The Ultimate Guide to Blocking Ads on Any Smart TV (100% Free!)

Smart TVs are everywhere now, especially since most of what we watch these days is on streaming platforms anyway. I don’t know about you, but I cancelled my cable a long time ago. All of my favourite content is on Apple TV+ and HBO Max. 

Even if your TV doesn’t support apps, there are smart TV boxes and sticks like Google TV, Firestick, Roku, and Apple TV. Now, just because you switched from cable to streaming doesn’t mean there are no ads. However, unlike ads on cable channels, you can actually block smart TV ads. 

Currently, AdGuard is the only way to block ads on smart TVs; you can do that in more than a few ways. 

How does AdGuard block ads on Smart TVs?

AdGuard offers many different products that allow it to cover a wide range of devices. These include browser extensions, apps, DNS, VPN, and more. Now, for Smart TVs, you can block ads in three main ways. 

  1. AdGuard for Android TV

Android is the only one that is an app of all the different smart TV platforms, which makes things super easy. However, keep in mind that you will need a paid subscription for that. (Pro tip: AdGuard’s lifetime plan is totally worth it. Use CHECKADBLOCK30 at checkout.)

Now Ad Blockers are not allowed on Google Play Store, so we will have to sideload it on the Android TV. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do that.

How to set up the AdGuard app on Android TV?

  1. On your Android TV interface, go to Apps.
  2. Select Get More Apps.
  3. Scroll down to the App Categories and select Tools.
  4. In tools, you should find a browser app called TV Bro. 
  5. Select, Install, and Open TV Bro.
  6. In the top address bar, type in  agrd.io/tvapk.
  7. An apk file will start downloading.
  8. Once downloaded, from the top menu, select the download icon.
  9. Select adguard_tv.apk.
  10. If you haven’t already allowed app installs from unknown sources, you’ll have to do that when the prompt shows up. 
  11. Go to settings and enable unknown app permissions for TV Bro.
  12. Then, install the app.

Once installed, you may need to sign into your AdGuard account and enable the ad blocking. 

  1. AdGuard DNS

AdGuard DNS works on any device that has the option to add a private DNS. We have a guide on how to set up AdGuard DNS on most computers and smartphones, and we will cover the TV set up guides later on. 

What you need to know about AdGuard DNS is that is intercepts your network traffic and sends all the ad requests to a black hole. So all you see is a whole lot of nothing. And the best part is that it blocks ads before they can even get to your network. Which makes browsing the web much faster.

  1. AdGuard Home

AdGuard Home has a complicated setup process. But we have a basic guide for that. AdGuard home runs on any Unix-based system like macOS or Linus and connects to your router, to block all ads on a network-level. 

It’s basically a more technical version of AdGuard DNS. The main difference is, here you get to hold the DNS on your own network. So if letting your network go through a cloud-based DNS makes you nervous, this is a great alternative. 

How to Block Ads on Android TV with AdGuard DNS?

The process should be similar or most Android TVs, Google TV, and Nvidia Shield TV.

  1. Open Settings or Device Preferences.
  2. Go to Network & Internet.
  3. Select your Wi-Fi network or wired connection.
  4. Scroll down to IP settings and select Static and Enter:
    1. Your IP address (find this under network details).
    2. Your Gateway (usually your router’s IP).
    3. Network Prefix Length: 24.
    4. DNS 1: 94.140.14.14 (ad blocking) or 94.140.14.15 (family protection).
    5. DNS 2: 94.140.15.15 (ad blocking) or 94.140.15.16 (family protection).
  5. Save the changes.

How to Block Ads on Apple TV with AdGuard DNS?

AdGuard DNS is the only way to block ads on Apple TV, as you cannot even sideload apps there.

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Then go to Network.
  3. Select your Wi-Fi network or wired connection.
  4. Click Configure DNS and choose Manual.
  5. Enter 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15 for ad blocking and 94.140.14.15 or 94.140.15.16 for family protection.
  6. Click Done to save changes.

How to Block Ads on Samsung Smart TV with AdGuard DNS?

Samsung Smart TV has a scarcity of apps. So, AdGuard DNS is a great solution for that. 

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Network.
  3. Select Network Status and then IP Settings.
  4. Click DNS Setting and choose Enter Manually.
  5. Enter one of these DNS addresses:
    1. For ad blocking: 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15
    2. For family protection: 94.140.14.15 or 94.140.15.16
  6. Save the settings and restart your TV.

