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How to stop pop-up ads on Android

Q: Is adware a virus?

No , adware is considered a Potentially Unwanted Application/Potentially Unwanted Program (PUA/PUP), which is not a virus. Adware falls under the intrusive advertising category. This kind of advertising is usually unethical and poses serious privacy and security risks.

by Aurelija Tomkevičiūtė

26 November 2021

Pop-up ads and redirects to scam websites can either occur randomly while browsing, or it can be the result of adware infection on your device. Both of these problems can be fixed, though one may be trickier than the other.

It is pretty easy to tweak your browser settings to stop ads popping up while browsing. However, dealing with an actual adware infection may require some deep cleaning and installing a third party antivirus software.

In this article, we provide step by step guides on how to stop unwanted pop-up ads on your Android device and answer some burning questions you may have about them.

The easiest way to guard your Android device against adware is to use antivirus software. Norton antivirus can provide good protection against most malicious programs.

Protect yourself with Norton Antivirus

How do I know if I have adware on my Android?

It’s not always obvious, but if your Android device gets infected with malicious adware, in one way or another, you will know. Here are the most common signs your device has adware:

Ads pop up in unusual places, for example system apps. These applications usually don’t display any kinds of ads, so if they suddenly appear, you probably have adware on your device.
Inappropriate ads appear on mainstream websites and apps. For example, a graphic ad about “hot singles in your area” pops up on your school or work website.
Your device installs unwanted applications without your permission.
Your web browser runs abnormally slow or unexpectedly crashes.

It is worth mentioning that some Android devices, for example cheaper Xiaomi phones, sometimes display advertisements on their operating system. But these, even if annoying, are usually harmless.

Say, you’re casually browsing. Suddenly, a flashing ad pops up on your screen suggesting to download something or to click on a link. These kinds of ads are annoying, but because they pop up on your browser, the problem can be fixed by adjusting a couple of settings.

Follow this step by step guide to stop unwanted pop-up ads on Android browser:

Open the Chrome or other browser app on your Android device.

Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.

In the settings menu, select Site settings.

In site settings, tap on Pop-ups and redirects and turn them off.

If you are receiving ad notifications as well, you can turn them off in Site settings >> Notifications.

If you clicked on a link in a pop-up ad and it caused a sudden influx of pop-up ads everywhere, it is most likely that your device got infected with adware.

To remove pop-up ad virus on your Android device, follow these steps:

Step 1: Reboot your device and find infected apps

Apps that get infected most often are free mobile games, camera filters’ and wallpaper apps.

Hold your power button until an option to turn off your device appears.

Press and hold the power off button. Press OK on the “Reboot into safe mode” message.

Once the device reboots, go to Settings >> Apps & notifications.

Click See all aps and find the app that’s causing trouble.

Uninstall the app or disable permissions for notifications and tracking and drawing over other apps.

Step 2: Enable Play Protect and scanning on Google Play

Open Google Play and click on Settings.

Go to Play Protect settings and enable scanning (Scan apps with Play Protect).

Scan your device.

Step 3: Install antivirus software

Scan your device with a third party antivirus software, we recommend Norton Antivirus and remove any threats that are found.

One of the most common reasons is adware infection, but there can be other playing factors, too. Here are some possible reasons why you keep seeing pop-ups on your Android and how to fix them:

Pop-up ads and redirects are allowed on your browser settings. In this case, if you find yourself on a sketchy website, it might redirect you to another, even sketchier website. Then, an ad will pop-up and suggest you click on some link or download something. Do not click on anything, as this can lead to various malware infections. Read how to stop pop-up ads on your Android browser.
Some kind of malware got downloaded and installed on your device. It most likely happened without your knowledge or permission when you unknowingly visited an infected website. If this malware happens to be ransomware, you’ll need to completely wipe your device and set it up anew. Read how to deal with ransomware attacks.
You have visited a malicious website and it changed your browser configuration without you knowing. Re-installing your browser should help, but make sure to not import any settings from the previous browser.

Final thoughts

As annoying as pop-up ads and viruses are, we have now established that it is possible, and in some cases rather easy to get rid of them.

It doesn’t matter if it’s only your browser that got infected, or your Android device itself, this problem is totally solvable. By following quick and easy steps, you can tweak your browser settings, manually clean your device or download an antivirus software to get rid of pop-up ads once and for all.

We hope that this guide was helpful. If you have any questions, drop them off in the comments below and we’ll get back to you.

FAQ

Why does my phone redirect to unwanted pages?

If your device redirects you to unwanted pages, it’s probably because pop-up and redirect permissions are turned on in your browser settings. If they’re turned off, your device might have been infected with adware. Read our guides on how to deal with pop-up ads on your browser and how to get rid of adware on your Android.

Is adware a virus?

No, adware is considered a Potentially Unwanted Application/Potentially Unwanted Program (PUA/PUP), which is not a virus. Adware falls under the intrusive advertising category. This kind of advertising is usually unethical and poses serious privacy and security risks.