Can AdGuard block ads *without* AdGuard VPN?

VPN
1

I’ve asked this on the AdGuard forum, have sent a technical support request, and gotten nowhere. I’m turning here out of desperation.

Is it possible to use AdGuard to block ads without using AdGuard VPN? Can someone tell me how? I’m fairly tech savvy and not afraid to get into deep settings, but I need to figure this out once and for all. Thank you for your help!

2

for what version of the app? I didn’t think the VPN actually blocked ads compared to the actual applications

3

Funny I just came here for the same thing and was also surprised by the lack of technical information!

As far as I can tell

  1. No you don’t need VPN to block ads on Windows or OS X. It works by default.
  2. No you don’t need VPN to block ads on Android. You do have to enable the local HTTP Proxy in settings to get this to work.
  3. How/where exactly does the blocking take place? I still can’t get an answer to this.
4

Yes. You don’t need the VPN service to block ads. At least on desktop.

On mobile, the main app creates a *fake* VPN service (it’s the only way to truly block ads on an un-rooted mobile device). But this isn’t a real VPN. It won’t mask your location or anything. They *also* have the actual AdGuard VPN app which is a real VPN.

Another option is to just set your desktop/mobile DNS settings to use the AdGuard DNS server. That’s not a VPN, but it will block most ads on your device. But you can’t customize it (unless you upgrade). It default uses AdGuards own ad block filters. You can’t add your own to it (unless you upgrade but that’s in beta right now).

5

Can you enable Adguard Nightly where the button stays ON if you have root or does that matter. I too, am slightly annoyed with having to add the “VPN service” on Android 11.

6

This. Been using AdGuard app on android for quite some time now. Never used their vpn. On my iOS device, though, I’m using my own WireGuard VPN with piHole.

7

I’m on macOS. When I installed the app it suggested that I also install the VPN. I did, but when I did that, my internet speeds dropped drastically. I thought that just turning the VPN off would work, but when I did that, all of a sudden I had ads all over the place again. I wasn’t able to find a definitive answer, so I just uninstalled everything and went back to AdBlock.

8

I am new too and would like to know what is meant by this question. Do you mean which operating system, which subscription, or something else? Is there a list of all the “different versions”? I just downloaded mine from the website and plugged in the serial number.

9

The website has all the Apps for each operating system, since the OP didn’t say what its for I would think they aren’t talking about the DNS solution and just the applications you can install

10

The main app is for blocking ads. That’s pretty much all it does. On Windows/Mac, the app intercepts network traffic to eliminate ads (or anything else you want, depending on the blocking lists you subscribe to inside the app).

They also have a standard VPN app, for masking your location and all the usual VPN stuff.

You can use the main app without the VPN. Probably vice versa too. Or you can use both to get both feature sets.

11

I mean doesn’t each version work the same regardless of which operating system you are on?