How to Stop Ads on My Phone | Step to Step Guide

Ads popping up on your phone can be very annoying. They interrupt what you’re doing, slow down your phone, and sometimes even carry harmful links.

This step-by-step guide will show you how to stop ads on Android, Samsung, and iPhone devices simply. You’ll also learn what causes these ads and how to prevent them in the future.

Dangerous pop-up ads are becoming a bigger problem. Research from Gen’s security experts shows that more people, especially Gen customers, were being targeted by harmful ads (also called malvertising) at the end of 2024.

To stay safe, it’s important to stop pop-up ads on your Android or iPhone. Doing this can help protect you from risky ads. Keep reading to find out how to block unwanted and possibly harmful pop-up ads on any mobile phone.

Why Do Ads Keep Showing Up On My Phone?

Before we jump into how to stop ads on your phone, let’s understand why you see them in the first place. There are several reasons why pop-up ads keep appearing on your phone.

Some are normal ads from real websites, even though they can be annoying. But others might be a warning sign that your phone has adware or malware, which can put your privacy and safety at risk. You need to learn how to avoid malware when downloading apps.

Here are some common reasons for constant pop-up ads:

Pop-up blocker not working: If you’re seeing pop-ups even on safe websites, your phone’s pop-up blocker may be turned off or not working well. Check your browser settings and try blocking certain websites to improve your protection.

1. Adware infection: Adware is a type of app or software that fills your screen with ads—like pop-ups, banners, or messages. It can slow down your phone, make it overheat, or trick you into clicking dangerous links. Check your installed apps or run a security scan to find and remove them.
2. Ransomware: If you get pop-ups demanding payment, your phone might be infected with ransomware. These ads try to scare you into paying a fee. Run an antivirus scan quickly to remove any harmful apps.
3. Scareware: Some pop-ups tell you that your phone has a virus and that you must fix it immediately. These are usually fake warnings designed to scare you into clicking bad links or buying fake antivirus apps, which are often malware themselves.

Quick Tip: Not all pop-ups are dangerous—some are just ads. But if an ad looks strange or unprofessional, it might be harmful. When in doubt, run a security or antivirus scan to stay safe.

See also: How to Block Websites on Android For Better Safety & Productivity

How to Stop Ads on an Android Phone

If you are using an Android phone and would like to stop pop-up ads, there are many ways to go about it. Below, we will be showing the various methods you can use:

Method 1: Block Ads in Google Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most common browsers on Android phones. Here’s how to stop pop-ups in Chrome.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome

Tap the Chrome app on your phone.

Step 2: Go to Settings

Tap the three dots at the top-right corner, then tap Settings.

Step 3: Go to Site Settings

Scroll down and tap Site settings.

Step 4: Block Pop-ups and Redirects

Tap Pop-ups and redirects.

Make sure it is turned off (the switch should be grey).

Step 5: Block Ads

Still in Site settings, tap Ads.

Turn this off too. This will block ads from sites that show too many.

Method 2: Remove Suspicious Apps

Some apps show ads even when you’re not using them. Here’s how to find and remove them.

Step 1: Go to Settings

Open the Settings app on your phone.

Step 2: Tap on Apps

Scroll and tap Apps or Apps & Notifications.

Step 3: Look for Unknown Apps

Check for apps you don’t remember installing, or that don’t have names you recognize.

Step 4: Uninstall the App

Tap the app, then tap Uninstall.

Tip: Apps with names like “Flashlight Pro” or “Cleaner Pro” could be fake. Be careful.

Method 3: Use Safe Mode to Find Problem Apps

Safe Mode helps you find apps that are causing problems by temporarily turning off all third-party apps.

Step 1: Press and Hold the Power Button

Hold your Power button like you’re turning off your phone.

Step 2: Tap and Hold “Power Off”

When you see “Power off,” tap and hold it until you see Safe Mode.

Step 3: Tap OK

Your phone will restart in Safe Mode.

In Safe Mode, if the ads stop showing, that means one of the apps you installed is causing the problem.

Step 4: Restart Normally

To leave Safe Mode, restart your phone again.

See also: How to Backup your WhatsApp on iPhone and Android in 2025

Method 4: Use an Ad-blocking App

Apps like AdGuard, Blokada, or Malwarebytes help block ads and protect your phone.

• Go to Google Play Store
• Search for Ad blocker apps
• Choose one with high ratings (like Malwarebytes or AdGuard)
• Install and follow the on-screen setup

Note: Some free apps may require permission. Be sure to install from trusted developers only.

Method 5: Check Notification Permissions

Some apps send annoying push notifications that look like ads.

Step 1: Go to Settings

Open Settings, then tap Notifications.

