Gamers discover how to block ads on new Xbox dashboard

By Tom Phillips Published 9 December, 2011

Badda Bing.

Xbox 360 users concerned at the prominent placement of advertisements on the console's new dashboard have devised a number of workarounds to disable them entirely.

Each method, as posted on Reddit, involves blocking the server Microsoft uses to deliver advertising to the console - rad.msn.com.

One option is to block the domain via your router, if the device's settings support this. After doing so, trying to access the domain via a computer and receiving a 404 or "security" error means the address has been blocked. Receiving a 403 error means the address has not been blocked.

A more detailed method involves using the free OpenDNS service, which can filter your connection and block specific sites. Instructions for doing this lie below, although using this method may require you to re-download any title updates for games you have played.

  1. Sign up for a free OpenDNS account.
  2. Add a network for your current IP address.
  3. Go to Advanced Settings and next to 'Domain Typos', ensure 'Enable typo correction' is checked.
  4. Go to Web Content Filtering settings and set the filtering level to 'None', and under 'Manage individual domains', put rad.msn.com and select 'Always block' and then click 'Add domain'.
  5. On your Xbox, go to System Settings -> Network Settings -> (your connection) -> Configure Network -> DNS settings -> Manual, and enter the OpenDNS IP addresses for the primary and secondary DNS servers: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
  6. Clear your hard drive cache: System Settings -> Storage -> Hard Drive -> press Y -> Clear System Cache

Microsoft launched its Metro-themed Xbox dashboard this week to a mixed response. "There are benefits here, but it's also an unwieldy update that feels designed more as a way to dazzle and seduce," Dan Whitehead wrote in Eurogamer's new Xbox dashboard overview.

Xbox Live Indie Game makers spoke to Eurogamer in an article published this morning, one branding the new desktop design "an advertiser's dream".

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (89) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • WadiumArcadium #1 6 months ago

    The ads don't bother me that much, so I won't be trying this, good to have the option though. It's by no means a great redesign, but I don't hate it.

  • OllyJ #2 6 months ago

    I've not tested it yet but are the ads THAT bad? Are they for used tampons or something?

  • Bahumet #3 6 months ago

    Oh they aren't going to like this!

  • slowbots #4 6 months ago

    Hehehehe, nice one EG.

    Bring this to the massess and take Microsoft up the ass.......

  • tachometer #5 6 months ago

    I doubt microsoft will be worried by the tiny fraction of people doing this

  • JBlokeUK #6 6 months ago

    "New XBox 360 update an advertisers dream".

    Not anymore?

  • Shikasama #7 6 months ago

    So what are you actually doing? Replacing the ads with a black/white screen?

    How is that going to make the interface look any better, or games easier to find?

  • CaptainQuint #8 6 months ago

    When I visit rad.msn.com. I get this:

    Bad Request - Invalid Hostname

    HTTP Error 400. The request hostname is invalid.

    Does that mean my Virgin router is already blocking the ads without having to do anything?

    I did try visiting that site earlier and I got a different, 404 Forbidden, page.

  • patch #9 6 months ago

    Today it's rad.msn.com, tomorrow it'll be something else. If only you could get adblock plus for 360...

  • metallicorphan #10 6 months ago

    I wish you could get rid of whole 'walls'(for want of a better name),or put what squares you want in, i don't use music on my 360 so all that wall could go,don't use ZUNE or ZUNE player either,I made sure to delete the player when it would takes ages to load up just to watch a video game clip i had downloaded from the marketplace

  • Cadence #11 6 months ago

    Yeah the lack of customization is bad. I'd like it to default to the games tab for a start.

  • vert1go #12 6 months ago

    So long Xbox Adboard.

  • streetmagix #13 6 months ago

    Am I right in thinking that even if you have a Gold sub you still get adverts? If so that's a rip off (PSN is free and has no ads)

  • Dr_Wadd #14 6 months ago

    I've not tested this, but I'm assuming it will work if your router also allows the blocking of specific domains. My router already blocks Facebook and a number of advertising providers from all machines on my network, so I'll have to try adding this as well.

    I guess the only downside is that I won't get the adverts for when Marketplace content is on offer, and I've managed to pick up several good bargains that way.

  • drhickman1983 #15 6 months ago

    The ads don't really bother me either, its more that I'm really not liking the new layour at all, with games being tucked away. The only thing I used the dashboard for was for quickly looking at what new arcade and indie games and what new demos are available, which is now far more hassle. Don't care about video, films, or any of the other stuff that has been given prominence.

