yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
So, back to you - your issue (not mine)

Check with e.g. ApkInspector (from Playstore) where your AdAway saves its data.

I have AdAway v5.0.5 and its actual hosts file is saved to /data/user/0/org.adaway/files - my hosts file there is 9.57 MB

Check on your phone does really AdAway keeps its actual hosts file on /data with only 3.6 KB?

Assuming, your /data is not full

Suggesting you then to disable all hosts sources and to stop AdAway (button from AdAway), reboot, enable AdAway and enable only one hosts source for the beginning (you must reboot again), to see would it help

Once I had hosts file also very small, when I opened (by MiXPlorer editor) I found it had only the very beginning of the needed file content.

When I restarted as described above, AdAway recreated correct hosts file and continued to work correctly
[Android Apps and Games] jasonbiggs:
So the default host is adaway.org correct? so yes I had another ad host in there from a while ago and I disabled that restarted and it worked thanks.
[Android Apps and Games] PerfectSlayer:
Hi all,

I keep trying to fix the F-Droid builds. So it's the second stable version which does bring bug fixes or new features but only try to bring the app to the F-Droid store.

Feedback:

Roger that. I add it to my development board.

I will have a look at it when I finish the hosts source rework.

It should not be a big thing.

Changelog:

Update NDK version for F-Droid build server

Download:

AdAway 4.3.6
[Android Apps and Games] v12xke:
You're welcome. Now you could parse that host file for the culprit and edit it out, or just move on to another source to try out. Don't want to discourage you from using alternate hosts lists... the unified hosts file from Steven Black is very popular. Copy the link into Adaway to create a new source.
[Android Apps and Games] PoochyX:
Do host files get ran in ram

([emoji88] Havoc GSI [emoji88])
[Android Apps and Games] Primokorn:
I have AdAway 4.3.6 on my OnePlus 3T running Android 10.

I'd like to use Onesignal to send push notifications to the users of my apps. During my tests I noticed that these notifications are blocked by AdAway (working after disabling AdAway and rebooting).

I tried to log DNS requests and whitelist onesignal.com and cdn.signal.com (blocked by default by the 3 basic sources) but it doesn't help. I don't have anything in the DNS log. Do you which domain(s) I have to whitelist?

Thank you.

EDIT: it's working now. All things considered, it was probably blocked by my firewall.
[Android Apps and Games] rockingondrums:
Upon further browsing with v5, ads do not appear to be blocked. I'll roll back to the latest stable and just stick with default lists.
[Android Apps and Games] rypz79:
Hi,

Using v5.0.5 on SM-N975F w/root.

I need to whitelist some googleads domains for an app to work. the problem of course is that it causes unwanted "leaks" in other apps.

The question is can I redirect those domains to some address other than the default local host 127.0.0.1 so the app will "think" they are open and trafficking?

If so what is this address(es)?

TIA to all who can help
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
For one domain, you can't distinguish between apps - domains listed in hosts file will be blicked to all apps

However, if using VPN method (non root) instead hosts, you could whitelist certain apps - AdAway will not block any ads for the whitelisted apps (for them, all domains will be allowed)
[Android Apps and Games] marciozomb13:
This vague report helps absolutely no one. No dev, no user nor you. Would be nice if you could provide more details on next time.
[Android Apps and Games] rypz79:
AFAIR VPN like Speedtest premium made the network traffic very sluggish. It connects to a remote serveres out of your country. Is that AdAway's VPN method also?

Why technically there can't be VPN mode w/root that is hosts & VPN interchangeably ?

TIA
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
VPN in AdAway does not connect to an external DNS, it is like a virtual VPN - please search back and read v5.0.x OP posts about VPN method

Even if you have root, you can still switch from hosts to VPN (but not vice-versa, cannot use hosts method without root)

To better understand how hosts and VPN work, their differences and (dis)advantages,, please google (it cannot be described in short and deepness of the answer depends on reader's knowledge).

