How to stop pop-up ads on your computer

1. Work out what sort of pop-up you are seeing

Not every pop-up is a separate browser window. Some are website notifications you previously allowed. Others are adverts built into a page, or messages from an installed app.

Notice when the advert appears and whether it names a website or app. This helps you choose the right fix. You do not need to click the advert to investigate it.

• A new tab or window while browsing: check your browser’s pop-up settings.
• A small message near the clock: check website notification permissions and app notifications.
• An advert covering part of a webpage: the browser’s pop-up blocker may not stop it.
• Adverts across unrelated websites, or a changed search engine: check browser extensions and installed apps.

2. Close suspicious adverts without using their buttons

A webpage claiming your computer is infected is not a reliable security check. Do not call a number shown in the warning, install its suggested cleaner or enter payment details.

Close the tab using the browser’s own tab controls. Avoid a close button drawn inside the advert, as it may open something else. If the page fills the screen, try Esc to reveal the browser controls.

If the browser will not respond, use Ctrl + Shift + Esc on Windows to open Task Manager. Select the browser and choose End task. On a Mac, press Option + Command + Esc and force quit the browser. You may lose unsaved work in open tabs. When reopening, avoid restoring the troublesome page.

3. Remove unwanted website notifications

Websites can ask permission to send notifications. Clicking Allow lets that site send messages outside the page. These can resemble computer warnings, even though they come from a website. They may appear when you are not actively browsing.

Open your browser’s settings from its own menu, rather than from a pop-up. Then check which websites have permission to send notifications. Menu wording can vary.

• Chrome: open Settings, then Privacy and security, Site settings and Notifications.
• Edge: open Settings and search for “notifications”. Open the website notification permissions.
• Firefox: open Settings, then Privacy & Security. Under Permissions, find Notifications and select Settings.
• Safari on a Mac: open Safari’s Settings, then Websites and Notifications.
• Change unfamiliar or unwanted sites from Allow to Block or Deny. Removing permission may let the site ask again later.

4. Check the browser’s pop-up blocker

Most browsers have a built-in setting to block unwanted pop-up windows. Check that it is switched on, and review any websites listed as exceptions.

In Chrome or Edge settings, search for “pop-ups”. Open the setting for pop-ups and redirects. A redirect sends you to another page. In Firefox settings, search for “pop-up”. In Safari, look under Settings, Websites and Pop-up Windows.

Remove permission for sites you do not recognise or no longer use. A legitimate payment page or booking form may need a pop-up window. If necessary, allow that specific site temporarily rather than switching protection off everywhere.

This setting will not remove every advert displayed within a webpage. A reputable content-blocking extension can reduce those adverts, but may also affect how some sites work.

5. Review browser extensions

Extensions are small add-ons that change what your browser can do. Some are useful. Others can insert adverts or change your home page and search engine.

Open Extensions or Manage extensions from your browser’s menu. Check each item and disable anything you do not recognise or no longer need. If you are unsure, disabling it first is easier to reverse than removing it.

Restart the browser and test a familiar website. If the adverts stop, remove the unwanted extension. Only install replacements from the browser’s official extension store. Check the publisher and requested permissions, rather than choosing an add-on because an advert recommends it.

6. Check apps and computer notifications

If the messages name an app rather than a website, check your computer’s notification settings. On Windows, open Settings, System and Notifications. On a Mac, open System Settings and Notifications. Turn off promotional notifications from apps you recognise and do not want to hear from.

This silences an app; it does not remove it. If adverts began after you installed something, review Installed apps in Windows settings or the Applications folder on a Mac.

Uninstall software you know is unwanted using its normal removal method. Do not delete random system files or remove unfamiliar drivers. Drivers help your computer communicate with its hardware. Ask a technician if you cannot identify an item safely.

7. Scan if the adverts keep returning

If permissions change back, removed extensions return or adverts persist across unrelated sites, unwanted software may be involved. Update your existing security software and run a full scan. On Windows, you can find scan options in Windows Security under Virus & threat protection.

Follow the security software’s instructions and restart if requested. Avoid installing several antivirus programs at once, as they can interfere with each other.

Recurring pop-ups deserve a closer look, but they do not automatically prove a virus infection. A technician can help when the cause remains unclear. If you entered a password into a suspicious page, change it through the genuine service using a device you trust.

8. Keep unwanted pop-ups from coming back

Keep your browser and operating system updated. Decline website notification requests unless you genuinely want those messages. You normally do not need to allow notifications to read a page or watch a video.

When installing software, read each screen and decline optional extras you do not need. Use the software maker’s official source rather than a download advertised in a pop-up.

Finally, test after each change. Stopping the messages after blocking one website’s notifications tells you much more than changing every setting at once.