    So changing the ads into a non-descript box doesn't really solve anything for me.

  • Liquidoodle #16 6 months ago

    The new dashboard is like Brian's waistcoat in Spaced...

    I think they should burn it. Because if they lose it, they might find it again for the next XBox :(

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #17 6 months ago

    @Shikasama

    You would presume not as not everyone has there xbox connected to internet all the time, sureley MS have done a more elegant solution when it cant contact the ad server.
    Edited by GamesProgrammer at 09/12/11 @ 12:36

  • Spong #18 6 months ago

    This is a Godsend. Bit of a dirty workaround, but it's better than the ad-mongous Dash I'm staring at right now.

  • arcam #19 6 months ago

    @Dr_Wadd Looking at a screenshot, it seems the content featured by Microsoft isn't blocked, so you'll still see Marketplace promos. This just blocks external ads paid for by outside companies.

    EDIT: As you can see, the box is replaced by some creepy smiling avatars.
    Edited by arcam at 09/12/11 @ 12:39

  • Slipstream #20 6 months ago

    The ads aren't intrusive at all, the best way to 'block' them is not to run your cursor over them?

    Further more, with these revelations posted on the net MS will produce a workaround. gg.

  • ubergine #21 6 months ago

    This update is unweildy garbage. Ubisoft are having a massive sale but finding the stuff is just awful. Apparently pushing all the stuff you are not interested in over the stuff you are will make you interested in that shit. "It's like how they put milk up the back of the supermarket to make people walk past chocolate bars!" Except that chocolate bars are delicious and I don't want to have 11 button presses before I reach the Marketplace tab, you fucking wankers.

  • Subdominator #22 6 months ago

    Bunch of hypocrits at Eurogamer? I wonder if they would write a news on how to block ads from Eurogamer.net.

  • Sid-Nice #23 6 months ago

    I haven't had time to do the update; I hope these ads aren't someone else telling me "I need a Rolex watch and I have a small cock." :(

  • TheVoice #24 6 months ago

    @Subdominator When you start paying for Eurogamer, you can start complaining about ads.

    Anyway, tried blocking the rads.msn.com domain on my O2 Wireless Box but it doesn't seem to have taken effect.
    Edited by TheVoice at 09/12/11 @ 12:52

  • Slipstream #25 6 months ago

    @Sid-Nice hahaha xD

  • JodaCast #26 6 months ago

    Im not bothered at all by the ads. Advertising about gaming for gamers is actually stuff I dont mind seeing, and if the unit is unused anyway...why not show a gaming deal I might be interested in?
    If they started showing those awful "UK mum finds £3 anti wrinkle solution" ads THEN Id want to block them. But Xbox ads will be for gamers and not random web ads that are complete bull.

  • CaptainQuint #27 6 months ago

    Wow, Subdominator is on a wanker roll today.

  • ryohazuki1983 #28 6 months ago

    Back in the day (years and years ago) I disabled rad.msn.com to get rid off ads within MSN...

    @Subdominator - use firefox and get Adblock Plus, EG is then ad-free.

  • Rack #29 6 months ago

    Result!

    Edit: Although disappointingly it seems to only block a small proportion of the ads, you still get an eyeful of whatever crummy movies they're trying to force down your throat.
    Edited by Rack at 09/12/11 @ 13:02

  • Ranger101 #30 6 months ago

    @streetmagix
    Being an owner of both the PS3 and the 360, I can comfortably say that the 360 experience and service is worth the money, though having the Games tab further away has detracted now from teh experience.

    Cloud saves, beacons and expanding party options are always welcome. As are the various xbox/gaming shows that Microsoft produces.

  • Iron_Napa_76 #31 6 months ago

    Seriously guys is it really a problem?

    Not sure what some of you guys are actually doing with the dashboard but I would say i spend about 5-10 mins per week in the dashboard.

    The console is used to play games, not for flicking through menu options on a dashboard looking at settings.

    Get a life guys, its an UPDATE, get used to it, its here to stay.

    We live in a world full of adverts, get used to them.

  • Toothball #32 6 months ago

    I haven't really noticed the ads so far. I'm aware that they're there, but so far I've not really dwelt on a given screen long enough for them to bother me. Glad to know there's a way around it though.

  • arcam #33 6 months ago

    @Iron_Napa_76 "Get used to it", the cry of the passive consumer.

    You get used to it if you like, but while we have the technology to block it, and the voice to argue against it, lots of us will do so.