Hint for googling: it is the same VPN method as used in DNS66 and Blokada

You will then also understand why it makes no sense to merge both methods - or please try to propose exactly how, and report to as Feature request AdAway GitHub
[Android Apps and Games] burtonlax:
Has anyone found a way to get google shopping ad links working (the ones at the top of google search page)?
[Android Apps and Games] racerx002:
Put *googleadservices.com in your whitelist
[Android Apps and Games] veloc_h:
I had to activate "Systemless hosts" in Magisk (Android 10). Otherwise there wouldn't be rw rights on the hosts file. Mi5 with revengeos (Android 10).

https://xdaforums.com/pixel-2/help/adaway-running-android-10-t3966114

Edit: with the last adaway Version 4.3.6 from this thread I could update the hosts file (did not work with the older f-droid adaway Version (4.3.4?; message: copy of hosts file not possible or something like that).
[Android Apps and Games] vikasb32:
Doesn't work in poco f1 stock rom. Work fine in op6. Anyone help me to get it work in pcoc f1.nvm work fine now.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Which version of AdAway,?

Root/hosts mode - if so, which Magisk version, is Systemless hosts enabled in Magisk (stop AdAway, reboot and resume AdAway)?
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Does it really work for you?

Added, experimented also with *googleadservices.* and similar, still cannot open any Google search result served via googleadservices

AdAway v5.0.5, root/hosts, every time I press Add and Allow to change configuration, and reboot upon a change in my Allow list, no avail

Just found the same thing:

---

Btw, just observed (and reported to GiHub) a generic crash in the Allow list:

- add an item like www.googleadservices.com, Allow to change configuration

- disable check-button for that domain, AdAway immediately crashes for me

- reopen AdAway and its Allow list, domain is now properly disabled, enable it and AdAway will crash again

- and so on
[Android Apps and Games] ItsMarisol:
is there any newer versions for this? thank you
[Android Apps and Games] Lughnasadh:
You can find the latest versions in the usual place, the OP.
[Android Apps and Games] pycxe-01:
Yes, it works with AdAway v4.3.6 just fine!

But, in order to make it work you should whitelist *.googleadservices.com + rebuild the host file + reboot. Please, note that any changes made to the host file take effect ONLY after phone reboot! Cheers! ?
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
I know about rebooting and rebuilding, see my post - but cannot make it work with v5.0.5.

Anyway, not a life or death matter ?
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
Are you saying they do not appear in your host file?

have you tried pinging them in a terminal window?

and another random stab in the dark, they are not in a whitelist by any chance.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Reboot and then test again - depending on your ROM, old hosts might be cached and changing will take effect only upon rebooting
[Android Apps and Games] ItsMarisol:
ah okay i found it, downloading and installing it now =)
[Android Apps and Games] andy356:
AdAway's own Help menu says that Android needs to be rebooted so that the Java DNS cache can be rebuilt. Are you saying this is not the case for certain ROMs?
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
I asked him to reboot - it was not clear did he reboot or not upon adding domains to the block-list.

AdAway does not ask you to reboot, and believe me, many people are not aware of that

For the same reason it is necessary to reboot from time to tine, to make sure that updates of hosts sources really take effect

Now, to your question, read thousands of posts here in this thread (maybe just search for reboot or for cache) and you will find people who claim that on their phones rebooting is not needed (I remember reading such posts) - maybe (vendors make changes), they should have tested and better know how it behaves on their phones
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
I do not have to reboot to have my host file activated. I do not use system-less host either. And as far as I can remember, this behavior has been the way it is now, for most ROMs I have used in the past.
[Android Apps and Games] andy356:
[MENTION=7786725]zgfg[/MENTION] [MENTION=5417899]DiamondJohn[/MENTION]

Interesting. I just found this issue as well, which agrees with the idea that it works in some cases and doesn't in others: https://github.com/AdAway/AdAway/issues/1072
[Android Apps and Games] rockingondrums:
It helped me. And we're always telling people to search. If someone else experiences the same issue, they'll (hopefully) find the post. Maybe it will help them decide to stick with the latest stable. If I had time to provide more info, I would. Unfortunately, I'm short on time these days. I'm only on XDA now to sideload something.
[Android Apps and Games] JGradyO:
Not sure if anyone has reported, but the new version 4.3.6 on fdroid upgraded me from 4.3.4 as one would expect. It notified me that the new version was available, and the upgrade worked perfectly.

Thanks for continuous improvement on an already considerable base!

