player games won’t ban you for it. It’s worth knowing, though, that free games without in-app purchases often depend on ads to exist at all. Plenty of players block ads in games that spam them, and leave them on in games that treat ads fairly.
Blocking ads also cuts data use and a bit of battery drain. For more on that side, see how to stop mobile games from draining your battery.
Frequently asked questions #
Will blocking ads get me banned from a game? #
Not in single-player or offline games, which don’t check. Some online games need a connection to their servers and won’t start without it, and a few may detect blocked ad requests and show errors. Turn the blocker off for those.
Why do I still see ads after setting up DNS blocking? #
The phone may have saved the ad server’s address before you switched, so restart it. Some ads also come from domains that blockers can’t filter without breaking the game itself.
Does blocking ads save battery and data? #
Yes, to a degree. Video ads download data and keep the phone busy. Blocking them, or playing offline, reduces both.
How can I stop ads in my child’s games? #
For games that work offline, airplane mode is the easiest option. Device parental controls mostly manage purchases and screen time rather than ads inside games, so choosing games with fewer, better-paced ads matters too. Our list of offline games for long flights is a good place to find games that play fine without a connection.