Samsung is taking a more targeted approach to one of the most annoying parts of smartphone use: promotional notifications that keep returning. Through a new Device Care update, Galaxy phones can identify apps that push ads too often and silence them automatically.
The feature is designed to cut down on notification spam without acting like a traditional ad blocker. Instead of targeting web ads or every ad inside an app, Samsung is focusing on the source many users complain about most: repeated promotional alerts that crowd the notification shade.
How the new filter works
The notification-blocking feature appears in Device Care version 13.8.80.7. Samsung has placed it inside device management rather than as a separate tool for blocking ads in browsers or inside apps.
In practice, the system looks for apps that send “ad alerts frequently.” When an app is judged to be too aggressive, Device Care mutes it so it no longer keeps interrupting the user.
That approach leaves room for more important alerts. Messages, calls, payment updates, and reminders are less likely to be buried under repeated promotional pop-ups.
Two detection modes on Galaxy phones
Samsung offers two ways to run the feature. The first is Basic, which uses Samsung’s data to find and block apps considered to be sending spam ads on Galaxy devices.
The second is Intelligent, and it works more dynamically. In this mode, the Galaxy device checks notifications in real time and evaluates for itself whether an app has sent too many ad-related alerts.
Those two modes give users different choices depending on how they want the filter to behave. One relies on Samsung’s database, while the other reacts directly to notification activity on the device.
Not perfect, but adjustable
Samsung also notes that the system is not flawless. It does not always identify the right app when deciding what counts as spam advertising.
Because of that, users can review what has been blocked. The list is available through Settings > Device Care > Care report > Excessive alerts.
That reporting screen matters because it lets users check whether a muted app really deserves to be silenced. It also gives some control if the system becomes too aggressive.
Why the feature matters for daily use
The new function is more limited than a standard ad blocker, but it may fit everyday phone use better. Samsung is not trying to block all advertising across the device.
Instead, it is limiting apps that rely too heavily on notifications for promotion. For many users, in-app ads are tolerable when they are reasonable, while repeated ad notifications are the real source of annoyance.
By muting apps that trigger too many alerts, Samsung is trying to keep the notification panel useful for its main purpose. It also reduces the need to manually disable notifications one by one.
Limited rollout for now
At the moment, the feature is only available on the Galaxy S26 series. There is no confirmation yet on whether it will expand to more Samsung devices through the wider rollout of One UI 8.5.
That means Galaxy users outside that lineup may not be able to try it immediately. Samsung has also not said which other devices might receive the same feature later.
The Device Care update is being distributed gradually through the Galaxy Store. As a result, availability may vary from one Galaxy device to another even within the same ecosystem.
Users who want to check whether version 13.8.80.7 is available can open the Galaxy Store, tap the three-dot menu, and select Updates. For Galaxy S26 series owners, it could become a practical way to reduce aggressive promotional alerts and keep the notification area calmer.