:good:
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
i'm on v4.3.6 too. i've added 2 more to the default set of 3 host sources, updated sources and rebooted. my hosts file is 3.54MB and 69413 sites appear to be blocked. yet this site is throwing up ads galore: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates...-parties-does-not-require-registration-160804. what can i do further to block ads?
[Android Apps and Games] marciozomb13:
DNS log + blacklist.
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
tried that; didn't work. with blacklist, the site won't open.
[Android Apps and Games] marciozomb13:
If the site provide his own ads you are out of luck.
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
That is 100% true. And now stating the other obvious thing;). When collecting the hosts from a DNS log, one has to be careful to ensure that only the hosts used to deliver adds are extracted to a block-list. Simply taking every host from the DNS log, would obviously block everything, including the web site you are trying to visit as well.
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
i blacklisted only the apparent; just 2 out of 17. obviously, i was wrong. would someone know what others to try?

btw, is the dns step only for apps? by my reckoning, a browser is not an app that displays ads, per se. or is it?
[Android Apps and Games] guest4711:
The dns step is suitable if you get ads while surfing the web, too.

A browser is an app like others. And there are browsers which come with their own ads...
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
thanks for the clarification. can you help out with ads appearing on web pages (a link posted earlier)?
[Android Apps and Games] guest4711:
Do the same as mentioned there: Disable AdAway, start DNSLOG, start your browser and open the website, analyze the logfile and put the urls in question (e.g. doubleclick, adv....) into your blacklist. Enable AdAway again (rebuild host file) and open the url again.

Repeat until it is ok for you.
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
followed your advice. blacklisted several sites after running 5 browsers. still not ok. but, thanks again. if anyone has success blocking ads on this link, please post the steps here. https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates...-parties-does-not-require-registration-160804
[Android Apps and Games] PerfectSlayer:
Hi all,

Here comes a bunch of bug fixes for the beta!

It should fix the last reported issues except the one about file:// protocol.

It requires more development than I expected so I start a dedicated new branch.

You can see the new UI and more details on the GitHub issue.

About the VPN ad-blocking method, can I have honest feedback of those who use / tried it?

It is working well? Stable enough? Does it restart, failed to connect or stuff like that? If so, how often?

Or maybe it's just wonderfully working and no hardening is needed? :laugh:

I want to get it working good enough before moving the v5 to stable.

Changelog:

Fix crash on domain enable/disable action

Fix source not applied if disabled and enabled back

Update target SDK to Android 11

Thanks:

Special thanks to ipdev99 and zgfg for their bug reports.

Download:

AdAway 5.0.6
[Android Apps and Games] guest4711:
As far as I see the site generates its own ads or loads it using ip adresses, not dnsnames. So you cannot block it using a host based blocker. Using a firefox derivate like Fennec F-Droid (Im Internet surfen) - https://f-droid.org/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid - together with uBlock-Origin stops that sh..t
[Android Apps and Games] hubono:
I play risk global domination

Using the stable version it would block the ads

In this beta ad pops up

Any suggestions?
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
unfortunately, i got no success with that combo either. sorry to be engaging you so much on this; your help is appreciated. :good:

p.s.: i must admit i'm not well conversant with uBlock-Origin.
[Android Apps and Games] Pinage:
Feedback on vpn mode:

I'm using on Samsung galaxy tab 2019. It seems the VPN get disconnect over time and just stuck at connecting. This result in my internet being not usable. Had to pause the adaway and start it again.
[Android Apps and Games] v12xke:
Use the dropper (element picker mode). Once selected you can touch the ad you want gone and then choose create. Kinda kludgy on Android but thankful to have extension support in FF. For more information, read this TUTORIAL. It applies to Windows but the principles all apply.
[Android Apps and Games] pec0ra:
Same here on the OnePlus 8.

VPN works great but it stops working whenever my connection switches between WiFi and Mobile. As said above, pausing and starting adaway again fixes it until the next connection change. Note that this problem only appeared when switching between WiFi and Mobile (both directions). I haven't had any problem switching between 3G and 4G nor activating/deactivating airplane mode.
[Android Apps and Games] EMJI79:
I have the issue when switching to airplane mode.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Updated by notification to AdAway v5.0.6, crash on enabling/disabling Allowed domain is fixed.

