Pop-ups are a common annoyance on Android and iOS devices. They can disrupt your workflow and privacy, so this tutorial covers different ways to stop them.
How to Stop Pop-Up Ads on Android Browsers
Some Android web browsers have hidden pop-up blockers that you can enable by default. If you don’t want to have pop-ups blocker enabled, you’ll need to enable it on other browsers manually.
In this section, we’ll show you how to stop all forms of pop-ups in some popular Android browsers.
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Google Chrome
Chrome is the default browser on many Android phones, but some people find ads and pop-ups annoying. Here’s how to fix the problem. ..
Chrome’s built-in Adblock feature will help you block pop-ups and ads from appearing in new tabs. If some websites continue to show misleading pop-ups or ads in different forms, you can enable Chrome’s Adblock feature to help protect your privacy.
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Opera
Opera’s pop-blocking tool is known to be effective at blocking all forms of pop-ups. You can also configure the tool to block cookie pop-up prompts. ..
Open Opera, tap the profile icon in the bottom-left corner, scroll to the “Settings” section and enable Block pop-ups. ..
If you find the “Accept cookies” pop-ups on many websites annoying, you can turn them off. Open the Settings menu, select Ad blocking, and choose if you want to “Allow Acceptable Ads” or “Block cookie dialogs.” ..
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Microsoft Edge
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Mozilla Firefox
Firefox for Android doesn’t have a native ad-blocker, so you’ll need to install third-party ad-blocking add-ons to stop incessant pop-ups. AdGuard, AdBlock Plus, and uBlock Origin are among the best ad blockers for zapping pop-ups in Firefox.
- Open Firefox and click on the three lines in the top left corner of the window.
- On the left, you will see a list of add-ons.
- Click on the one that you want to install.
- In the next window, you will be asked to enter your Firefox account information.
- After you have entered your information, click on the OK button to finish installation.
How to Block Pop-Up Ads on iPhone and iPad
Pop-ups are annoying and can be a major annoyance when you’re trying to browse the web. Fortunately, there are a few ways to stop them from happening on your iPhone. First, you can use the built-in pop-up blocker in Safari. However, this only works with the Safari browser. Many third-party web browsers also ship with native ad-blocking features. We cover how to stop pop-ups on iPhones in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. ..
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Safari
If Safari is your default web browser, follow these steps to enable Safari security settings that block pop-ups.
In Safari, select General, and then select Safari Blocks Pop-ups.
We also recommend turning on the “Fraudulent Website Warning” option to help you stay safe online. This will prompt Safari to display a warning if you’re on a suspected phishing website.
To help protect your privacy and security when browsing the internet, you can turn on Frequent Website Warning in the Safari settings menu. This will warn you when a website is trying to track your activity or collect personal information. ..
Block Pop-Ups in Google Chrome
To configure Google Chrome to block pop-ups, follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome.
- On the left side of the browser, click on the three lines in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a menu with three options: “Settings”, “Privacy”, and “Browsing”.
- In the “Settings” menu, click on “Privacy”.
- In the privacy window, click on the checkbox next to “Pop-ups should not be displayed in my browser”.
- Click on OK to close the privacy window and return to the main browser screen.
Block Pop-Ups in Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge for iOS also includes built-in tools to help you block pop-ups and intrusive ads on all websites.
The Microsoft Edge mobile app has an option to disable ads. If some websites still display pop-ups despite blocking pop-ups, enable the option.
Block Pop-Ups in Mozilla Firefox
If you’re experiencing too many ads or pop-ups on websites, try enabling Firefox’s “Enhanced Tracking Protection” feature. This security feature blocks pop-ups, ads, browser fingerprinting, and more. ..
Some websites may not work correctly if you have the “Strict” protection level on. Pages will load faster than usual, but some may not work correctly.
Disable Pop-Up Ads in Opera
Settings > Block Pop-ups
If you want to stop cookie acceptance prompts on all web pages, you can use Block Cookie Dialogs. This will turn off the prompts and choose whether you want to “Automatically Accept Cookie Dialogs” or not.
Disable or Uninstall Bloatware and Adware
If you have an Android smartphone, be sure to clean it regularly with a virus scanner and/or anti-malware software. If you don’t have an Android smartphone, be sure to research the best antivirus software for your device before installing it.
If your phone displays random pop-up ads on the home screen or over any application, uninstall any bloatware/adware that is causing the problem.
To uninstall bloatware and adware on your Android phone, use a third-party app cleaner or file management app. Alternatively, search for them manually in the Android app settings menu. Running a malware scan using security & antivirus apps can also help block malware-induced pop-ups.
We recommend booting into Safe Mode before removing apps responsible for the pop-ups. In Safe Mode, your device won’t run any third-party apps, making it easier to remove malware.
Press and hold your phone’s power button to open the Power menu. Afterward, tap and hold the Power off option and select Reboot to safe mode on the “Reboot to safe mode” prompt.
See all apps
If you don’t use an app or don’t remember installing it, remove it from your device. Select the app, tap Uninstall, and select OK. ..
Some apps pre-installed by the device’s manufacturer cannot be uninstalled. In that case, you can disable the app to hide it on your device. ..
Disable App on the App Info page
Update Your Devices
Many software updates/releases contain security definitions that control pop-ups and ads. So, always make sure you’re running the latest version of your device’s OS.
Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest iOS update available for your iPhone or iPad. If you are not sure which update to install, please visit Apple’s website or call 1-800-MY-APPLE to get help.
If you’re not sure if your Android device is up to date, you can check for updates by going to Settings > System > Advanced > System update and tapping Check for updates.
Prevention is the Best Fix
If you’re successfully blocking pop-ups on your device, make sure you prevent a recurrence in the future. Avoid downloading or installing applications outside of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. If you can’t find an app you need in your device’s app store, install it directly from the developer’s official website. ..
