How do I get rid of pop-up ads on my phone?

Most pop-up ads are simply annoying and distracting, but others can be downright dangerous. In this article, we'll show you how to remove pop-up ads on your phone so you can enjoy smoother, safer browsing. The easiest way is to install a dedicated ad blocking app that can help you block pop-ups automatically.

How to get rid of pop-up ads on Android phones

If you’re sick of pop-up ads on Android, the good news is that it’s easy to block pop-ups and other types of spam ads simply by tweaking your browser settings.

Here’s how to get rid of pop-up ads in Google Chrome for Android:

1. Open the Chrome browser app, tap the three dots icon to the right of the address bar, and select Settings from the menu.

2. Tap Site settings, then select Pop-ups and redirects. Finally, toggle off Pop-ups and redirects.

If you continue to get annoying ads even after you block pop-ups on Android via Chrome, your phone may have been hacked or it could have a malware infection. And remember that this technique only removes pop-up advertisements; it won’t prevent smishing or other scam and spam attacks. 

How to get rid of pop-up ads on iPhone

You can also block through your browser on an iPhone.

Here’s how to stop ads from popping up on your iPhone’s Safari browser

1. Open your device Settings, then scroll and tap Safari.

2. Scroll to General and toggle on Block Pop-ups. And while you’re at it, scroll down further to Privacy & Security and make sure Fraudulent Website Warning is toggled on for extra protection against scam sites.

And that’s it — annoying Safari pop-ups on your iPhone should now be a thing of the past. Even so, you still need to remain vigilant against other mobile security threats that’ll try to trick you into compromising your safety and privacy.

And remember that while blocking pop-ups through your browser settings is helpful, it won’t prevent all pop-up ads from disrupting your browsing at inopportune moments. That's where a dedicated ad blocking app comes in. Norton Ad Blocker blocks ads and online trackers so you can browse in peace.

How to spot pop-up ads on your phone

By their very design, mobile ad pop-ups are hard to miss. To grab attention and harvest clicks, they often obscure a large part of the screen and include flashing or dynamic visual elements designed to catch the eye.

But when ads randomly pop up on your phone, how do you know whether an ad is genuine and not something more worrisome like a form of malvertising, a phishing link to a gift card scam, or another social engineering ploy?

Here are the warning signs that a phone pop-up may harbor malware:

• Spelling errors — typos, poor writing, and strange formatting are clear giveaways that the pop-up is not a genuine ad.
• A sense of urgency — countdown timers and other elements designed to make you engage with the pop-up as soon as possible are a major red flag.
• Claims you’ve won a prize or contest — everybody likes getting something for nothing, right? In this case, all you’re likely to end up with is a phone virus or an empty bank account. 
• Suspicious links — malicious pop-ups usually contain strange-looking links that redirect you to a bogus website or flood your device with malware.
• Alarming content — if a pop-up contains startling warnings that your device’s security is compromised, it’s almost certainly an attempt to scare you into making a poor decision.

Why do ads keep popping up on my phone?

There are all sorts of reasons why you might keep getting pop-ups on your phone. Some of them are trivial, but others are more alarming signals that you need to take steps to protect yourself online.

Here’s a look at the possible causes for why you keep getting ads on your phone:

Legitimate advertisements

Popular websites are prime marketing real estate, so if your phone plays ads at random while you browse high-traffic sites, these could very well be genuine ads placed either by the site itself or by a third-party agency. Yes, these pop-ups are irritating, but they’re almost certainly not dangerous, and they can easily be blocked on Android and on iOS with an iPhone ad blocking app.

Adware

Feel like you’ve been getting even more ads than usual recently? Your device may be infected with adware — or advertising malware — which is designed to blast you with additional pop-ups, banners, and messages. It may also be slowing your phone down, causing it to overheat, and covertly monitoring your activity.

Ransomware

If ransomware has taken control of your device to extort you, you might be bombarded with pop-up ads on your home screen designed to pressure you into paying the ransom. Although it’s recommended never to give in to the demands of ransomware attackers, you can’t just ignore it and hope it goes away either — run an antivirus scan on your device as soon as possible.

Viruses

Does your phone keep getting ads in odd places, such as pop-up ads while texting? This may be a sign your phone has a virus, particularly if the pop-ups are hard to close. They’re likely designed to trick you into clicking a malicious link or download, leading to further infection or data theft. And you don’t only need to know how to remove a virus from an Android phone — although iPhone viruses are rare, they do exist.

Scareware

If you’re receiving pop-up warnings that your phone is infected with malware and urging you to take immediate steps to fix the problem, it’s likely a scareware attack. These are fake virus alerts designed to trick you into clicking malicious links or buying a bogus antivirus program, which is likely a form of Trojan malware.

Some mobile pop-up ads are legitimate advertisements, while others can be caused by a malware infecion.

Phone pop-up ad prevention tips

Why does my phone keep getting pop-up ads, you ask? Well, blocking pop-ups through your browser will probably catch most — but not all — offenders. Thankfully, there are other steps you can take to prevent mobile pop-ups.

If ads keep popping up on your phone, here’s how to reduce your exposure:

• Avoid sketchy apps. Only install well-reviewed apps from well-known, trusted sources. Steering clear of third-party app vendors, when possible, limits external access to your device.
• Stick to HTTPS websites. This will ensure a secure, encrypted connection between you and the web server, reducing the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Enable pop-up blockers. You can also customize your phone settings to limit notification icons and banners.
• Ignore suspicious links and attachments. Avoid clicking strange links to help prevent hackers and other cybercrooks from gaining access to your device.
• Use a mobile security app. A strong mobile security app can help you detect and block malicious websites and other threats before they have a chance to infect your phone.

Get real-time protection against pop-ups

Trying to prevent pop-up ads can feel a bit like playing whack-a-mole. Plus, it’s not always clear what’s causing the ads to keep popping up on your phone in the first place. That’s why using a robust and comprehensive mobile ad blocking tool is so important.

Norton Ad Blocker includes a range of powerful features to detect and block ads and online trackers on your iPhone or iPad before they cause problems. Get smoother, faster browsing today.