How to stop pop-up ads on Android phone in 2024

If ads keep popping up on your Android phone, the best way to get rid of them is to install Android antivirus software. It will scan your device for malicious programs, and upon locating an Android pop-up virus, remove it. Furthermore, a good antivirus also provides ad blocking even if there are no Android viruses.

Alternatively, you can tweak Android and your browser settings to stop pop-ups without third-party antivirus. The exact steps depend on your smartphone and browser models, but we will provide guidelines to block pop-ups on most Androids.

Unwanted ads on Android are a nuisance, but they are also risky. A malicious pop-up can redirect you to websites filled with other malware or even trigger a drive-by download to infect your device. In this article, we explain how to remove pop-up ads on Android manually or with an antivirus.

Why do ads keep popping up on my Android phone

Androids do not display pop-ups and ads but let third-party software do it. Software developers use ads to monetize their work, and the more they show, the more money they make.

However, there are other reasons why pop-ups occur on Android. Shady software developers may place dubious apps in the Google Play Store that make random ads pop up on your phone. While antivirus software can help detect and block such harmful programs, it’s crucial to understand their origin to avoid such occurrences in the future. Here are the most common reasons why ads are coming to your Android phone.

• Pop-up ads are enabled in your browser settings. Web browsers allow ads and pop-ups to promote services and get funds for software developers. Although most pop-up ads are legitimate, some can lead to dubious websites filled with Android malware.
• You have downloaded malicious software. This is likely the case if you are getting ads on your phone all of a sudden. While most Android adware displays ads and pop-ups to drive more traffic to the attacker’s website, some may act as spyware to steal your data, posing a significant threat.
• You have visited a malicious website. If you mistakenly click on a fraudulent ad that leads to a malicious website, it can modify your Android browser to display more unwanted ads and pop-ups. Luckily, good antivirus software like TotalAV can help protect against such threats.

Remove pop-ups on android with TotalAV

How to stop unwanted pop ups on Android phone browser?

If random ads are popping on your Android, that does not necessarily mean you have contracted an Android pop-up ad virus. Some websites push ads display to the limits, which you can prevent by tweaking your browser’s settings. Here’s how to stop spam pop-ups on Android browsers.

1. Open the browser you use on Android
2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner and go to Setting
   
3. Locate Site settings and tap on it
4. Go to Pop-ups and redirects section and move the slide to the left to turn them off
5. Go back to the Site settings and choose Notifications
6. Turn off all notifications or scroll down to disable them on specific websites

These steps were written for the most popular Chrome browser but are similar to those for other well-known browsers.

How to get rid of pop-up virus on Android?

If you installed a third-party browser extension or app or clicked on a suspicious link and suddenly your screen is filled with irritating ads and flashy pop-ups, then an Android pop-up virus is likely infecting your phone. Here’s how to remove the pop-up virus on Android in three ways.

1. Reboot your device into safe mode and find infected apps

1. Press and hold the Power button until the power menu is displayed
2. Depending on your Android model, tap and hold the Reboot or Power off options
3. Agree to Reboot into safe mode
   
   
4. After reboot, go to phones Settings and Apps & notifications
5. Select See all apps
   
6. Go through the app list and locate the malicious entry, or look for the apps you don’t remember installing.

2. Scan apps with Play Protect via Google Play

1. Go to Google Play Store and tap on your Profile in the upper right
2. Choose the Play Protect option
3. Tap the Settings in the upper right corner
4. Turn on Scan apps with Play protect
5. (optional) Turn on Improve harmful app detection
6. Go back to the Play Protect main window and tap on Scan

Android will limit access to camera, microphone, location, file and storage, and contact information for suspicious apps or those you haven’t used for three months.

3. Install reliable antivirus software

Some malware is incredibly challenging to remove manually, so we recommend scanning your Android with an antivirus to block unwanted ads and pop-ups. TotalAV Mobile Security has excellent Android protection features.

1. Install a robust antivirus software. For Android, we recommend TotalAV, now 80% OFF.
2. Head over to the Google Play Store and search for the chosen antivirus
3. Download and install it on your Android
4. Launch the app and create the account or log in
5. Scan your device and follow antivirus instructions to quarantine and remove the infection

Get TotalAV protection

How to stop pop-up ads on Samsung phone?

