Why You Might Want to Block Ads on Roku TV

On average, a person spends 40 minutes a day watching TV ads. Meanwhile, we see up to 10,000 ads online daily. The numbers speak for themselves—Roku ads consume both time and attention.

Reasons to Block Roku TV Ads

• Prevent Online Tracking: To offer users targeted ads, Roku relies on cross-site tracking. This means the streaming provider analyzes your browsing habits by checking cookies and cache to determine relevant ads. Using a robust ad blocker or DNS filtering solution can help you avoid online tracking effortlessly.
• Avoid Content Interruptions: Ads interfere with your Roku TV streaming experience. You may get 5-10 ads during a movie and around 4 ads in a single TV show episode, disrupting your entertainment.
• Filter Inappropriate Content: Some Roku ads are unsuitable for children, and unfortunately, you can't skip or regulate them effectively. Ads may include sexual, violent, or other inappropriate content. Using an ad blocker or DNS filtering can help protect your family.

Ref: Roku Community Discussion

Solution: Limit Ads on Roku Device

Unfortunately, Roku does not support traditional ad-blocking applications. However, there are still effective ways to reduce ads on Roku devices.

Method 1: Adjust Roku Privacy Settings

Here's how you can limit ads using Roku's built-in settings:

• 1. Head to your Roku device's Settings section.
• 2. Select Privacy options.
• 3. Select Advertising and choose the Limit ad tracking option. You can also reset the advertising identifier.
• 4. Restart your Roku device.
• 5. Launch the streaming platform you want and enjoy a reduced-ad experience.

Method 2: Use DNS-Based Ad Blocking (AdGuard DNS)

Another way to block Roku ads is by using a DNS filtering solution like AdGuard DNS. This method works by redirecting ad-related requests to a DNS server that blocks them.

Steps to Set Up AdGuard DNS on Your Router:

• 1. Log into your router's admin panel.
• 2. Locate the DNS settings section.
• 3. Replace the default DNS with AdGuard DNS servers:
  • Primary DNS: 94.140.14.14
  • Secondary DNS: 94.140.15.15
• 4. Save the changes and restart your router.
• 5. Your Roku device should now filter out most ads.

Note: Some users have reported that Roku has changed its ad-serving domains, making DNS-based blocking less effective. If you experience issues, consider using AdGuard Home or Pi-hole for more control over ad filtering.

Ref: Reddit Discussion on AdGuard DNS

Final Thoughts

While Roku ads can be intrusive, there are ways to limit them. Adjusting privacy settings and using DNS-based ad blocking solutions like AdGuard DNS can help reduce unwanted ads and improve your streaming experience.