Microsoft Edge for Android has introduced a built-in ad blocker, powered by Adblock Plus, to provide users with a cleaner and more efficient browsing experience. This feature aims to reduce interruptions from unwanted advertisements, enhancing both speed and privacy.

Enabling the Built-in Ad Blocker

To activate the ad blocker in Microsoft Edge on your Android device:

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge app.
  2. Tap the menu icon (three dots) located at the bottom center.
  3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
  4. Navigate to Privacy and security.
  5. Tap on Content blockers.
  6. Toggle the Block ads option to the On position.

By default, this setting blocks most ads, while allowing those deemed acceptable by Adblock Plus. To block all ads, including acceptable ones, follow these additional steps:

  1. In the Content blockers menu, tap on Advanced settings.
  2. Toggle Allow acceptable ads to the Off position.

This configuration ensures a completely ad-free browsing experience. (support.microsoft.com)

Enhancing Video Ad Blocking

Microsoft has been actively improving the ad-blocking capabilities of Edge for Android, particularly concerning video ads on platforms like YouTube. An experimental feature, known as "Edge Block Video Ads," has been introduced to address this:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge on your Android device.
  2. In the address bar, type INLINECODE0 and press Enter.
  3. Search for "Edge Block Video Ads" in the list of flags.
  4. Set this flag to Enabled.
  5. Restart the browser to apply the changes.

After enabling this feature, Edge will attempt to block video ads across various websites, including YouTube. Please note that this is an experimental feature and may not block all video ads effectively. (ghacks.net)

Limitations and Considerations

While the built-in ad blocker in Microsoft Edge for Android offers a significant improvement in browsing experience, it may not block all types of ads, especially on platforms that employ sophisticated ad delivery methods. For users seeking more robust ad-blocking capabilities, third-party extensions like uBlock Origin Lite are available. However, it's important to note that uBlock Origin Lite is designed to comply with the Manifest V3 extension framework, which may limit some functionalities compared to the original uBlock Origin. (en.wikipedia.org)

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge's built-in ad blocker for Android provides a convenient and effective way to reduce unwanted advertisements during browsing. By enabling this feature, users can enjoy a cleaner and faster browsing experience. For those requiring more comprehensive ad-blocking solutions, exploring additional extensions may be beneficial.