Samsung makes one of the best Androids, but a plethora of frustrating ads and pop-ups can ruin the experience. What’s worse, you can see them in your web browser, lock screen, third-party apps, and even proprietary Samsung apps. Here’s how to stop pop-up ads on Samsung S22, but other models have similar steps.

1. Go to your Samsung Settings
2. Choose the Samsung Account section
3. Tap on the Privacy option and then Customization service
4. Turn off customization to prevent personalized ads and pop-ups

How to stop pop-up ads on Android phone home screen

Pop-ups on the Android home screen are rare, so the chances are good that a malicious program is hijacking it. Here are several tips on how to stop pop-up ads on Android phone home screen.

• Install a privacy-oriented web browser with built-in ad-blocking features
• Tweak your Android and Google Play Store settings to limit allowed ads and pop-ups
• Avoid installing third-party software and only get apps from Google Play Store
• Do not click on suspicious ads or download dubious email attachments that could infect your Android with a virus
• If you notice a home screen pop-up surge after downloading a specific app, remove it or go through its settings to turn off notifications

How to know if your Android phone infected with adware?

Because ads and pop-ups are common, it may not be immediately apparent that you have contracted Android adware. Here are the warning signs you should out for:

• You notice ads and pop-ups appearing in unusual places, like your home screen
• You notice out-of-context ads, like the hot content pop-up on Android promoting dating sites
• New apps are appearing on your device that you don’t remember installing
• Your Android or web browser may show abnormal behavior, like sudden freezes and crashes
• Your Android uses more mobile data and runs out of battery quicker than it used to

How to find adware on Android?

Here are general guidelines on locating adware on Android.

• Inspect the ad content and look for relations with apps on your phone. If you notice similarities, remove the app or modify its settings to turn off ads and pop-ups
• Verify whether the pop-ups started after downloading a particular app; it is likely the culprit
• Go through your app’s settings to see which is causing pop-up ads

How to prevent pop-ups on Android phone?

Even if you use a reliable Android antivirus with built-in ad-blocking features like TotalAV, you will still see legitimate ads and pop-ups. Here’s how to minimize their numbers:

• Use a web browser with ad-blocking capabilities to limit unwanted pop-ups on Android
• Go to your Android Settings and look for Ads or Google section. Tap on it and look for ad management options, such as deleting your advertising ID to limit personalized ads
• Go through your apps and inspect their settings one by one. Limit ads and pop-ups whenever possible
• If your chosen app displays too many ads and does not allow turning it off, look for similar apps with fewer advertisements
• Deny access to storage and location data for apps that do not require it because it can be used for targeted ads

Check out the best antivirus

Final thoughts

Some ads are valuable and draw your attention to something you need. But many just use your mobile data and drain the battery to fill your screen with distractions. What’s worse, if you notice random pop-ups with little relevance, you may have a virus on your Android.

Luckily, there are several ways to stop pop-up ads on Android phone. Firstly, we recommend subscribing to a reliable antivirus with ad-blocking features. Our top pick is TotalAV, which has excellent malware detection rates but also disables unwanted ads even if your phone is virus-free.

Keep in mind that avoiding all ads is nearly impossible, even with the best adblocker. Follow the steps discussed above to manually tweak your Android and app settings to limit access to your data. This will decrease the number of personalized ads you see while browsing.

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FAQ

Why am I getting ads on my phone all of a sudden?

You are getting ads on your phone all of the sudden if your Android has contracted adware or a newly downloaded app displays them. We recommend scanning your phone with a mobile-friendly antivirus, like TotalAV, to locate and remove pop-up viruses on Android. Simultaneously, change your Android and app permissions to limit the number of ads.

Why am I getting pop ups on my android phone?

You are getting pop-ups on your Android because a particular app displays them. Androids do not display ads or pop-ups but allow applications to show them. Remember that software developers get money for showing ads, and some apps may be filled with them to make more money.

Why does my phone redirect to unwanted pages?

If you notice unintentional redirects to unwanted pages, your phone is likely infected with a virus or a browser hijacker. These shady websites can host more malicious programs, so we recommend immediately scanning your Android with an antivirus, like TotalAV.