Pop-up ads on Android come from your browser, apps, or malware — and the fix depends on which one
Most pop-ups appear inside your web browser when you visit certain websites. Some come from apps you have installed that show ads between content. A smaller number come from malware or unwanted software that got onto your phone without your knowledge. The fastest fix is to change your browser settings, but if pop-ups keep appearing after that, you will need to check your installed apps and run a malware scan.
This guide covers the three places pop-ups hide and how to turn them off at each one. You do not need to install anything new — Android has built-in tools for all of this.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome and Firefox both have a pop-up blocker in settings that you can turn on in under one minute.
- Apps you installed yourself often show ads between screens, and uninstalling them or turning off their notifications is the only way to stop them.
- If pop-ups keep appearing after blocking them in your browser and checking your apps, your phone may have malware that needs a scan with Google Play Protect.
- Visiting websites with many ads, clicking on ads themselves, or downloading files from untrusted sources are the most common ways pop-ups get worse.
Turn on pop-up blocking in your browser
Your web browser — whether it is Chrome, Firefox, or Samsung Internet — has a built-in pop-up blocker. It is usually on by default, but if you are seeing pop-ups, it may have been turned off or the setting got changed.
For Chrome: Open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings. Tap Site settings. Tap Pop-ups and redirects. Make sure the toggle is blue (on). If it is already on and you still see pop-ups, the pop-up may be coming from an app instead of your browser.
For Firefox: Open Firefox and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Privacy. Scroll down to Permissions and make sure Block pop-up windows has a checkmark next to it. If it already has a checkmark, move to the next section.
For Samsung Internet: Open Samsung Internet and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Useful features. Make sure Block pop-ups is turned on. The toggle should be blue.
After you turn on pop-up blocking, close your browser completely and open it again. Visit a website you know shows pop-ups and see if they still appear. If they do not, the problem is solved. If they still do, move to the next section.
Find and remove apps that show unwanted ads
Some apps show pop-ups or full-screen ads between screens or when you open them. These are usually free apps that use ads to make money. If you see pop-ups only when using a specific app, that app is the source.
Open your phone's Settings and go to Apps (or Application Manager on older phones). Look through the list for apps you do not use or do not recognize. Tap each one and look at the Install date and the Permissions section. Apps that ask for permission to display over other apps, send notifications, or access your location are more likely to be the source of unwanted pop-ups.
If you find an app you do not want, tap Uninstall. If the Uninstall button is grayed out, the app came with your phone and you cannot remove it — instead, tap Disable to turn it off. After you uninstall or disable an app, close it completely and see if the pop-ups stop.
If you use an app that shows ads but you want to keep it, you can turn off its notifications instead. Open Settings, go to Apps, find the app, tap Notifications, and turn off Allow notifications. This stops the app from sending you pop-up alerts, though ads inside the app itself will still appear.
Scan for malware with Google Play Protect
If pop-ups still appear after you turn on browser blocking and check your apps, your phone may have malware — software that got on your phone without your permission and shows ads or steals information.
Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Manage apps and device. Tap the Manage tab. Scroll down and tap Play Protect (it may say "Google Play Protect" or just show a shield icon). Tap Scan. Google Play Protect will scan all your installed apps and tell you if it finds anything harmful. If it finds something, follow the on-screen instructions to remove it.
This scan is free and built into Android. It runs in the background automatically, but running it manually when you suspect a problem is faster. The scan usually takes two to five minutes.
After the scan finishes, restart your phone by holding the power button and tapping Restart. Then open your browser and visit a website you know used to show pop-ups. If they are gone, the malware has been removed.
Stop pop-ups from coming back
Pop-ups usually get worse when you click on them, visit websites with heavy advertising, or download files from sources outside the Google Play Store. The easiest way to prevent new pop-ups is to avoid these actions.
Do not click on pop-ups — instead, tap the X button in the corner to close them. If a pop-up does not have an X button and covers your whole screen, press the back button on your phone to close it. Do not tap anywhere on the pop-up itself, because that often opens a website or installs something you do not want.
When you download apps, use the Google Play Store instead of downloading APK files from websites. The Play Store checks apps before they are available, so malware is less likely to get through. If you need an app that is not in the Play Store, research it first and read reviews from other users.
What to do if pop-ups keep appearing
If you have turned on browser pop-up blocking, uninstalled suspicious apps, and run a Google Play Protect scan but pop-ups still appear, the problem may be deeper. Some malware hides itself or comes back after a scan.
Try restarting your phone in Safe Mode, which loads only the apps that came with your phone. Hold the power button until the power menu appears. Press and hold Power off until a Safe Mode option appears, then tap it. Your phone will restart with only system apps running. Open your browser and see if pop-ups still appear. If they do not, one of your installed apps is the problem — uninstall the apps you installed most recently until the pop-ups stop.
If pop-ups appear even in Safe Mode, or if you cannot figure out which app is causing the problem, back up your important photos and files to Google Drive or another cloud service, then do a factory reset. This erases everything on your phone and returns it to the state it was in when you first bought it. Go to Settings, tap System, tap Reset options, and tap Erase all data. This is a last resort, but it removes any malware that hides from normal scans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see pop-ups only on certain websites?
Some websites have more ads than others, and some use aggressive ad networks that show pop-ups even when your blocker is on. These websites are usually not trustworthy. If a website shows pop-ups even with your blocker enabled, close it and do not visit it again. You can also try opening the same website in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one app.
Can I block ads inside apps I want to keep?
Not completely — ads inside apps are part of how the app works, and blocking them would break the app. You can turn off notifications so the app does not send you pop-up alerts, but banner ads and video ads that play between screens will still appear. If ads bother you that much, look for a paid version of the app that does not show ads.
Is it safe to download an ad blocker app?
Ad blocker apps themselves can be sources of malware or unwanted ads. Your browser's built-in pop-up blocker is safer and works better. If you want to block ads across all websites, Firefox has a built-in feature called Enhanced Tracking Protection that blocks some ad networks — turn it on in Firefox Settings under Privacy.
What does Safe Mode do?
Safe Mode loads only the apps that came with your phone, so any app you installed yourself will not run. This helps you figure out whether a pop-up is coming from an app or from your browser. If pop-ups stop in Safe Mode, you know an installed app is the problem.
Will a factory reset delete my photos and files?
Yes — a factory reset erases everything on your phone and returns it to its original state. Before you do a factory reset, back up your photos, contacts, and files to Google Drive, Google Photos, or another cloud service. After the reset, you can sign back into your Google account and download your backed-up files again.