Google is starting to show ads on Pixel phones. Here’s how to turn them off

One of many issues folks love most a few Pixel is the dearth of bloatware and advertisements. That’s nonetheless largely true, however Google has began to provide in to temptation.

After the launch of the Pixel 11 series, many customers, myself included, began receiving advertisements for the brand new cellphone on our older Pixels. It’s the kind of factor we’ve come to count on from Samsung, however not a lot Google.

Fortunately, there’s a straightforward method to cease it from occurring.

Advertisements on smartphones aren’t new. I really like One UI, however even I can’t excuse how typically Samsung pushes ads in front of your face. Pixels have all the time been freed from that. A Pixel doesn’t include a plethora of Microsoft or Meta apps as a result of somebody paid to have them preloaded, and till now, there haven’t been advertisements in my notification shade both.

The My Pixel app has damaged the system. The app was once known as Pixel Ideas, and again then it solely supplied fast, quick access to tutorials on how your cellphone labored, notifications about new Android options, and assist. These issues are nonetheless there, however final 12 months the rebrand to My Pixel additionally added a Retailer tab so you should buy extra Google {hardware} out of your Pixel.

I’m not against the shop tab, however I’m against getting notifications and advertisements with out signing up for them. I took the above screenshot the day I manufacturing unit reset my cellphone to exit the QPR2 beta, and I didn’t restore a backup. I’d by no means opened the app, and I’d by no means agreed to obtain any notifications, not to mention advertisements. When you go into your cellphone’s settings, you’ll be able to disable the My Pixel app, however doing so means shedding out on the great elements.

As an alternative of eradicating the app, we will use Android’s notification controls to filter out advertisements whereas maintaining every thing else.

Google added notification channels, now known as notification classes, to Android 9 years in the past, and it’s top-of-the-line Android options. You possibly can take granular management of the sorts of notifications an app can present you and just remember to don’t see something you don’t wish to. With the My Pixel app, that features advertisements. As you’ll be able to see within the pictures above, there are classes for options and ideas, account and order updates, surveys and analysis, and basket reminders.

If you wish to block advertisements just like the one I obtained, you solely want to show off the merchandise and affords class. Whilst you’re right here, it’s price going by way of the remainder of the checklist to see if there’s anything you wish to see much less of.

To get to this display, simply comply with these steps:

• Lengthy-press the My Pixel app icon.
• Faucet App information.
• Faucet Notifications.
• Beneath notification classes, faucet My Pixel.

There you’ll see all of the classes in my screenshots above. If you wish to preserve all notifications on apart from these pesky ads, faucet the toggle subsequent to New merchandise and affords. Ultimately, I’ve solely left the brand new function and order replace notifications on. I prefer it when my cellphone tells me what’s new after an replace, and I wish to observe my 11 Professional order.

I do know that getting one advert on my Pixel isn’t the top of the world. However Google releases extra {hardware} now than ever, and if I get extra for Googlebooks, A-series Pixels, Fitbits, earbuds, and extra, it’ll quickly change into annoying.

It’s additionally the beginning of a slippery slope. How lengthy earlier than Gemini begins inserting advertisements for merchandise throughout a dialog? For now, at the very least, there’s a straightforward method to flip these off, and I hope that doesn’t change.