Who hasn't faced unexpected and annoying ads on their mobile phone at some point? It's a common situation that can become truly frustrating: persistent banners, pop-ups, intrusive push notifications, or suspicious messages that appear without warning. Most importantly, most of these ads come from dubious sources and their main objective is usually to steal personal or banking data, collect sensitive information, or simply manipulate your digital experience. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of these ads. How to remove annoying ads on your Android phone and protect both your device and your privacy and peace of mind.
Why are annoying ads appearing on your Android phone?
Android has evolved a lot in terms of security, but the reality is that the system is never completely immune to adware or other forms of malware aimed at displaying invasive advertisingAdware typically infiltrates through:
- Applications downloaded from unofficial sources or even from Google Play.
- Malicious websites requesting abusive permissions to display notifications.
- Banners and pop-ups that are triggered by an improper click or incorrect permission settings.
The result is that mobile browsing and use are constantly interrupted by pop-up ads, banner ads that reduce visibility, unauthorized redirects to fraudulent websites, or even sudden changes to default browser settings.
Main types of annoying ads that affect Android phones
Before knowing how to remove ads on Android, it is important to identify the most annoying and intrusive types of ads that may appear:
- Pop-ups: Ads that interrupt normal use by appearing on the screen without warning, even outside the browser.
- Intrusive push notifications: Advertising messages that appear in the notification bar, even when the app responsible is not open.
- Persistent banners in free apps: Advertising that takes up part of the interface, making it difficult to use.
- Automatic redirects when browsing: The browser takes you to websites full of ads, phishing, or fraudulent downloads.
- Ads on the lock screen: Some adware variants display banners even when the device is locked.
- Personalized interest-based advertising: The issues Android detects when you use apps and websites can trigger targeted ads, increasing the feeling of privacy invasion.
How do adware and unwanted ads infiltrate Android?
Adware is one of the most common threats on Android, and their input methods tend to be as follows:
- Installing suspicious applications: Many apps, especially those that are free or downloaded from alternative stores, include excessive advertising or malware.
- Downloading APKs outside of Google Play: Exponentially increases the risk of installing apps infected with adware or malware.
- Phishing and deceptive banners: When browsing dubious websites, you may accept notifications or install fraudulent apps without realizing it.
- Excessive permissions: Some apps request unnecessary permissions (screen overlay, notification access, system control) that they use to display ads.
- Root the device: A rooted phone has fewer security barriers, which can make it easier to install dangerous apps.
Even seemingly legitimate apps can abuse permissions or implement aggressive monetization techniques that lead to uncontrolled advertising.
Consequences and risks of invasive ads and adware
The presence of excessive ads is not only annoying, but can also cause serious problems. vulnerabilities in privacy and security of the user:
- Theft of personal data: Some ads seek to collect sensitive information, passwords, or banking details.
- Installing more malware: Interacting with these banners may trigger automatic downloads of malicious software.
- Browser Hijacking: Changes to the home page, search engines, or constant redirects.
- Excessive resource consumption: Noticeable increase in device data, battery, and memory usage.
- Degradation of user experience: General slowness and risk of the phone becoming unusable due to the amount of advertising.
Step by Step: How to Remove Annoying Ads on Your Android Phone
Let's go over the more effective and up-to-date methods to block and remove intrusive ads on Android. Each step can be applied depending on the severity of the problem and the user's level of knowledge.
1. Identify and remove suspicious applications using Safe Mode
- Hold down the power button.
- When the “Power off” option appears, press and hold it until you see the “Safe mode” option.
- With your phone in safe mode, review recently installed apps and uninstall any suspicious apps.
- Reboot your device normally to exit Safe Mode.
If the ads disappear, the removed app was responsible. Otherwise, continue with the next steps.
2. Adjust app permissions
- Go to Settings > Apps > Choose the suspicious app.
- Review the permissions granted and disable access to notifications, screen overlays, personal data, or other unnecessary permissions.
- On Samsung phones: Settings > Apps > Special access > Show on top. Disable apps that show ads on top of other apps.
3. Control and block push notifications from websites and apps
Many intrusive notifications come from websites you mistakenly gave permission to. To remove or limit these notifications:
- Open your browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc.).
- Go to menu > Settings > Site Settings.
- Go to “Notifications” and disable permissions for suspicious or unknown websites.
- In Chrome: Go to “Pop-ups and redirects” and make sure it’s disabled.
Using browsers that block pop-ups by default, such as Brave, Opera, or DuckDuckGo, is also very helpful.
4. Clear your browsing data and cache
- Go to Settings > Apps > Select your browser.
- Tap “Storage,” then tap “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data.”
This removes scripts and cookies that could be generating ads.
5. Update the operating system and all applications
Updates often include security patches to close backdoors used by adware and malware:
- Check for system updates in Settings > Software Update.
- Please also update all apps from the Google Play Store.
6. Activate Google Play Protect and use trusted antivirus apps
- Open Google Play Store > Your Profile > Play Protect.
- Turn on “Scan for security threats” and allow regular app scanning.
- For extra protection, install apps like Malwarebytes, Avast Mobile Security o kaspersky mobile antivirusTo learn how to use them, visit How to block annoying ads on Android with an adblocker.
