No wonder, ads popping up on your screen are annoying. At the same time, they could be equally dangerous. Cyber attackers could use pop-up ads to lure you to click dubious links and download malware. As such, it exposes your sensitive information and privacy.
Pop-up ads are imminent threats that hackers dwell upon. Users are victims of this rising threat in this modern-day digital world. Especially, the new generation of consumers are the ones that hackers target most. As per Gen security experts, malware attacks have been on the rise since the end of 2024.
To protect Android and iOS devices from the dangers of pop-ups, you need to take proper steps. So, how do you block potentially harmful and unwanted pop-up ads? Read on to find out more about eliminating such threats regarding the mobile devices you are using.
How to block pop-ups on an Android device
To block pop-up ads from appearing on your Android phone, open the Chrome browser app and head over to settings. You do not have to download third-party apps for this purpose.
Follow these steps to stop pop-up ads in Chrome on your Android phone.
Step 1 – Open Google Chrome on your phone and tap the 3-dot sign on the right side of the browser.
Step 2 – Choose Settings and scroll down a little bit. When you find the ‘Site settings’ option, tap on it.
Step 3 – Look for the ‘Pop-ups and redirects’ option as you scroll down. Tap on it and turn off the feature.
If you follow these simple steps, you can block annoying and dangerous pop-up ads effectively on your Chrome browser. However, if you still receive annoying ads even after following the above-mentioned steps, your phone is hacked. Or, the phone has malware.
How to block pop-up ads on the Firefox mobile app
To block unwanted ads on the Firefox mobile app, you need to use the ad blocker that comes bundled with the app. The best part is that the ad blocker is already active. Still, you should know how to find and activate it in case the option is disabled.
Follow these steps to stop pop-up ads on your Firefox mobile app.
Step 1 – Open the Firefox app and click the 3-dot sign on the upper right-hand side.
Step 2 – Tap Settings and scroll down.
Step 3 – Toggle the setting to ‘Not allowed’ and you are good to go.
Moreover, you can download a third-party ad blocker from Firefox’s Extensions menu within the Settings option.
How to prevent pop-ups on the home screen of your Android phone
Certain Android apps from third-party sources may display ads right on your device’s home screen. These ads appear in the form of push notifications. You can get rid of these ads by deactivating the notifications from that particular app within Android Settings.
Here is how to prevent pop-ups from appearing on your phone’s home screen.
Step 1 – Open the Settings menu, tap on ‘Apps’, and then, ‘See all apps’.
Step 2 – Scroll down to find the app that sends you push notifications. Select ‘Permissions’ and tap ‘Notifications’.
Step 3 – Turn off unwanted notifications.
If the push notifications come from a website from the Google Chrome browser, choose ‘Chrome’ from the available list of apps and block them. Toggle it to deactivate All ‘General’ Notifications.
Bonus tip – If you want to find the app without wasting time, select ‘See all apps’. Tap the magnifying glass icon you see on the upper-right side. Type the name of the app in the search bar and select Enter.
How to block the apps that show the pop-ups on your Android phone
You can block the apps that show you annoying ads on your Android phone by removing them. Locate the app in your phone’s app drawer or home screen. Press the icon for some time and wait until you see the drop-down menu. Tap ‘Uninstall’ and your phone deletes the app.
Besides, you can click Settings and tap on the Apps option to remove the specific app. You may use the ‘Recently used’ option to learn how each app delivers notifications. After that, you may decide whether or not to deactivate notifications from potentially harmful apps.
Apps that show you plenty of ads could be adware. This kind of software serves ads that may come with links infected with viruses or malware. These apps use tactics to fool users into tapping malicious links.
If you want to detect and remove adware, you need to run a thorough antivirus scan by using a reliable security app. The antivirus will help you find the malicious app so that you can uninstall it from your phone.
Bonus tip – It is unwise to download apps from unknown resources outside the Google Play Store. Third-party websites do not have Google reviews on them. It means that you are least protected from adware.
How to block pop-up ads on your Samsung phone
If you are using a Samsung phone and want to deactivate pop-ups, open the app notifications menu. Although Samsung works on Android OS, they have a slightly different setting compared to other Android phones.
Here are the steps that allow you to stop viewing ads on your Samsung phones.
Step 1 – Open the ‘Android Settings’ menu and look for ‘Notifications’.
Step 2 – Tap the ‘App notifications’ option and select ‘All’. Filter the list of apps by selecting the ‘Most recent’ option.
Step 3 – Select the app that is causing the problem and turn off ‘Notification reminders’.
If you see pop-up ads when using the internet on your Samsung phone browser, use reliable software. It will help you browse the internet without dangerous ad trackers. A good security solution keeps your online activities safe without compromising online privacy.
How to stop pop-up ads on your iPhone or iPad
iOS devices have Safari as their default browser. If you are using an iPad or iPhone, they block pop-ups automatically. However, if you see pop-ups frequently, look for pop-up blocker settings.
Here is how you can block pop-ups on your iPad or iPhone.
- Open Settings and choose ‘Safari’
- Find the ‘General’ menu and turn on ‘Block Pop-ups’
Bonus tip – To protect your device against scam websites, tap on Privacy & Security and toggle on Fraudulent Website Warning.
