On this page
- Pop-ups have three sources and each has a different fix.
- Ads on the home screen or over other apps come from an app with "Display over other apps" permission.
- Chrome has built-in pop-up and notification controls.
- Restart in Safe mode to tell whether the culprit is an app you installed.
Pop-up ads feel random, but they are not. Each one comes from one of three places, and once you know which, the fix takes a few minutes. Blocking ads with a DNS filter helps with many of them, but if a rogue app or a site notification is the cause, you need to remove the cause.
Step 1: work out where the pop-ups come from
| What you see | Likely source | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Ads when you open a website, or new tabs opening | The website or a redirect | Chrome pop-ups |
| Notifications with ads or "your phone is infected" messages | A site you allowed notifications for | Notification spam |
| Full-screen ads over other apps or on the home screen | An app with draw-over permission | Rogue apps |
| Ads inside a game or app while you use it | The app's own ad network | Ads in apps |
Chrome pop-ups and redirects
- Open Chrome, tap the three dots, then Settings.
- Tap Site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects.
- Make sure it is Blocked.
- Back in Site settings, tap Intrusive ads (if your version has it) and keep it blocked.
Notification spam
Many "pop-ups" are really notifications from a site you tapped Allow on, sometimes by accident. To remove them, open Chrome, go to Settings, Notifications, and turn off every site you do not need, or turn off Notifications entirely. On Android you can also long-press an ad notification, tap the info icon, and switch the channel off.
Rogue apps drawing over other apps
If ads appear on the home screen or over unrelated apps, an installed app is using the "Display over other apps" permission. Check which apps have it, and remove the ones you do not need.
- Open Settings, Apps, Special app access, Display over other apps (wording varies).
- Look for apps you do not recognise, or that should not need it, such as a flashlight, cleaner or wallpaper app.
- Turn the permission off, then uninstall the app.
- Open Play Protect in the Play Store and run a scan.
Ads inside apps and games
Ads that appear while you use a particular app are that app's own business model. A DNS ad blocker removes many of them by blocking the ad network's servers. We cover it in how to stop ads in Android games. If you only want to cut ads, not remove an app, this is the right tool.
Prevent it coming back
- Install apps from Google Play or the developer's official site only.
- Be careful with "Allow notifications" prompts on websites; tap Block when unsure.
- Do not install "cleaner", "booster" or "free VPN" apps from unknown publishers.
- Keep Play Protect on and Android updated.
- Use a DNS ad blocker or Private DNS so known ad servers do not load. See how to block ads without root.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get pop-up ads on my Android home screen?
An installed app with "Display over other apps" permission is drawing them. Remove that permission and uninstall the app.
How do I stop pop-ups in Chrome on Android?
Settings, Site settings, Pop-ups and redirects, set to Blocked. Also check Notifications for sites you allowed.
Will an ad blocker stop pop-ups?
It stops many that load from ad servers, but not notifications you allowed or ads drawn by a rogue app. Remove those directly.
Block ads in your apps with ClearAd
No root. 15 free minutes every day. Blocks most ads, not all. Installed from this site as an APK.