These tools detect and remove adware, Trojans, and any other dangerous apps or files.
Advanced Settings: Privacy, Personalized Ads, and Tracking Control on Android
One of the recent features of Android is the ability to manage ad privacy and ad personalization in great detailTo control how and why you see certain ads:
- Open Settings > Google > All services.
- Under “Privacy and Security,” click “Ads” and go to “Ad Privacy.”
- Here you can:
- Turn off ad personalization: Limit apps from sharing your interests and reduce exposure to targeted advertising.
- Delete or manage ad topics: Delete specific interests so Android doesn't share them with apps.
- Controlling App Suggested Ads: Block certain apps from hosting or recommending ads based on your previous usage.
- Turn off ad measurement: Prevents Android from sharing ad performance data between apps.
Managing these parameters helps reduce both the quantity and relevance of ads. that you see in apps, making it difficult for adware or trackers to “personalize” their advertising based on your behavior.
Third-Party Solutions: Apps and Tools to Block Ads System-Wide on Android
In addition to internal adjustments, there are External applications and systems that block background advertising for an ad-free experience in apps, games, and browsers.
- AdGuard: Filters ads at the system level, preventing banners and pop-ups in apps and websites. It offers parental controls, tracker blocking, and phishing protection.
- Blockade: Use a local VPN to filter ad traffic across all your apps—very effective and easy to use.
- Leaked DNS: Change the DNS server to AdGuard DNS o NextDNS to block most addresses linked to ads and tracking without the need to install additional apps.
To change your DNS on Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS. Enter the filtering DNS address.
How to identify which app is causing the ads
Sometimes, even after following all the steps, ads persist because the app responsible is hiding or running in the background. To detect it:
- Review the apps installed just before the ads started.
- Long-press on an annoying notification to see which app it's from. Revoke its permissions or uninstall it.
- Some phones allow you to view your notification history to identify the source.
- Check your Google Play Protect history to see if any apps have been flagged as suspicious.
- In Android settings, go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps, and check which apps have recently shown notifications.
Uninstall or disable any apps you don't recognize or don't use regularly.
When to factory reset your Android phone
If, after removing suspicious apps, clearing the cache, using antivirus and adjusting permissions, You keep receiving uncontrollable ads, there remains only one definitive solution:
- Back up your important data: photos, contacts, documents, etc.
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data or Factory reset.
- Follow the instructions and wait for your phone to reboot like new.
- When setting up your phone, only install trusted apps from the Google Play Store and always review the permissions you grant.
This process removes any hidden malware or adware and restores the device to its original settings.
Additional recommendations and best practices to keep your phone ad-free
- Always read app reviews before installing: Avoid those with low ratings or complaints related to ads.
- Do not download apps outside of Google Play or official sites: Alternative stores increase the risk of adware.
- Be wary of banners that promise prizes, raffles, or fantastic gifts: They are a typical phishing and data theft tactic.
- Turn on two-step verification and use strong passwords on all your accounts: This way you prevent unauthorized access.
- Avoid rooting your device unless you know exactly what you're doing: Rooting removes layers of security and exposes the system.
- Use paid (premium) versions of your favorite apps whenever possible: This way you remove ads and support the developers.
- Update notification permissions and check installed apps frequently: Some may change their behavior over time.
Most common types of ads and scams on Android phones
In addition to the classic banners and pop-ups, there are very common scams that seek to steal information by taking advantage of the confusion generated by pop-up advertising. Among the most common are:
- "Congratulations, you've won a prize" banners: They promise gift cards, smartphones, or cash. They want you to enter personal information or download malware.
- Fake virus or security alerts: They mimic official Google or Android warnings to get you to install fraudulent apps or pay to remove supposedly non-existent threats (scareware).
- Suspicious surveys on YouTube, social media, or low-reputation websites: They collect personal data by promising false rewards.
- Redirects to APK download pages outside the official store: Common on pirated or adult content websites.
Never enter personal data or download apps recommended from these banners.Always use reliable sources.
Specific Settings: How to Limit Personalized Ads and Tracking on Android
Android gives you tools to customize and limit the data used to show you ads:
- Go to Settings > Google > All services > Privacy & security > Ads > Advertising privacy.
- Here you can:
- Turn off ad personalization so that your interests and activity are not shared between apps.
- Delete or manage ad topics detected or prevent apps from requesting them to show you relevant advertising.
- Controlling ads suggested by apps, blocking certain apps that you don't want to use your interests.
- Turn off ad measurement so that data about when and how you view advertising is not shared between apps.
These options are constantly being updated and may evolve, so check their availability on your Android model and version. More restrictive settings reduce your exposure to ads, but may also limit the customization you want.
Recommendations for iPhone devices: Key differences from Android
iPhone users have less risk of adware than Android, as the App Store's policies are much stricter. However, unwanted ads may appear if you accept notifications from certain websites or use aggressive free apps. It's recommended to:
- Uninstall suspicious apps as soon as unwanted ads start appearing.
- Block web notifications from your browser in Settings > Notifications.
- If the problem persists and you can't find the app responsible, perform a factory reset: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Antivirus software isn't available on iOS, so protection depends more on the user and on not granting unauthorized permissions.
