How to Stop Pop-Up Ads on Android?

Getting unwanted pop-up notifications and advertisements on your Android device can be very frustrating. Whether they interrupt your browsing in the Chrome browser or come from installed apps, these intrusive ads are annoying. Sometimes pop-ups may even pose security risks.

Luckily, Android and Chrome both have built-in features to help you take control of pop-ups again. This guide will explain two easy methods to stop pop-up ads. It will show how to use your device's operating system settings or Chrome's browser permissions.

Method 1: Use Android's Built-In Pop-Up Blocker 

1. Open your device's app drawer by swiping it up from the home screen. Then locate and tap the Settings icon, which appears as a small gear.

2. In the Settings menu, scroll down until you see an option called "Apps" or "Application Manager." Tap on this to open the full list of apps installed on your device.

3. This will reveal additional menu options at the top of the screen. Tap on the Kebab Menu (3 dots menu).

4. The menu that appears will have an option called "App Permissions," "Special Access," or something similar. Tap on this to view advanced permission settings.

5. Look for a section labelled "Appear on Top" or "Display over other apps." This controls which programs can open windows on top of other active apps.

6. In the apps list, find the app you want to manage permissions for and toggle the switch next to the app name so it moves to the left/grey position. Now that app will no longer be able to create pop-up windows while you use other programs. Check if the unwanted notifications stop occurring.

Method 2: Enable Pop-Up Blocker in Chrome (for web pop-ups)

1. To begin, find the Chrome application either on your home screen or within the app drawer. Launch the program by selecting this icon.

2. Once Chrome has loaded, look in the top right corner for three vertically stacked grey dots. Tap on this grouping of dots to reveal additional menu options.

3. A side menu will expand out from the right side. Scroll down through the options until you see the word "Settings". Select this entry.

4. This will take you to Chrome's settings page. Continue scrolling until you find the text "Site Settings" shown in grey. Tap this text.

5. Within the Site Settings category, locate the  "Pop-ups and redirects" option. Selecting this will control how pop-up windows are handled.

6. Finally, on this page you will see a toggle switch currently indicating either "Allowed" or "Blocked." If set to "Allowed," tap the switch to move it to the "Blocked" position. This will activate Chrome's built-in pop-up blocking function.

Tips and Precautions

• Be careful about letting apps have permissions. Only give them the permissions they really need. Also, regularly check which permissions you gave and take away the ones apps don't need.
• Think about which popups may have useful info. Some apps need popups or overlays to share important updates. Be selective when blocking so you don't disable helpful features.
• Keep your device updated. Regularly updating your Android and apps means getting the latest security fixes and better ad blocking.

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