On Android you can block pop up ads both on Chrome and within apps: here's how to do it
Pop up ads are a real nightmare for users: they are intrusive, they worsen online browsing and in some cases they are even dangerous. If you've accidentally installed adware on your device, a particular type of virus that displays misleading advertisements, you're also at risk of having to pay for weekly or monthly subscriptions to services you don't want.
The first pop up ads were created for computers, but with the mass spread of smartphones, companies have started making them for cell phones as well. If already on PCs they are annoying and intrusive, on the small screen of smartphones they make browsing practically impossible. Fortunately, we have the possibility to block pop up ads on Android smartphones. Doing so is very simple, both on the browser and within applications. Here's how to block popup ads on Android.
How to block popup ads on Chrome and Android browser
If you have an Android smartphone you most likely use Chrome browser to browse the Internet. Chrome allows users to block pop-up ads from opening and redirecting to dangerous websites.
To activate the feature you need to open Chrome, press the three dots icon in the top right corner and then on Settings. Now select the "Site settings" item and on the page that will open press on "Popups and redirects". In the new tab, remove the toggle next to the feature name. This way, popup ads won't disturb your Internet browsing.
The same feature is also present in the Settings of other Android browsers, but probably under a different name.
How to block popup ads in Android apps
Popup ads are also present in Android apps, especially in video games. They appear at inopportune times and annoy our user experience. What can we do to block them? Unfortunately, there is no ad-hoc setting that allows you to block pop-ups in Android apps. The only thing you can do is to purchase the Premium version of Android apps which eliminates ads.
Anrvirus scan
If after blocking pop-ups and purchasing the Premium version of apps, ads still continue to open on the screen, then it means that an adware has entered your Android smartphone.It is very easy to infect your device with a virus: you download an attachment from an email or content from a dangerous website and that's it.
To get rid of adware from your Android smartphone, you need to install an antivirus or a malware remover. There are plenty of them on the Google Play Store, including free ones. We recommend Malwarebytes for Android, which is a very easy-to-use application that removes adware from your smartphone in seconds.