Alex Ruben
How To Block Ads in Gmail App Without Using an Adblocker (Android & iPhone)
Dealing with ads in Gmail can be annoying, especially when they clutter your inbox or make it harder to find the important stuff. This isn’t about installing ad blockers, though—that usually doesn’t help much with Gmail ads because they’re pretty baked into the app itself. What you really want is to tweak some settings to lessen their appearance or at least keep them out of sight. The whole goal here? Cleaner, more organized inbox without that constant distraction.
Now, these methods work pretty well on Android and iPhone because, honestly, the app’s structure isn’t wildly different. Sometimes, it’s a bit fiddly, and if you’re not used to digging into settings, it might feel like a hassle. But usually, a few little changes can make a noticeable difference in how many promotional ads show up—or at least hide some of them. Just be aware: Gmail still shows some ads in the Promotions tab if you keep it active, but you can minimize or hide them by turning off that tab, or marking promo emails as spam. Let’s walk through how.
How to Fix Gmail Ads in Android & iPhone
Access your Gmail settings, because that’s where the magic happens
- Open the Gmail app on your phone. Tip: If you also check Gmail on your PC, the settings are similar there, but hey, this is for mobile fun.
- Tap the hamburger menu icon (those three lines, usually top-left). When the sidebar slides out, scroll down and tap on Settings.
- Pick the email account you want to tweak if you have multiple accounts. It applies per account, so choose wisely.
Disable the Promotions tab to cut down on ads
- Inside the account settings, look for Inbox type or Inbox categories. On Android, it’s usually called Inbox type; on iPhone, it might be under Categories.
- Tap that, and you’ll see tabs like Primary, Social, and Promotions. Here’s the trick—this is where Gmail pulls ads from in the Promotions tab.
- Uncheck or disable the Promotions tab (some apps just let you toggle it off). This helps because those ads mostly appear under that tab. Sometimes, Gmail still shows a few promotional emails in your main inbox, but at least the big distraction (the Promotions tab) is gone.
Make sure to mark promo emails as spam to train Gmail
- For promotional emails sneaking into your inbox, tap on them and hit the Spam button. Gmail learns from your actions, so marking these helps push future spam or promos straight there.
- Unsubscribe from newsletters or promo lists if they keep flooding your inbox. Look for the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. On some setups, this cuts future emails from that sender better than just deleting them.
Keep your app updated for smoother experience and new controls
- Gmail updates often include tweaks to ads and spam management. On Android, go to Play Store > search for Gmail > tap Update if available. On iPhone, head to App Store > your profile icon > check for updates.
- This is kinda boring, but having the latest app version means better control options and bug fixes, which can improve how ads are handled.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
- Try these tricks on different devices—the behavior can vary slightly. Sometimes, the app acts weird after big updates, and re-installing Gmail helps.
- If you keep seeing ads in your inbox despite turning off categories, consider switching to a different email client like Outlook or Sparrow that might handle spam and promos more granularly.
- Check your device’s notification and spam settings—Gmail isn’t the only app that influences what shows up in your inbox.
Because of course, Gmail has to make it a little harder than necessary, but these tweaks usually tame the flood of ads or promos enough to get back peace of mind.
Summary
- Hide the Promotions tab to stop most ad-based promos from showing up in your main view
- Mark persistent promo emails as spam to teach Gmail where they belong
- Keep the app updated to access the newest features and improvements
- Unsubscribe from unwanted mailing lists
Wrap-up
Getting rid of ads in Gmail on your phone isn’t perfect, but these steps help cut down the clutter without messing with ad blockers or third-party tools. Sometimes, a mix of toggling inbox categories and regular spam marking does the trick. Just recognize that Gmail’s algorithm doesn’t always play nice, but a little manual nudge goes a long way. Fingers crossed, this helps someone feel a bit more in control of their inbox.