  • Phishfood #34 6 months ago

    unfortunately my router cannot block https

  • drhickman1983 #35 6 months ago

    The console is used to play games, not for flicking through menu options on a dashboard looking at settings.
    I agree, which is why it's annoying it's now slightly more fiddly to look up new arcade and indie games. The adverts aren't really a concern for me. I'm disgruntled by the layout. Yes, I'll manage. But no, I won't ever like this new layout.

  • Toothball #36 6 months ago

    @CaptainQuint

    The 400 you're getting probably means that that server doesn't respond to regular HTTP requests. Are you sure you got a 404 on your second attempt and not a 403? 403 is the usual forbidden message, while a 404 is for a page that isn't there. Either way, I suspect you'll still be receiving ads.

    </nerd>

  • Beano #37 6 months ago

    "Bunch of hypocrits at Eurogamer? I wonder if they would write a news on how to block ads from Eurogamer.net."
    The big difference is EG is free while Xbox is not.

    For me, the biggest issue is not that there are ads, but that they take most of the space on Home and Games pages - space that could be used for the console owner's content or something useful... latest achievements, stats, etc. I know Fifa 2012 is out - STOP TELLING ME!!!
    Edited by Beano at 09/12/11 @ 13:31

  • Kaonazhie #38 6 months ago

    Too much effort. Maybe Microsoft can just make it so that I'm not paying £40 a year just so I can play games online, have early access to some demos and look at ads.

    Not saying they should make gold free (although that would be great) but more that they need to add more worthwhile features to it for people who play games and don't care about watching TV or movies on their xbox. PSN+ seems to have some good options, no? How about giving gold subscribers a free (arcade) game every 12 months? How about giving us some actual worthwhile perks?

  • GrumpyLlama #39 6 months ago

    @Subdominator Ad Blocker plus

  • Bigglesworth #40 6 months ago

    I wouldn't be surprised if it is soon written into the XBL EULA (if indeed the new update didn't already do so) that domain blocking must not be employed. Expect to see a whole new raft of banned accounts followed by another round of embarrassed MS backpeddling.

  • seeafish #41 6 months ago

    @CaptainQuint no it just means that rad.msn.com doesn't actually do anythinig. You (or more correctly your XBOX) need to pass it some kind of value for it to serve an ad to you. Your dashboard will call a URL like rad.msn.com/ads/getad.aspx?id=134 (<-- just a made up example). Or they could be even more cryptic and pass referrers to other URLs.
    In any case, rad.msn.com showing whatever error is Microsoft blocking you access to it, not your Virgin Media.

    And why did people -1 this? It was a fair question =/

  • RodHull #42 6 months ago

    Until I read the phew-rory on sites such as this, I barely noticed the ads during the past few weeks of the preview program. Best not tell MS this though, lest they make them more prominent.

  • RichyRichh77 #43 6 months ago

    @GrumpyLlama You beat me to it! Adblock Plus is a must for sites like Eurogamer and the TheRegister, viewing them without it must make even the baby Jesus cry with the glare of the ads. :)
    Edited by RichyRichh77 at 09/12/11 @ 13:42

  • The-Jack-Burton #44 6 months ago

    Thank you!

  • Beano #45 6 months ago

    @RichyRichh77 I just discovered ABP - thanks for the heads up :)

    EG seems to look the same though - what filter provider are you using?

    EDIT: Never mind - tried "Easy-List" which did the trick.
    Edited by Beano at 09/12/11 @ 13:52

  • Gusdor #46 6 months ago

    @CaptainQuint No, all that means is that rads.msn.com does not service http requests.

  • Gusdor #47 6 months ago

    @streetmagix PSN is also rubbish.

  • Xardan #48 6 months ago

    A blank white box instead of ads would not look better.

  • Sodding_Gamer #49 6 months ago

    This is silly. I know this dashboard sucks, the adverts suck, but come on seriously?! You would rather have a blank box there instead?! Fair enough if they found a way of removing the box completely but still this is a bit OTT imo.

  • Ranger101 #50 6 months ago

    @Iron_Napa_76 In a brave new console world of DLC and digital-only titles, the interface within which we browse, purchase and find these titles to play is extremely important.

    By marginalising the accessibility of the games I've purchased or (intend to purchase), Microsoft are also marginalising my reason for buying their console in the first place. Now, that's a bit hyperbolic, but seriously, man, the Games tab is 4 clicks away.

  • TheVoice #51 6 months ago

    @JodaCast The ads on the dashboard aren't just for gaming-related items though. As I said in the other article, there are - or have been - ads for BT, Intel, Lynx, Infiniti, Ford and Hollyoaks.

