Your TV should show what you chose to watch. DNS filtering can reduce some ads and tracking across TV apps, but it will not remove every commercial. Start with the type of ad you want to stop.
What DNS blocking actually does
Before connecting, your TV asks DNS for a domain’s address. A filtering DNS service refuses requests to listed advertising or tracking domains. It cannot inspect a video or remove an ad that shares the same domain as the programme. Results vary by app, TV model and filter list.
Try DNS on one TV first
- Save your current network settings. Find the TV’s manual DNS setting, usually under Network or IP settings. Menu names vary. If it is unavailable, configure DNS on your router instead; this can affect other devices too.
- For a simple trial, use AdGuard DNS’s default filtering servers:
94.140.14.14and94.140.15.15. If there is only one field, use the first. Keep both entries filtered when there are two. A non-filtering alternative can let requests bypass the filter. - Reconnect or restart the TV, then open the same apps again. If manual DNS requires a static IP, preserve the correct address, gateway and subnet settings; do not copy an example blindly. Restore automatic DNS if anything stops working.
For your own blocklists and query logs, run Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on an always-on device and point the TV to its local address. Check IPv6 DNS too: it can provide another route around your filter.
Choose the right approach
| Option | Best fit and limits |
|---|---|
| DNS / Pi-hole / AdGuard Home | Domain filtering for Samsung, LG and other TVs using your DNS. No TV app needed; some ads remain. |
| AdGuard for Android TV | An app for supported Android TVs, with filtering and DNS controls. It does not block YouTube ads. |
| SmartTube | An unofficial YouTube client for Android TV and Google TV with ad blocking. Not for Samsung Tizen, LG webOS or Vega OS. Install only through the project’s own instructions; compatibility can change. |
| YouTube Premium | The official route to videos without YouTube-served ads on supported TVs. Sign in with your subscription. Creator sponsorships and some live or channel promotions may remain. |
Check the TV, not just your browser
With Pi-hole or AdGuard Home, look for the TV’s requests in the query log, then compare an app with filtering on and off. Our browser test cannot certify DNS filtering or ad blocking inside TV apps.
Open the browser ad blocker test
Smart TV ad blocking: quick answers
Does this work on Samsung and LG?
DNS filtering can work on both. Android TV apps do not run natively on Samsung Tizen or LG webOS.
Can Pi-hole block YouTube ads?
Not reliably. Ads and videos can share domains; blocking those domains can also stop playback.
Will a VPN remove the ads?
Not by itself. A VPN needs a separate filtering feature, and DNS filtering still has the same limits.
Does turning off personalised ads help?
It changes targeting, not necessarily the number of ads. Review viewing-data and privacy settings separately.
Why are ads still getting through?
They may share content domains, be cached, or use a different DNS route. Check logs and settings before adding more blocklists. If playback breaks, undo the latest change.
Comments