Step 2: App Notifications

Tap App notifications to see which apps are allowed to send alerts.

Step 3: Turn Off Notifications

Turn off notification access for apps you don’t want to hear from.

How to Stop Pop-Up Ads on iPhone

iPhones don’t usually have as many pop-ups as Android phones, but you may need to block some websites and apps that still show them. Here’s how to fix that:

Method 1: Block Pop-ups in Safari

Step 1: Go to Settings

Open your Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Safari

Scroll down and tap Safari.

Step 3: Turn on “Block Pop-ups”

Toggle Block Pop-ups to ON (green).

Step 4: Turn on “Fraudulent Website Warning”

This helps protect you from dangerous websites.

See also: Recover Gmail Password Without a Phone Number and Recovery Email

Method 2: Check Notification Settings

Apps can show ads through push notifications too.

Step 1: Go to Settings

Tap Settings > Notifications.

Step 2: Tap Each App

Choose an app and turn off notifications for ones that send spam or ads.

Method 3: Delete Ad-Supported Apps

Some free games or apps show lots of ads.

Step 1: Go to the Home Screen

Find the app causing ads.

Step 2: Long Press and Delete

Hold the app icon until a menu shows up, then tap Remove App.

Method 4: Use Content Blockers

You can block websites on Safari ad blockers. All you have to do is to install it from the App Store.

• Go to App Store
• Search Content Blocker
• Try apps like AdGuard, 1Blocker, or AdLock

After installing:

• Go to Settings > Safari > Extensions
• Turn on the Content Blocker

See also: How to Pay for Google Ads in Naira in Nigeria

How to Stop Pop-up Ads on Samsung

If pop-up ads keep showing up on your Samsung home screen, follow these steps:

• When you see a notification, swipe down to open the notification panel.
• Press and hold the pop-up to open the app’s notification settings.
• Tap Turn off notifications to stop the pop-ups.
• Or tap Settings to customize the pop-up settings and block them completely.

You can also stop pop-ups for multiple apps at once by changing your Android settings:

• Go to Settings on your phone.
• Scroll down to Notifications and tap it.

• Tap App Notifications.

• Choose All, then sort the list by Most Recent.
• Turn off notifications for the apps causing the pop-ups.

• You can also tap an app to customize its pop-up settings more specifically.

With these steps, you shouldn’t have to ask, “How do I stop pop-up ads on my Samsung?” again.

If ads keep appearing on your Galaxy or another Samsung device, your phone might have spyware. Spyware can track your actions and send your information to advertisers.

See also: How to Know if Your Phone Has Been Tapped (Full Guide)

How to Block Ads on the Home Screen

Ads on the home screen are more annoying than those in a web browser or notification center. These big banner ads pop up over any app you’re using on your phone or tablet. Android lets app developers ask for “Appear on top” permission to work properly.

Apps like Facebook Messenger and Truecaller need this permission to show chat bubbles and identify incoming calls. But some suspicious apps try to trick you into giving this permission so they can keep showing ads on your home screen.

If you see ads on your home screen, try to find out which app sent them. Once you know, follow these steps to stop it:

• Press and hold the app icon and open the app’s info menu.

• Scroll down to Appear on top.

• Turn off the Allow permission toggle.

Tip: If you no longer need the app, you can uninstall it from the same menu.

See also: 11 Proven Ways to Prevent your iPhone from Getting Hot 2025

How to Block Ads with a DNS Service

Using a DNS service is an easy way to block ads on most websites. AdGuard offers two free DNS addresses for blocking ads. One is for families and blocks websites with adult content (family.adguard-dns.com), while the other only blocks ads (dns.adguard-dns.com).

When you use a DNS service, websites usually work as normal, but they might load a bit slower. The spots where ads usually appear will be blank, so you can just scroll past them to continue reading the content. However, some pop-up ads might still show up depending on the website. Some websites might also have issues when using a DNS ad blocker.

To set up DNS ad blocking with AdGuard, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
• Tap Connections.

• Select More connection settings.

• Open Private DNS options.

• Choose the Private DNS provider hostname option, then type the DNS service you want to use, like family.adguard-dns.com.

• Tap Save to turn on AdGuard.

See also: How to Block Websites on iPad For Better Safety & Productivity

FAQs

Conclusion

Ads on your phone can be very frustrating, but now you know how to stop them—step by step. These simple steps will help you block pop-ups, remove adware, and keep your phone clean on either your Samsung, Android, or iPhone.

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References

• Avg.com – How to Stop Pop-Up Ads on My Phone
• Androidpolice.com – How to block ads on your Android phone or tablet
• Us.norton.com – How to stop pop-up ads on Android phones and iPhones

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