How to Block Ads on LG Smart TV with AdGuard DNS?

LG’s webOS is one of the best smart TV UIs, in my opinion. And you really don’t want to see it get cluttered with ads. 

  1. Go to Settings > All Settings.
  2. Click Network and select your Wi-Fi network.
  3. Open Advanced Wi-Fi Settings and select Edit.
  4. Uncheck Set Automatically.
  5. Enter one of these DNS addresses:
    1. Ad blocking: 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15
    2. Family protection: 94.140.14.15 or 94.140.15.16
  6. Click Connect to save the changes.

How to Block Ads on Amazon Fire TV and Firestick with AdGuard DNS?

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to My Fire TV > About > Network.
  3. Write down your IP address, Gateway, and Subnet Mask.
  4. Go back to Settings page and select Network.
  5. Select your Wi-Fi network, press the menu button (three-lines) on your remote, and Forget Network.
  6. Select the network again, enter your password, and click Advanced instead of Connect.
  7. Enter Your IP address and Gateway.
    1. Subnet Mask: 24 (if it’s 255.255.255.0) or 32 (if it’s 255.255.255.255).
    2. DNS 1: 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15 (for ad blocking).
    3. DNS 2: 94.140.14.15 or 94.140.15.16 (for family protection).
  8. Save the changes.

How do you stop targeted ads on Android TV?

If you’re fine with ads on your Android TV, but you don’t want it to track you, you may want to disable some “personalisation” settings. Here’s how you do it.

Reset your Adversiting ID

Google uses a unique advertising ID to store data about you and show you ads. All you have to do it reset it and a lot of the targeted ads will stop.

  1. Go to settings from the gear icon on the top right. 
  2. Select device preferences.
  3. Scroll down and select Legal Information.
  4. Choose the Ads option.
  5. Select Reset Advertising ID.

Opt-Out of Ads Personalisation

Now, resetting your Ad ID is just part of it. After you reset it, it will start collecting data from scratch again. To prevent that from happening, you should opt-out of ad personalization.

  1. Go to settings or device preferences on your Android TV.
  2. Select device preferences.
  3. Scroll down and go to Legal information.
  4. Choose ads.
  5. Then, toggle opt out of ads personalisation. 

Disable Location-Based Ads

Based on where you are, your Android TV will show you location-based ads. If you want to stop that, you need to disable location-based ads. Here’s how to do that.

  1. Go to your Android or Google TV’s Device Preferences.
  2. Select Location.
  3. Choose Location Status and turn it Off.

Disable Usage & Diagnostics Data Sharing

While we do not know for sure, if this affects ads or not, this surely helps google collect data from you. So you should disable all forms of telemetry. Here’s how you can do that. 

  1. Go to your TV’s device preferences.
  2. Select Usage & Diagnostics.
  3. Disable to to stop Google from collecting your data.

Wrapping Up

Ads on TV may not be a big problem for you, until you start using the web browser and third-party apps for content streaming. While streaming apps are great, they don’t have everything and once in a while you may want to wander off to some “less than legal” sites (even though we strongly recommend against it). Ad blocker really comes in handy in those situations. 

AdGuard DNS is also a great option if you want to block in-app, in-game ads. There are plenty of those and you don’t want those ruining your TV experience. Especially because skipping them using a remote can be a nightmare at times. 

While AdGuard is the only dedicated ad blocking solution for Android TVs, if you also use VPNs on your TV, you may get a few more options. Surfshark CleanWeb is one of our favorites. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AdGuard DNS block ads on all Smart TVs?

Yes! AdGuard DNS works on Samsung, LG, Android TV (Google TV, Nvidia Shield), Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV by blocking ads at the DNS level.

Does AdGuard DNS slow down internet speed?

No, AdGuard DNS is optimised for speed. In many cases, it can improve page loading times by blocking ad-related requests before they reach your network.

Can I block YouTube ads on Smart TVs with AdGuard DNS?

Not entirely. YouTube ads are served from the same domain as video content, making them hard to block via DNS alone. However, you can try AdGuard for Android TV for better results.

Is AdGuard DNS free to use on Smart TVs?

Yes! AdGuard DNS is completely free for personal use. If you want more advanced features like a private DNS, AdGuard also offers paid services.