Pop-up ads come from websites and browser extensions, and you can block most of them without paying for anything
Pop-up ads are windows that appear on top of what you're trying to read or watch. Some are ads for products, some are fake security warnings, and some try to trick you into downloading something. You can stop most of them by adjusting your browser settings, removing extensions that cause them, or using your browser's built-in blocker. The steps depend on which browser you use and where the pop-ups are coming from.
The fastest fix is usually to turn on your browser's pop-up blocker if it isn't already on. Most modern browsers have one built in and turned on by default, but sometimes websites or extensions turn it off. If pop-ups keep appearing even after you turn the blocker on, the problem is usually a browser extension you installed, or a website you visited that left something behind.
Key Takeaways
- Your browser's pop-up blocker is usually already on, but you should check your settings to make sure it hasn't been turned off.
- Browser extensions you installed can cause pop-ups even when your blocker is on, and removing them is often the fastest fix.
- Websites you visit can install code that makes pop-ups appear, and clearing your browser cache and cookies can remove it.
- If pop-ups only happen on one website, that website is the source, and you may need to stop visiting it or contact the website owner.
- Fake security warnings that look like system alerts are usually scams, and closing them without clicking anything is the safest response.
Turn on your browser's pop-up blocker
Every major browser has a pop-up blocker built in. Check whether yours is on by going to your browser settings. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Pop-ups and redirects. Make sure "Blocked (recommended)" is selected. In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select Settings, then Privacy & Security, scroll down to Permissions, and check that "Block pop-up windows" has a checkmark next to it. In Safari on a Mac, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Security, and make sure "Block pop-ups" is checked.
If your blocker is already on and pop-ups are still appearing, the problem is usually not the blocker itself. Move to the next section to check for extensions or other causes.
Remove browser extensions that cause pop-ups
Extensions are small programs you install in your browser to add features. Some extensions cause pop-ups on purpose (usually because they were paid to advertise something), and some cause them by accident because they're poorly made. If you installed an extension recently and pop-ups started around the same time, that extension is likely the cause.
In Chrome, click the three vertical dots, select More Tools, then Extensions. Look through the list for anything you don't recognize or anything you installed recently. Click the trash icon next to it to remove it. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Add-ons and Extensions, find the extension in the list, and click Remove. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Extensions, find the extension, and click Uninstall.
After you remove an extension, close your browser completely and open it again. Then visit a website where you were seeing pop-ups and see if they're gone. If pop-ups stop, the extension was the problem. If they continue, move to the next section.
Clear your browser cache and cookies
When you visit a website, your browser stores small files called cookies and cached data on your computer. Websites can use these files to track you or to install code that makes pop-ups appear. Clearing them removes most of this stored data and often stops pop-ups that are tied to websites you've visited.
In Chrome, click the three vertical dots, select More Tools, then Clear Browsing Data. A window will open. Make sure the time range at the top says "All time," check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," and click Clear Data. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Privacy, and click Manage Website Data, then click Remove All.
After clearing your cache and cookies, close your browser and open it again. The pop-ups may be gone. Keep in mind that clearing cookies will also log you out of websites where you were signed in, so you'll need to sign back in.
Check if one website is the source of the pop-ups
Sometimes pop-ups only happen on one specific website. This means that website itself is showing the pop-ups, not something on your computer. If this is the case, you have a few options: stop visiting that website, contact the website owner to report the problem, or use your browser's site-specific settings to block pop-ups from that website only.
To block pop-ups from a specific website in Chrome, visit that website, click the lock icon or information icon next to the web address at the top, click Cookies and site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects, and select Block. In Firefox, visit the website, click the information icon next to the web address, click Permissions, and toggle off Pop-ups. In Safari, visit the website, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Websites, select Pop-ups from the list on the left, find the website in the list on the right, and select Block.
Recognize and close fake security warnings
Some pop-ups pretend to be system security alerts or warnings from your operating system. They say things like "Your computer is infected" or "Click here to update your security." These are almost always scams. Real security warnings from Windows or Mac do not appear as pop-ups in your browser, and they do not ask you to click a link or download something.
If you see a pop-up that looks like a system warning, close it by clicking the X button in the corner of the pop-up window, not by clicking any button inside the pop-up. Do not click "OK," "Update," "Scan," or any other button the pop-up offers. If you cannot find an X button, press the Escape key on your keyboard to close it. If the pop-up keeps coming back, restart your computer. Do not visit the website that showed you the pop-up again.
Disable notifications from websites
Websites can ask your browser for permission to send you notifications, which are messages that appear on your screen even when you're not visiting the website. Some websites abuse this permission to send you ads disguised as notifications. If you're seeing pop-ups that look like system notifications, you may have given a website permission to send them.
In Chrome, click the three vertical dots, select Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. Look through the list for websites you don't recognize or don't want notifications from, click them, and select Block. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click Settings next to Notifications. Find the website and select Block. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Websites, select Notifications from the list on the left, and change any website you don't want notifications from to Deny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do pop-ups keep appearing even though my blocker is on?
Your blocker may be on but turned off for a specific website, or an extension you installed may be bypassing it. Check your extensions first by removing any you installed recently. If that doesn't work, clear your browser cache and cookies, which removes code websites may have installed to disable your blocker.
Is it safe to click the X button on a pop-up?
Yes, clicking the X button to close a pop-up is safe. Never click any other button inside the pop-up, especially buttons that say "OK," "Download," or "Update." The X button is the only safe way to close it.
What should I do if a pop-up says my computer has a virus?
Close it immediately by clicking the X button or pressing Escape. This is a scam. Real virus warnings do not appear as pop-ups in your browser. Do not click anything inside the pop-up, and do not visit that website again.
Will clearing my cookies log me out of everything?
Yes, clearing cookies will log you out of websites where you were signed in. You'll need to sign back in after you clear them. If you want to keep some cookies, you can select specific websites to clear instead of clearing all of them at once.
Do I need to buy software to stop pop-ups?
No. Your browser's built-in pop-up blocker and the steps in this guide are free and work for most pop-ups. Be cautious of software that claims to remove pop-ups for a price—some of it is actually malware that causes more problems.