Thanks
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
uBlock-Origin how-to :D

kludgy is not the word! :D. takes a lot of time. the saving grace: it worked; the ads are gone. many thanks.

edit: can you suggest an alternative lightweight (better) browser that uBlock-Origin works well on? my fennec-f-droid version is 68.1.1.
[Android Apps and Games] EMJI79:
Wouldn't be possible to block ads in apps and Chrome browsing, but let be able to click intentionally Google search sponsored results when shopping ?
[Android Apps and Games] tuxian0:
Is there a command to trigger the adaway host updates?

First of all thank you so much for the wonderful app.

I knew that after updating the hosts file we need to reboot the device in order to take effect.

I'm trying to write a Tasker task to listen the system reboot event and before reboots, I want to trigger the AdAway to update the hosts.

Is there any workaround to do that?
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
Not using a host block method. Your phone (ie DNS resolver) has no idea of the reason or purpose you are requesting access (ie the IP address) of a host.

However, if you can differentiate the hosts used for advertising from the hosts used for shopping, then you could whitelist the shopping ones. But, often the two are the same. The ads are there to get you shopping.
[Android Apps and Games] martyfender:
What about turning on automatic updates in adaway? In preferences, uncheck: hide reboot dialog. Or am I misunderstanding what you want to do? On my Android 6 and 9 devices, I never have to reboot for the changes to take effect, however, this could be very device dependant.
[Android Apps and Games] jesrani:
I am using rooted OnePlus7T 10.3.2, rooted with Magisk Manager version 07f712a1 and Magisk 87de0e7a. These are the version numbers I can see when i open Magisk Manager. Systemless host module is enabled and Magisk package name is also hidden.

Adaway had been working properly but now it is not able to update hosts, says Root permission not granted, even though in Magisk default permission is Grant. I have tried to uninstall and reinstall, change options in Magisk, install F-droid version but nothing works. Systemless host is enabled. I have restored a working app version and data using Titanium backup so ad-blocking is working. But unable to update with new host file. How to fix this?
[Android Apps and Games] PoochyX:
Could be magisk error does it work with magisk stable.... Canary is only for individuals that can't get root with stable Magisk

([emoji88]Descendent GSI[emoji88])
[Android Apps and Games] jesrani:
Canary channel had been suggested for OnePlus7T as stable was not working initially and hence this is what I had installed. Not sure if stable works now with OnePlus7T. Had been using Adaway without any problem and it still does work, only updating is an issue.
[Android Apps and Games] knpk13:
It does.
[Android Apps and Games] jesrani:
Thanks!! I changed the channel to Stable and updated the Magisk Manager to 7.5.1, which seems to be old version compared to Canary release. But Adaway is working again, it got root permission and was able to update host.

However Magisk version installed is still 87de0e7a. It is showing available latest version as 20.4. I tried to install this with direct install option. Notification bar shows that Magisk has downloaded but then nothing happens, the version does not change. Am I making some mistake? There is an OTA update available today and I am going to update in evening but then after OTA if Magisk does not install then I will be without root.
[Android Apps and Games] knpk13:
I don't recommend using canary unless you know what you're doing and need a specific feature. I was also using canary for my 7T Pro until stable supported it, and overlay.d was broken on multiple canary builds.

If you are switching from canary to stable, I'd recommend doing a clean repatch. You can use the canary uninstaller before installing magisk stable. But since you're doing an OTA, just flash stable to the inactive slot from the manager after flashing the OTA. It's safer to disable your magisk modules before an OTA to avoid any incompatibilites. For example, some center clock mods kept crashing the system on the last OOS OTA for the 7T/Pro and had to be uninstalled.

If you have more problems, post in the Magisk thread.
[Android Apps and Games] jesrani:
I tried updating Magisk to stable version after OTA but installation was failing. Had to clear storage of Magisk and it reverted back to Canary and then installed the Canary version. So maybe i need to uninstall the Canary manager and then install stable version but i am not sure how to do this
[Android Apps and Games] tuxian0:
I'm using OnePlus 8 Pro Magisk rooted

Not sure why but each time the hosts file gets updated it is asking me to reboot.
[Android Apps and Games] pycxe-01:
Simply because updated host file takes effect ONLY after reboot. It's a normal behavior on Android regardless of your phone model. ?

