Samsung users, this one is actually useful.
Samsung has started rolling out a new Device Care update that can automatically deal with apps that abuse your notification bar for ads. You know the type — a random utility app, weather app, or free tool that suddenly keeps pushing promos, mobile game ads, crypto nonsense, or shopping alerts you never asked for. Memang annoying, especially when your phone already has enough WhatsApp, bank, Shopee, food delivery, and work notifications fighting for attention.
According to Android Authority, the new feature is part of Device Care version 13.8.80.7. Instead of blocking ads inside websites or apps like a normal ad blocker, Samsung’s tool focuses specifically on notification spam. If an app keeps sending what Samsung calls “frequent advertisement alerts,” Device Care can restrict it by placing the app into Deep Sleep mode.
That means the app gets quieted down in the background and should stop disturbing you unless you decide to allow it again.
How Samsung’s ad-spam blocking works
Samsung appears to be offering two blocking options.
The first is Basic blocking, where Samsung uses its own data to identify apps already known for pushing too many advertisement notifications. If one of those apps is installed on your phone, Device Care can block it from bothering you.
The second is Intelligent blocking, which is more active. Your phone checks incoming notifications in real time and tries to judge whether an app is sending excessive ad alerts. If the app crosses the line, Samsung can step in.
Samsung does warn that the system may not always be perfect. That is important because notification filtering can be tricky — especially in Malaysia and SEA, where some apps mix legit alerts with promo messages. For example, an e-wallet, shopping app, or travel app might send both useful transaction updates and annoying campaign blasts. If Samsung gets too aggressive, users may need to manually review what has been restricted.
You can check blocked apps through:
Settings → Device care → Care report → Excessive alerts
That should make it easier to reverse anything that gets wrongly restricted.
Why Malaysian users should care
For Malaysian Android users, this could be a small but meaningful quality-of-life upgrade. A lot of us install free apps from the Play Store or Galaxy Store, and some of them become super noisy after a while. Budget phones and older devices also tend to suffer more when too many background apps are awake, sending alerts, refreshing, and draining battery.
Putting spammy apps into Deep Sleep may help keep the notification shade cleaner, reduce distractions, and possibly save some battery. It will not magically fix every bad app, but it gives users another layer of control without needing to uninstall everything immediately.
This is especially relevant if you use your phone for gaming. Nobody wants a random ad notification dropping mid-rank match or during a tournament stream. Cleaner notifications mean less mental clutter, and honestly, that matters when your phone is your main gaming, banking, messaging, and entertainment device.
Availability is still limited
For now, the feature seems to be limited to the Galaxy S26 series. It may also be tied to One UI 8.5, which is still in the early rollout phase. Samsung has not confirmed whether older Galaxy phones will get the same option later.
Another interesting question: will Samsung’s system also block Samsung’s own promotional notifications? That would be the real test, bro. Blocking third-party spam is nice, but users will definitely notice if first-party promo alerts get special treatment.
The Device Care update is rolling out gradually through the Galaxy Store. To check manually, open the Galaxy Store, tap the menu icon, then go to Updates and look for Device Care version 13.8.80.7. If it is not there yet, you may need to wait a few days or weeks.
Source: Android Authority