Turn Off Pop-Up Ads in Your Browser Settings

The fastest way to stop most pop-ups is to block them in your browser's built-in settings. Samsung phones come with either Samsung Internet or Google Chrome pre-installed, and both have a pop-up blocker you can turn on in seconds.

Open Samsung Internet or Chrome, tap the three-line menu icon (usually in the bottom right or top right corner), then go to Settings. Look for Site Settings or Privacy and Security, then find Pop-ups and Redirects or Pop-ups. Toggle it to Block or Off. From that moment on, the browser will stop most pop-ups from loading at all.

If you use a different browser like Firefox or Opera, the same principle applies—find Settings, then Privacy or Site Settings, and turn on pop-up blocking. Most browsers block pop-ups by default, so if you are still seeing them, the problem may be an app rather than your browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Enable pop-up blocking in your browser settings by going to Settings > Site Settings > Pop-ups and toggling it to Block.
  • Uninstall apps you do not recognize or that you installed recently, as malicious apps are the most common source of pop-ups on Android phones.
  • Clear your browser cache and cookies regularly to remove tracking data that advertisers use to target you with pop-ups.
  • Turn on Google Play Protect in your phone's security settings to scan apps for malware before you install them.
  • Avoid clicking on pop-ups or the X button if you can—close them by pressing the back button or swiping them away instead.

Uninstall Apps That Are Sending Pop-Ups

If pop-ups appear even when you are not using your browser, or if they show up on your home screen, the source is usually an app. Go to Settings > Apps (or process Manager on older Samsung phones), then scroll through your installed apps and look for ones you do not recognize or do not remember installing.

Tap each suspicious app and select Uninstall. Pay special attention to apps with generic names, apps that ask for unusual permissions (like access to your contacts or location when they have no reason to need it), or apps you installed around the time the pop-ups started. After you uninstall, restart your phone and check whether the pop-ups have stopped.

If you are not sure whether an app is safe, search its name online along with the word "malware" or "scam." User reviews on Google Play often mention if an app is known for showing unwanted ads. You can also check an app's permissions by going to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Permissions and seeing what it has access to—if a flashlight app is asking for your call history, that is a red flag.

Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Advertisers use cookies and cached data to track your browsing and show you targeted pop-ups. Clearing this data regularly makes it harder for them to follow you across websites. In Samsung Internet, open the menu, go to Settings > Privacy, then tap Delete Browsing Data. Check the boxes for Cookies and Site Data and Cached Images and Files, then tap Delete.

In Google Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, make sure Cookies and Other Site Data is checked, and tap Clear Data. You can also set your browser to clear this data automatically every time you close it—look for an option like Clear Browsing Data on Exit in Settings.

Enable Google Play Protect to Scan for Malware

Google Play Protect is a built-in security scanner that checks apps for malware before and after you install them. It runs in the background on most Samsung phones, but you can verify it is turned on by opening Google Play Store, tapping your profile icon in the top right, then going to Manage Your Google Account > Security. Scroll down to Google Play Protect and make sure the toggle is on.

You can also manually scan your phone by opening Google Play Store, tapping your profile icon, going to Manage Apps and Device > Manage, then tapping the three-dot menu and selecting Play Protect Scan. This will check all your installed apps and flag any that contain malware or unwanted behavior. If Play Protect finds a problem app, it will offer to uninstall it for you.

Adjust Notification Permissions for Individual Apps

Some apps send pop-up notifications that look like ads even though they are technically notifications. Go to Settings > Apps > Notifications (or Settings > Notifications on some Samsung models), then scroll through and turn off notifications for apps you do not want to hear from. You can also tap individual apps in Settings > Apps, select Notifications, and toggle off Allow Notifications.

Be selective here—you probably want notifications from messaging apps, email, and banking apps, but you may not need them from games or shopping apps. Turning off notifications for an app does not uninstall it or prevent it from working; it just stops it from sending you pop-up alerts.

Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Links and Downloads

Many pop-ups appear because you have visited a website that hosts malicious ads, or because you clicked a link in a text message or email. Do not tap on pop-ups themselves—especially not the X button, which sometimes installs malware instead of closing the pop-up. Instead, press your phone's back button or swipe the pop-up away.

Be cautious about downloading files from unknown websites or clicking links in unsolicited text messages and emails. If a link promises a free app, movie, or prize, it is usually a trap designed to install adware. Stick to downloading apps from Google Play Store, where Google Play Protect scans them before they are available.

Check Your Advertising ID Settings

Your phone has an Advertising ID that advertisers use to track you and show you targeted ads. You cannot turn off ads entirely, but you can reset your Advertising ID so advertisers lose their tracking history, or you can opt out of personalized ads. Go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Data and Privacy, scroll down to Ad Settings, and tap Reset Advertising ID. This clears the profile advertisers have built about you.

You can also go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Data and Privacy > Ads Personalization and toggle off Ads Personalization. This tells Google not to use your browsing history to target ads to you. You will still see ads, but they will be less targeted and, in many cases, less frequent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still see pop-ups even though I turned on pop-up blocking?

Some pop-ups come from apps rather than your browser, so browser blocking will not stop them. Check your installed apps for anything unfamiliar and uninstall it. Also make sure you are using an updated version of your browser—older versions may not block newer types of pop-ups.

Is it safe to uninstall apps I am not sure about?

Yes. If you do not recognize an app or do not use it, uninstalling it is safe and will not harm your phone. You can always reinstall it later from Google Play Store if you change your mind. Samsung phones come with some pre-installed apps you cannot uninstall, but you can disable them by going to Settings > Apps, tapping the app, and selecting Disable.

What should I do if pop-ups keep coming back after I uninstall an app?

Restart your phone, then go back to Settings > Apps and look for other unfamiliar apps. If you find none, clear your browser cache and cookies, and run a Google Play Protect scan. If pop-ups persist, you may have more than one problem app installed.

Can I block ads from specific websites?

Most browsers do not have a built-in way to block ads from one website while allowing them on others. However, you can install a third-party ad blocker app from Google Play Store, though these use more battery and can slow down your browsing slightly.

Do I need to pay for an antivirus app to stop pop-ups?

No. Google Play Protect and your browser's built-in pop-up blocker are free and usually enough to handle most pop-up problems. Paid antivirus apps offer extra features, but they are not necessary for basic protection against pop-ups and malware.