Though, you can disable this reminder notification in AdAway settings!
[Android Apps and Games] tuxian0:
Cool, thanks for the info
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
Most but not ALL need to reboot for a new hosts file to be in effect. Of course systemless hosts would mean all, but not everyone uses systemless host.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
interesting enough, I use systemless and don't need a reboot, as soon as I deactivate or reactivate adaway blocking stops or starts fine. (Pixel 2xl stock rom oreo)
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
That goes completely against the way Magisk is documented as working.

If you have the time or inclination, try switching back to no blocked hosts, and without a reboot, see if there is no blocking. The best way is to actually test it with a ping from a terminal, not simply by opening apps.
[Android Apps and Games] mrrocketdog:
hi , system user here. i always reboot after an update.

1) want to make sure the hosts apply/stick.

2) how much trouble is a reboot .. right?

not arguing , js. :)
[Android Apps and Games] DiamondJohn:
Understand what you are saying, but my past experience is that I would be using a specific app, and in the middle of a long task at hand, and an ad would pop-up :mad: So I would download / refresh the hosts, go back to the app, and the ads would be gone :highfive: Not having to reboot in the middle of a long task (ok, I admit, sometimes it was the middle of a game:o) was/is a specific bonus, and one of the reasons I do not use system-less hosts. If I wake-up and find that my phone was left on all night, I actually do a force-able reboot just for a reboot sake (reset the device). I am not totally adverse to a reboot. I force a reboot at least once a day, just not multiple times in a day. It freaks me out a little how some people leave their phones on 24/7:eek:

Although my current hosts source lists are serving me pretty well, and maybe I should consider going to system-less hosts.I currently only refresh my lists due to how old they are getting,not because I start to see ads. But once system is changed, you can't un-pop the balloon.:cowboy:
[Android Apps and Games] mrrocketdog:
yeah , i guess my reboots are a force of habit. always have , and so i continue.

great to here dont have to during a long game task.:good:

i tried systemless once and was just not the same. i mean no "modding/access" to system??!!

apologies to [MENTION=2822685]PerfectSlayer[/MENTION] for OT.

stay well. stay safe. [emoji111]
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
I can't explain it but if I have it active and a webpage breaks I can deactivate it and the website loads with no issue.
[Android Apps and Games] IronTechmonkey:
FWIW, I recall experiencing something similar in some of the rooted LOS devices I use, IIRC with LOS SU and Magisk. I've never looked into it but would follow [MENTION=5417899]DiamondJohn[/MENTION]'s suggestion to test with Ping's instead of through the browser
[Android Apps and Games] jcmm11:
No, it really doesn't. I've never had to reboot to apply a change to hosts (after the initial reboot to activate systemless hosts).

The systemless hosts file effectively replaces the original one. Any changes that are applied to the systemless hosts are applied to the file immediately. Removing blocking simply changes the systemless hosts file to one that matches the default hosts file. I, sometimes, turn adblock off to access some thing or other. Blocking then does get turned off (although I have to flush browser cache) and if I then reactivate blocking it blocks as intended (again, flushing browser).
[Android Apps and Games] bsam55:
Weather Channel App Videos

Hi all.

Does anyone know of something that can be whitelisted to get videos to play on Weather Channel app while using AdAway?

Thanks in advance for any helpful input.
[Android Apps and Games] Wolfcity:
Use DNS protocol. Activate it open the related videos, check the entries and whitelist the ones that are matching.

Btw, what Adaway build are you using? A lot of people forget to say if it's stable (4.x) root based or beta (5 0.6) root based or VPN based.
[Android Apps and Games] bsam55:
Thanks for your reply Wolfcity. It's after the fact but, I'm using 4.3.6 stable version. Unfortunately, trying to whitelist DNS request sources didn't work. One reason might be these videos seem to rotate through a "limitless" supply of possibilities. Maybe the app has another way of detecting adblocking.

I know it is AdAway or adblocking in general that prevents videos from playing as disabling AdAway allows them to play. I should mention they open with a brief ad which is why it is an adblocking issue.

Oh well. I probably don't need any more click bait in my life anyway. :D