  • loveless #52 6 months ago

    I'm not all that bothered by the ads.

    What I'm bothered about is that it is an efficient and annoying thing to try to interact with, using a controller.

    I have no intention of EVER using Kinect to interact with the dashboard (Kinect is a fun toy, and good for certain types of games - but I'm not going to wave at my TV screen like a freaking idiot to download a demo).

    Keep the phone / touchscreen interface where it belongs - on a touchscreen. Stop ruining every other device by trying to shoehorn an interface style that isn't suited to it.

  • levitate #53 6 months ago

    I haven't seen the new Xbox 360 interface but it reminds me of the TiVo, which I have for my TV.

  • RodHull #54 6 months ago

    @levitate

    It's not very similar, except for the proliferation of ads.

  • Puzza #55 6 months ago

    Any excuse to have the video of old David Mitchell

  • KopparbergDave #56 6 months ago

    The thing that riles me about the dashboard on the 360, and not just this latest update either, is that it literally forces adverts on its users where I believe we have every right NOT to have them. If there were only ads for Silver subscribers I could almost understand. But paying for a subscription to Gold Xbox Live and yet still seeing the dashboard of the hardware I OWN cluttered with ads feels just a little bit violating. I don't mind ads if I specifically go to a marketplace part of the store. But on the home panes etc I think they are a pretty vulgar sight. One benefit the PS3 has over the Xbox 360.

  • WinterSnowblind #57 6 months ago

    @OllyJ The ads aren't so bad, they mainly advertise new content on the dashboard or at worst, new movies up on the Zune player.

    So they're not super intrusive, but having a massive square in the middle of the home page just for the ads is pretty bad, considering a lot of people are paying for this service.

    But if it really bothers you this much.. stop paying the gold subscription.

  • lennon #58 6 months ago

    Why anyone would be bothered enough to do this is beyond me. I mean every where you go these days we are bombarded by advertising. Surely the brain just learns to filter it out?

  • JodaCast #59 6 months ago

    @TheVoice I agree mate, keeping on topic, I hope that if a Gold member blocks this its only blocking commercial ads and not offers for cheap game deals or the latest movie releases. I do watch films sometimes with zune (1080p 5.1 streaming is pretty impressive) but I dont visit the app once a week. Id like to see the new releases on the dashboard and not hidden in the app. At least the commercial ads are mostly aimed at our audience.
    Our favorite gaming websites exist because of advertising. It's the ads that mean nothing to me (Wrinkle cream ads or Tesco offers) that I would not want to see on Xbox.
    Even then, we are talking about a couple of small boxes on the screen. Lets not get into In-game advertising...! Gah!

  • DyingAtheist #60 6 months ago

    @Subdominator You're confusing a website supported entirely by advertising money with a console for which you have already paid.

  • irvingswiftj #61 6 months ago

    I'm guessing that MS's next patch will disallow you to be online if there is no connection to rad.msn.com
    If I was MS that's what I would do.

  • JodaCast #62 6 months ago

    @DyingAtheist The cost of the console does not include the cost of running the servers for the demos downloaded and the patches needed for the millions of folks (both Silver and Gold) out there (In the same way a MMRPG uses subs or microtransactions). A nice option would be for Xbox to allow Gold members to turn off Commercial Advertising because they are already supporting the service monetarily. IGN Prime offers this service for their subscribers. You can turn off the various ads (Although it does leave some ugly looking basic IGN house ads asking you to Like them in facebook).

  • superdelphinus #63 6 months ago

    Seems a lot of trouble to avoid something that no one is forcing you to click on?

  • 8bitMofo #64 6 months ago

    I only get one Advert showing, the rest are all placement holders already.
    Edited by 8bitMofo at 09/12/11 @ 17:25

  • Ranger101 #65 6 months ago

    @JodaCast Scarily, before this update, I was seeing ads for HOLLYOAKS in spotlight!

    HOLLYOAKS! On MY xbox!?

  • Bibbo #66 6 months ago

    It amazes me how many people are bothered by the tiny ads in the bottom of the corner. I'm never on the dash long enough to look at them.

  • tancredo #67 6 months ago

    I don't really have a problem with the ads.

    - Just let me personalize the order of the tabs so I can have the games closer to the beginning instead of back at the end.

    - And most importantly, let me personalize the tiles I want on each section. In my case for example, having an Arcade market tile, an indie market tile, an On-demand tile, and a My colletion tile on the game section or on the Home section would be perfect

    If I can do it on a W8 phone, why can't I do it on my 360?

