14 DAY TRIAL // Google has updated the Dev and Canary versions of Chrome for Android with a built-in ad blocker, as it pledges to offer users a cleaner browsing experience without third-party add-ons.
Though it’s still in its early days, the new Google Chrome ad blocker is projected to make its way to all browser versions, including desktop and mobile, as part of Google joining the Coalition of Better Ads earlier this year.
At this point, the ad blocker is pretty basic and does not feature any configuration options, with users only allowed to enable or disable it from the settings. There are users who claim that the ad blocker doesn’t show up on their devices, but you can check to see if it’s there on your Android phone by going to Menu > Settings > Site Settings. By default, the Ads section is turned off, so you need to tap it and then toggle the option to on.
Blocking intrusive ads
Since no filters or other configuration options are offered, the ad blocker will work based on Google’s own settings, as the company only wants to “block ads from sites that tend to show intrusive ads.”
This means pop-ups, videos that play automatically, and other intrusive banners that follow you as you scroll a website should no longer be there after installing this Chrome version.
“Chrome has always focused on giving you the best possible experience browsing the web. For example, it prevents pop-ups in new tabs based on the fact that they are annoying. In dialogue with the Coalition and other industry groups, we plan to have Chrome stop showing ads (including those owned or served by Google) on websites that are not compliant with the Better Ads Standards starting in early 2018,” Google said in early June when it announced plans to bring an ad blocker in Chrome browser.
As mentioned, the new feature is only available in testing versions of the browser, but you can download the latest Google Chrome Canary APK from Softpedia right away and give a try to the ad blocker without waiting for the official release.
