Where pop-ups come from and how to stop them

Pop-ups in Windows 10 fall into two categories: ones from websites you visit in your browser, and ones from Windows itself or programs installed on your computer. Website pop-ups are easiest to block because your browser has built-in tools. Windows pop-ups and program notifications are trickier because they come from different places — some are settings you can turn off, others are ads from programs you installed, and a few are legitimate system messages you actually need.

The fastest way to reduce pop-ups is to turn on your browser's pop-up blocker first, then disable notifications from Windows, then check which programs are sending you ads. Most people find that these three steps stop 90 percent of what's interrupting them.

Key Takeaways

  • Your web browser has a pop-up blocker built in — turn it on in Settings if it is not already active.
  • Windows 10 itself sends notifications that you can disable in Settings under System, then Notifications & Actions.
  • Programs you installed may be set to show ads or notifications by default — check their settings or uninstall them if you do not use them.
  • If a pop-up asks you to update software or claims your computer is infected, close it by clicking the X button, not the pop-up's buttons.

Turn on your browser's pop-up blocker

Every major browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — blocks most pop-ups by default, but the setting can be turned off. Open your browser and look for Settings or Preferences in the menu.

In Google Chrome: Click the three-line menu in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy and Security on the left. Click Site Settings. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects. Make sure "Blocked (recommended)" is selected.

In Microsoft Edge: Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services on the left. Scroll down to Site permissions and click Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle the switch to On.

In Firefox: Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy & Security on the left. Under Permissions, find the Pop-ups section and check the box next to "Block pop-up windows."

Disable Windows 10 notifications and alerts

Windows 10 sends you notifications about updates, system messages, and app alerts. Many of these are useful, but you can turn off the ones that interrupt you most.

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Click System on the left side. Click Notifications & actions. You will see a list of toggles. Turn off "Get notifications from apps and other senders" if you want to stop almost all notifications. If you want to keep some notifications but disable others, scroll down to "Get notifications from these senders" and turn off individual apps one by one.

If you see pop-ups about Windows updates, go back to Settings, click Update & Security on the left, then Windows Update. Click "Change active hours" and set the hours when you use your computer most. Windows will not restart during those hours, which reduces surprise pop-ups.

Find and remove programs sending you ads

Some programs you installed come with built-in ads or notifications. These are harder to spot because they do not always identify themselves clearly. Start by looking at what programs are running.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Click the Processes tab. Look through the list for programs you do not recognize or do not use. If you see something suspicious, right-click it and select "Open file location." This shows you where the program lives on your computer. If the folder name or location looks odd, the program is likely adware.

To remove it, go to Settings, click Apps on the left, then Apps & features. Scroll through the list and look for programs you do not remember installing or do not use. Click it and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it completely.

Recognize and close fake security warnings

Some pop-ups pretend to be from Windows or your antivirus program and claim your computer is infected or needs an urgent update. These are almost always fake. Real Windows updates come through Settings, not pop-ups. Real antivirus warnings come from the program you actually installed, not random pop-ups.

If a pop-up appears claiming your computer is at risk or needs to download something, close it by clicking the X button in the corner. Do not click any buttons inside the pop-up, because they may download malware or take you to a scam website. If you are unsure whether a warning is real, open your actual antivirus program (Windows Defender, Norton, McAfee, or whatever you use) and check its dashboard. If it shows no threats, the pop-up was fake.

Stop pop-ups from specific websites

Even with your pop-up blocker on, some websites may ask permission to send you notifications. You can see which sites have permission and revoke it.

In Chrome: Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of websites under "Allowed" and "Blocked." Click the three dots next to any site and select Remove to stop it from sending notifications.

In Edge: Go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Scroll to Site permissions and click Notifications. Remove any sites you do not want notifications from.

In Firefox: Go to Settings, then Privacy & Security. Scroll to Permissions and click the Settings button next to Notifications. Remove sites from the list.

What to do if pop-ups keep coming back

If you have turned off notifications, enabled your pop-up blocker, and removed suspicious programs but pop-ups still appear, your computer may have malware. Malware is software designed to show ads or steal information, and it hides itself so you cannot easily remove it.

Run a full scan with Windows Defender, which is built into Windows 10. Press the Windows key, type "Windows Defender," and open Windows Defender Security Center. Click Virus & threat protection, then Scan options. Select Full scan and click Scan now. This takes 30 minutes to an hour but finds most malware. If it finds threats, follow the prompts to remove them.

If Windows Defender does not stop the pop-ups, download and run Malwarebytes (a separate program designed to catch malware that Windows Defender misses). Go to malwarebytes.com, download the free version, and run a full scan. Restart your computer when it finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do pop-ups still appear even though I turned on my pop-up blocker?

Some websites use tricks to get around pop-up blockers, and some pop-ups are actually notifications from programs on your computer, not website pop-ups. Check your Windows notification settings and uninstall programs you do not recognize. If pop-ups only happen on one website, that site may not respect the blocker — you can block notifications from that specific site in your browser settings.

Is it safe to click the X button on a pop-up?

Yes, clicking the X button in the corner of a pop-up is safe. Never click buttons inside the pop-up that say "Download," "Install," "Scan Now," or "Click Here" — those are what the pop-up creator wants you to click. The X button closes the pop-up without doing anything.

What is the difference between a pop-up and a notification?

A pop-up is a new window that appears on top of what you are doing, usually from a website. A notification is a small message that appears in the corner of your screen, usually from Windows or a program. Both can be blocked, but in different places — pop-ups in your browser settings, notifications in Windows settings.

Do I need to disable all notifications, or can I keep some?

You can keep notifications you find useful and disable the rest. In Windows Settings under Notifications & Actions, you can turn off notifications from Windows itself but keep them from specific programs, or vice versa. Scroll down to "Get notifications from these senders" to control individual apps.

What should I do if a pop-up says my computer has a virus?

Close it immediately by clicking the X button. Do not click anything inside the pop-up. These are almost always scams designed to trick you into downloading malware or paying for fake antivirus software. If you are worried your computer actually has a virus, open Windows Defender (built into Windows 10) and run a full scan yourself.