This article explains how to use the Google Mute This Ad tool to stop seeing ads that don’t interest you.

What to Know

  • Go to myaccount.google.com and select Manage your data & personalization > Go to ad settings.Toggle Ad personalization to On, or select Turn Off next to ads you want to mute.To mute categories, go to How your ads are personalized, select a topic, then select Turn off.

How to Mute Google Ads

Google allows you to control some advertisements you see when browsing the web. The Google Mute This Ad tool delivers control and transparency by allowing you to close or remove ads that don’t interest you and to signal those that do.

Google has a section called Ad Settings, which allows you to personalize your browsing experience when using Google platforms.

Follow these steps to mute Google ads:

The Mute This Ad feature only works on ads that are signed up with or partnered with Google. It is carried through to all devices. If you mute an ad on your PC, that same ad is muted on your laptop, smartphone, iPad, and other devices.

  • Navigate to myaccount.google.com.
  • Under the Privacy & personalization section, select Manage your data & personalization.
  • Under the Ad personalization section, select Go to ad settings.
  • Make sure the Ad personalization toggle is set to On (blue). Advertisers or topics that are triggering reminder ads are listed and can be muted.
  • Select a topic or advertiser that you would like to mute, then select Turn off.

You can also modify your ad preferences by muting categories or advertisers. Under the section titled How your ads are personalized, select a topic or advertiser that you would like to mute, then select Turn off. Confirm you would like to turn off the category by selecting Turn off once again.

Navigate to myaccount.google.com.

Under the Privacy & personalization section, select Manage your data & personalization.

Under the Ad personalization section, select Go to ad settings.

Make sure the Ad personalization toggle is set to On (blue). Advertisers or topics that are triggering reminder ads are listed and can be muted.

Select a topic or advertiser that you would like to mute, then select Turn off.

The feature doesn’t remove ads completely. You can only remove or mute ads from specific advertisers partnered with Google. The advantage is that muting an ad stops it from showing up on your screen, and it stops similar ads from the same advertiser using a specific website.

There are two critical benefits to the updated Mute This Ad tool: 

  • First, it recognizes feedback from you from any device as long as you are signed in to Google.Google plans to expand the mute tool across more websites and apps partnered with Google to show ads.

Take Note: Nothing Good Lasts Forever

It is important to note that muting the reminder ads only lasts for 90 days because most reminder ads do not exist after this period of time. In addition, reminder ads from apps and websites that don’t use Google’s ad services may still appear, as these aren’t governed by the Google Ad Settings controls.

If you haven’t cleared your browser cookies, or the advertiser uses a different website URL to display an ad that isn’t partnered with Google, you may continue to see that ad.

What Is a Reminder Ad?

When you browse for a product at an online store, an ad for that product follows you around as you browse other sites. That kind of ad is called a Reminder Ad. Google advertisers use reminder ads as a way to encourage you to return to their page.

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