Pop-ups are the worst! Nobody wants them, and yet they’re everywhere in the digital world. It’s even worse on Android since they often take up the screen, slow down your phone, and make it impossible to find the “X” without clicking on the ad itself.
Fortunately, it’s easier than you realize to cut down and almost eliminate ads on Android. Here’s how:
Step 1: Know Where They’re Coming From
Before we dive into all the different tips and tools you can use, it’s helpful to know the source of these pop-ups and redirects.
For example, do you only get them when you play a certain game? Free games are notorious for their intrusive pop-ups/ Or are you receiving them every time you click on your internet browser?
This is a huge difference. While you can find ways to eliminate ads in games by upgrading your subscription, if you see ads everywhere, then you might have malware downloaded on your phone.
Step 2: Hide Your IP Address
It’s amazing that many people still don’t do this. Your IP address is an important part of how you connect to the internet. But it also reveals all kinds of personal information about you. Advertisers use it to track your activity and sell your ads.
You’re probably wondering, how do I hide my IP? It’s pretty easy. With a VPN (a virtual private network), you can both conceal your IP address and encrypt your internet connection making everything you do online much more secure and private.
This should not only help with pop-ups but also make them much less personally targeted when and if they occur.
Step 3: Start Arming Yourself With The Right Tools
In the early days of smartphones, you didn’t have as many options as you do on the desktop. This meant that you were stuck with whatever pop-ups websites allowed.
You can still notice this nowadays on apps like YouTube, where you might have a pop-up blocker on your desktop computer, but if you want to watch on mobile, then you’ll be stuck watching all those annoying ads.
While it is tricky to block in-app ads, you can now use apps like Adblock Plus directly on your phone. Simply install the extension, and you should be good to go.
Do note that you won’t be able to do this with Chrome. However, both Firefox and Samsung Internet do allow you to add extensions.
Step 4: Blocking Ads in Chrome
For Chrome, you’ll have to work with built-in settings. It’s not as good as a proper ad-block, but it beats nothing! Follow these steps:
- Open Chrome on your device
- Tap More (located next to the address bar) and then tap Settings
- Tap Site Settings
- Choose Pop-ups and redirects
- Hit Block Pop-ups and redirects. You’ll then see “Block sites from showing pop-ups and redirects.”
This will work pretty well, but you’ll definitely be better off with a browser that allows extensions instead.
Step 5: Remove Malware
If you’re still experiencing pop-ups and redirects, then there may be some malware on your phone. While it may be tempting to figure out exactly where it’s coming from and get revenge, you’re better off acting quickly.
That’s because the longer malware exists on your phone, the more damage it can do. Check for any apps you’ve never downloaded or unusual activity in the performance log.
If you’re still not sure, then you’ll need to reset your phone to factory settings. Nowadays, this is less serious that it sounds like. Most of us have automatic backups turned on already. If not, backup your important data and then hit reset.
Depending on your phone, you should be able to do this and restore everything in under fifteen minutes. Then don’t forget to add your VPN and ad-blockers again and keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks suspicious, so you don’t inadvertently download any malware again.
Blocking Ads and Pop-ups On Android
There you have it. It’s really not so difficult after all to block ads and pop-ups. The most important thing is knowing which sites to avoid, having the right tools, and keeping a sharp eye on your phone apps. Once you do this, you’ll be able to enjoy the ad-free experience you deserve!
