How to Stop Pop-Up Ads on an Android Phone

Few things are more irritating than a phone that keeps throwing ads at you. The fix depends on where the ads come from, so this guide shows how to stop pop-up ads on an Android phone in each case: ads inside the browser, ads delivered as notifications, and ads that appear on your home screen or over other apps. Most people can get rid of them in ten minutes without installing anything.

Steps are written for Chrome on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones with a current version of Android. Other phones use very similar menus. This is an independent guide, not affiliated with Google or any phone maker.

First, work out where the ads appear

Where you see the ad	Most likely cause	Go to
Only while browsing, as new tabs or windows	Website pop-ups and redirects	Fix 1
In your notification shade, often with a website name	Website notifications you allowed	Fix 2
On the home screen, lock screen or over any app	An adware app	Fixes 3 and 4
Only inside one game or free app	That app’s normal ads	Fix 6

Fix 1: Block pop-ups and redirects in Chrome

Chrome blocks pop-ups by default, but the setting can be changed by accident.

1. Open Chrome and tap the three dots at the top right.
2. Tap Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
3. Make sure the switch is off, which means pop-ups are blocked.
4. Go back to Site settings, tap Intrusive ads (if shown) and make sure ads are blocked on sites that show intrusive or misleading ads.

Samsung Internet: open the menu (three lines) > Settings > Sites and downloads and turn on Block pop-ups. If your browser keeps landing on a strange search engine or start page, follow our guide to pop-ups and redirects in browsers.

Fix 2: Remove notification permission from websites

If an ad appears in your notification shade with a web address underneath, it came from a site you allowed to send notifications, often after it showed a “Click Allow to verify you are not a robot” message.

1. In Chrome, tap the three dots > Settings > Notifications.
2. Scroll to the list of sites and turn off any you do not recognise or trust.
3. Optionally, turn off Show notification requests in Site settings > Notifications so sites stop asking.

You can also press and hold one of these notifications and tap the settings icon to block that site directly. Our stop website notifications guide covers computers too.

Fix 3: Find and remove the app showing ads

Ads that cover your home screen, appear when you unlock the phone or interrupt other apps almost always come from an installed app.

1. The moment an ad appears, open the Recent apps view (swipe up from the bottom and hold, or tap the square button). The ad’s app is often listed there with its icon.
2. Think about what you installed just before the ads started. Flashlight, QR scanner, wallpaper, “battery saver”, “cleaner” and free VPN or game apps from unknown developers are frequent culprits.
3. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps (Samsung: Settings > Apps), tap the app and choose Uninstall.
4. Run a Play Protect scan: Play Store > profile picture > Play Protect > Scan.

If you cannot find the culprit, restart the phone in safe mode. If the ads stop there, a downloaded app is responsible; our guide on how to remove a virus from an Android phone explains safe mode and how to remove apps that refuse to uninstall.

Fix 4: Turn off “Display over other apps”

Apps need a special permission to draw on top of other apps. Adware abuses it.

• Pixel: Settings > Apps > Special app access > Display over other apps.
• Samsung: Settings > Apps > three dots (or the sort/menu icon) > Special access > Appear on top.

Go through the list and switch it off for anything that does not obviously need it. Chat bubbles, screen recorders and accessibility tools may legitimately use it; a calculator or wallpaper app does not.

Fix 5: Check the home screen launcher

Some ad apps replace your home screen. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps > Home app and make sure it is your phone’s normal launcher (for example Pixel Launcher or One UI Home). Then uninstall the unfamiliar launcher.

Fix 6: Ads inside a free app or game

Banner and video ads inside a free app are how its developer earns money. They are not a virus, and settings will not remove them. Options are to buy the app’s ad-free version, turn off mobile data while playing offline games, or switch to a different app. Be wary of “ad blocker” apps advertised in other apps; stick to well-reviewed tools from known developers if you use one at all.

Keep pop-up ads from coming back

• Install apps only from the Play Store and read the developer name and reviews first.
• Never tap Allow on a site that asks for notifications to “continue” or “prove you are human”.
• Keep Play Protect on and Android updated in Settings > System > Software updates.
• If a pop-up claims your phone is infected and gives a number to call, it is a scam. Close it; see how to spot a fake tech-support call.

If ads disappeared but the phone is still sluggish, our guide to speeding up a slow phone has the next steps.