How to enable pop-up ads on your iPhone or iPad
Sometimes, the ad blocker in Safari confuses newly-opened pages with undesirable ads. To fix the issue, you can unblock pop-ups for some time. Open Safari, navigate to the Settings menu, select General, and turn off Block pop-ups.
Now, you will receive unwanted pop-ups that may contain dangerous links. Even if you activate pop-up ads, stay vigilant. You may download spyware or malware unintentionally.
Ad blockers installed on your device’s browser might be useful. However, a powerful ad-blocking app gives you added security. It gives you a safe browsing experience.
Why do the ads pop up on my phone?
There are several reasons why you may get pop-ups on your phone. While some ads are from trusted sources, others indicate that the phone has malware or adware. It risks your phone’s privacy and security.
Here are the probable reasons for having pop-ups on your device.
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Functionless pop-up blocker
If you see pop-ups even when browsing trusted websites, maybe the ad blocker is underperforming or disabled. Double-check if the ad-blocking setting is working. You can add some sites to the block list, too.
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Adware
Adware floods your device with unwanted messages, banners, and pop-ups. It makes the phone slow and causes overheating. Adware lures you to click on malicious links. An anti-malware scan can find adware if there is any.
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Ransomware
When your phone has ransomware, you will receive pop-ups all the time. These ads will pressure you to pay a fee to remove the infection. An antivirus can delete dubious apps.
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Scareware
A pop-up warning that tells you about malware infecting your phone and urging you to fix it immediately is what scareware does. These fake alerts fool you into buying counterfeit antivirus software, which could be a Trojan. Besides, scareware can convince you to click on malicious links.
Although most pop-ups you see on your mobile device are legitimate ads, others can cause malware infections. Remember, a malicious ad will never look professional.
Popular pop-ups on Android
The most common pop-ups on Android include home screen notifications, lightbox ads, and browser pop-ups. Because most of these ads do not open a new page, certain ad blockers cannot detect them.
Take a look at the popular pop-ups and whether or not the built-in ad blockers can detect them.
| Pop-up ads | Description | Ad blocker effectiveness |
| Regular | A new window appears on the screen | Detected frequently |
| Fullscreen | An ad covers the whole browsing screen | Detected sometimes |
| Lightbox | Opens a new page after dimming the current page | Detected frequently |
| Exit intent | An ad appears when you are about to exit the screen | Detected frequently |
| Scroll-in | The ad slides onto the screen when you scroll down | Difficult to detect |
To reduce the number of unwanted ads on your device, consider using a third-party pop-up ad-blocking app. These apps are better than the built-in ad blockers. Besides, they have numerous features that allow you to personalize your pop-up ad-blocking settings. It results in blocking more unwanted ads and saving you from malvertising schemes.
Useful tips on how to reduce pop-ups on your phone
The best way to reduce pop-ups on your iPhones or Android phones is to stay away from suspicious links, unreliable websites, and fraudulent-looking apps. Using the in-built ad-blocker or security app gives you a safe browsing experience.
Still, if you see the ads on your phone, follow these tips to reduce its exposure.
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Never use untrustworthy apps
Always use apps from trusted sources such as Google Play Store or Apple App Store. These apps are well-reviewed to flush scammers disguised as app vendors. Apps from unknown sources damage your phone.
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Click HTTPS websites only
When you see websites with HTTPS, it assures you that the connection is encrypted. Because there is no one between the servers and you, there is no risk of cyber-attacks.
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Activate pop-up ad-blockers
Personalize your phone browser settings if you want to block unwanted ads from appearing on your browser and home screen. Clear browser cookies or other types of cookies to reduce the number of ads.
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Avoid suspicious links
To stay away from potentially dangerous links and reduce the chances of downloading malware, never click on suspicious links. This will prevent cybercriminals or hackers from accessing your phone.
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Use a reliable mobile security app
A powerful mobile security app detects and blocks malicious websites. Additionally, it reduces other kinds of threats that could infect your device with malicious programs like adware or ransomware.
Protect your phone from malicious ads
Pop-up ad-blockers not only stop annoying ads, but also they protect you from serious malware attacks.
To remove pop-up ads from your phone, you should use a robust mobile security app. It will take care of different types of malware and privately secure your online activities.
FAQs
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Why do ads pop up frequently on Android phones?
When you see ads all the time on your phone, the system notification or ad-blocking settings might have changed. If not, your Android phone has adware installed on it. Activate the ad blocker again and look for malware.
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What are the pop-up ads you see on Android?
The pop-up ads commonly found on Android phones include browser pop-ups, browser notifications, and home screen notifications. You can stop them from the browser settings or the phone’s system.
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Does Android come with a built-in ad blocker?
Although Android phones do not come with a pop-up ad-blocker, the Chrome browser has an in-built ad-blocker. You can block pop-ups coming from specific apps via system settings.
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Can you tell which app is causing pop-up ads?
Look for ‘recently used apps’ in the system settings. The apps that are sending the pop-up ads are listed as used apps. Going through the number of notifications helps you to identify pop-ups, too.