  • callum9999 #68 6 months ago

    @Iron_Napa_76 OBVIOUSLY it's a problem, hence why there are so many people on here moaning about it and so many people trying to block them.

    Of course it's a trivial issue, but that doesn't mean it should just be ignored. Are you honestly going to tell me that you let any small issues in your life that you can sort out with ease just stay there because "seriously, is it really a problem"?

  • Ranger101 #69 6 months ago

    @tancredo Amen brother. My Windows phone does it well.

  • VibratingDonkey #70 6 months ago

    Don't really know what good this would do. Instead of a tile with an ad in it you get what?

    Ok I don't see how this is an improvement.
    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zBgQGAy9A6s/TuEh8QpTuWI/AAAAAAAAABg/Mr0EYE4uZFc/s720/photo%2525281%252529.JPG

  • des #71 6 months ago

    nice

    I support this

  • mooseti #72 6 months ago

    Surely an almighty cock up from MS here with the redesign?

    I haven't read a positive line about it.

  • DandyKong #73 6 months ago

    Ads on the dashboard??? So is Live Gold free now?

  • TazerFan #74 6 months ago

    I haven't played around with it too much, but uh, what ads? The game in the tray is highlighted when I boot up, and the other tiles don't contain ads. I checked out the apps and didn't see advertisements there either. If I have to go out of my way to find them, I get the sense that the vocal minority might be blowing this one a tad out of proportion...

  • Smudge1983 #75 6 months ago

    I dont see the big issue, its not like they are advertising bum beads. The new dash looks great, welldone Microsoft.

  • TazerFan #76 6 months ago

    @DandyKong

    Ads in The Guardian? So are subscriptions to that free now???

  • Dizzy #77 6 months ago

    You can block ads anywhere on the internet. Want to know how to block the EG ones?

    :)

  • Neil__ #78 6 months ago

    @Dizzy
    Get Adblock plus.
    hardly a big secret.
    Edited by Neil__ at 09/12/11 @ 19:01

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #79 6 months ago

    me thinks eurogamer works for microsoft! eh! eh! eh!

  • Kikizosan #80 6 months ago

    If I'm seeing ads, I expect gold subscriptions to either be heavily reduced in price or to just have free online gaming. That's pretty much the deal engrained in me from every single other ad-funded/ad-free gaming service out there.

  • Jon1292 #81 6 months ago

    @patch Maybe someday, but it'll have to be Kinect compatible....

  • Okamiwolf #82 6 months ago

    This basically just puts the dashboard into offline mode. Doesn't change the illogical layout of the boxes (generally, the more important the box, the smaller it is) or the fact the useful game related ones are still buried behind other social network garbage most gamers don't care about. This doesn't really fix the fundamental problems with the new dash.

  • ShiroBen #83 6 months ago

    How do I block the hideousness of the new interface? Is there a 'hack' for that?

  • DwarfyP #84 6 months ago

    If the ads in the Dashboard bother you THAT much then you are spending too long in the Dashboard.

  • DwarfyP #85 6 months ago

    @mooseti I love the new Dashboard. I'm used to it from the Windows Phone 7 and everything is clean, easy to find and quick.

    People bitch and moan at anything new. Just watch, the new Xbox will have a different Dashboard and everyone will bitch that they should have kept the one we have now cos they are used to it. Everyone complained at the last Dashboard update and now look, everyone is defending it.

  • Mr_Fujisawa #86 6 months ago

    Seriously? People are that bothered about a small square advert for something? I know that whenever something is released, the vocal minority cry foul over it being the worst thing to happen ever in the history of the world, but a small advert?!

    As for the larger squares stating that 'there's some content out' or 'Fifa 12' is out. Well everyone isn't like you, they're not all on games sites knowing exactly what's coming out. So if I'm a content provider I'm going to want that big square on the front page to let the casual Xbox player know that Fifa 12 is out or my new ace bit of DLC is available.

    Until I go to load Skyrim and it says "your game will start after this sponsor message' I really don't give a crap about a tiny advert.

  • SirRodSpode #87 6 months ago

    Post deleted at 09:50:27 12-12-2011

  • AshNG #88 6 months ago

    The ads aren't that much of an issue, hey.. some people may find it useful!

  • SYGUY7 #89 6 months ago

    Because the new dashboard contains adverts from other companies does this mean that the royalties that Microsoft collects from these companies will get poured back into better dashboard content such as ALL FREE TV CHANNELS and loads of othe upcoming content free and not squeezing MORE fucking money out of the people that keep Xbox LIVE afloat. Is anyone with me on this?