LDPlayer is known as one of the fastest and lightest Android emulators for Windows PCs. However, recent updates have added many ads to the emulator. Users now see startup splash screens, app suggestions on the home screen, pop-up ads, and background services that show promotions.
These ads use system RAM, make unwanted network requests, and make the emulator less enjoyable to use. The good news is that you do not have to keep them. By turning off the ad-related system parts, blocking cache folders, and replacing the default launcher, you can remove almost all ads while keeping LDPlayer fast for gaming.
Why LDPlayer Has So Many Ads (And How They Work)
LDPlayer shows ads in three main ways through its customized Android system and Windows files.
The Default Launcher (LDLauncher / Launcher3)
The home screen is not a normal Android launcher. It is a custom launcher that includes promotional banners, trending game sections, and automatic app download shortcuts.
Background System Apps (LDAppStore / XuanZhi Services)
Some background apps regularly connect to LDPlayer servers to download promotional content. They can also show pop-up ads while games are running.
Host-Level Splash Caches
Before Android finishes loading, LDPlayer uses a cache folder on Windows to show startup splash ads.
To remove these ads completely, you need to make changes both in Windows and inside the Android system.
Method 1: Replace the Default LDPlayer Launcher
The easiest way to remove most of the ads on the home screen is to replace the default launcher with a clean launcher like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RECOMMENDED DEBLOAT STRATEGY │
├──────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┤
│ Action │ Impact │
├──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. Alternative Launcher │ Removes home screen ads │
│ 2. Windows Hosts File │ Blocks ad server connections │
│ 3. Lock Cache Folder │ Stops startup splash ads │
│ 4. Private DNS │ Blocks in-game/in-app ads │
└──────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
Step 1: Install a Custom Launcher
Open LDPlayer Emulator and go to the System Apps folder or the Google Play Store.
Search for Nova Launcher, or drag and drop a trusted Nova Launcher APK into the emulator window to install it.
Step 2: Set the New Default Home App
Open Settings inside Android. Do not use the settings button on the emulator sidebar.
Go to Apps & Notifications > Default apps > Home app.
Select Nova Launcher as the default launcher.
Press the Home button on the LDPlayer sidebar. You should now see a clean home screen without the built-in ads.
Method 2: Block LDPlayer Ad Domains in the Windows Hosts File
LDPlayer connects to certain domains to download ads and game recommendations. By sending these domains to 0.0.0.0 in the Windows Hosts file, LDPlayer cannot download the ad content.
Step 1: Open the Hosts File as Administrator
Open the Windows Start menu and search for Notepad.
Right-click Notepad and choose Run as administrator.
Click File > Open and go to:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
Change the file type from Text Documents (.txt) to All Files.
Open the hosts file.
Step 2: Add the Ad Blocking Rules
Paste these lines at the bottom of the file.
# LDPlayer Ad & Tracking Domains
0.0.0.0 res.ldrescdn.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.ldplayer.net
0.0.0.0 encdn.ldplayer.com
0.0.0.0 apiid.ldmnq.com
0.0.0.0 ad.ldplayer.net
0.0.0.0 middledata.ldmnq.com
Step 3: Flush the DNS Cache
Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Run this command:
ipconfig /flushdns
This stops LDPlayer from downloading remote promotional images, banner ads, and recommendation content.
Method 3: Lock the Startup Splash Ad Cache Folder
When LDPlayer starts, it checks a local cache folder for splash screen ads. You can stop this by clearing the folder and removing its permissions so LDPlayer cannot use it again.
Close LDPlayer completely. Make sure no LDPlayer processes are running in Task Manager.
Press Win + R, enter:
%AppData%\XuanZhi9\cache
or
%AppData%\XuanZhi\cache
depending on your version, and press Enter.
Delete everything inside the cache folder.
Go back to:
%AppData%\XuanZhi9\
Right-click the cache folder and select Properties.
Open the Security tab and click Advanced.
Click Disable inheritance, then choose Remove all inherited permissions from this object.
Click Apply, confirm the security message, and click OK.
Since LDPlayer can no longer read from or write to this folder, it skips the startup splash ad and starts Android directly.
Method 4: Remove App Overlay and Usage Permissions
LDPlayer uses permissions such as Display over other apps to show promotional pop-ups over games. Turning off these permissions prevents those pop-ups.
Inside LDPlayer, go to:
Settings > Apps & Notifications
Open Advanced, then select Special app access.
Tap Display over other apps.
Turn off this permission for LDAppStore, Game Center, Hot Apps, and any app with XuanZhi or LD in its name.
Go back to Special app access, open Usage access, and turn off permission for those same apps.
Method 5: Enable Private DNS
To block ads inside games and apps, use Android’s built-in Private DNS feature.
Open:
Settings > Network & Internet
Tap Private DNS.
Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
Enter one of these:
dns.adguard-dns.comdns.nextdns.io
Save the changes.
This sends network traffic through an ad-blocking DNS service and blocks many banner ads and video ad servers.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Issue 1: LDPlayer Changes Back to the Default Launcher
Some updates or system resets may set LDLauncher3 as the default launcher again.
Solution: Turn on Root Permission in Emulator Settings > Other Settings > Root Permission.
Install a root file manager such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer.
Go to:
/system/app/
or
/system/priv-app/
Find the Launcher3 or LDLauncher folder and rename it by adding .bak to the end, such as Launcher3.bak.
Restart LDPlayer.
Issue 2: Emulator Stops at 94% During Startup
This can happen if the Windows Hosts file blocks important verification servers together with the ad servers.
Solution: Open the Hosts file again and remove this line:
0.0.0.0 apiid.ldmnq.com
Run:
ipconfig /flushdns
Then restart LDPlayer.
Issue 3: Apps Crash After Disabling Services
Turning off important Android services like Google Play Services can make apps crash.
Solution: Only disable packages related to the LDPlayer store, such as com.android.flysilkworm, LDAppStore, and XuanZhi services.
Do not disable Google system services.
Comparing Debloated LDPlayer with Other Emulators
If you want an emulator that needs fewer changes, there are other options available.
| Emulator | Out-of-the-Box Ads | Performance / Resource Usage | Ad Removal Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDPlayer 9 (Modified) | None after tweaks | Excellent, low RAM and CPU usage | Medium |
| MuMu Player 12 | Very few | High performance with DirectX/Vulkan | Easy |
| BlueStacks 5 | Many | Moderate, with more background services | Hard |
| Waydroid (Linux) | None | Native Linux performance | None |
LDPlayer shows many ads by default. However, replacing the launcher, locking the cache folder, and editing the Windows Hosts file can make it clean again while keeping its fast performance.