How to Stop Ad Pop-Ups on a Samsung Phone: A Complete Guide

Hi readers, Jessica here. If you’re a Samsung user and lately you feel your screen is constantly hijacked by irritating pop-up ads, you’re not alone. Whether you use a flagship Galaxy S-series, the mid-range A-series, or a Galaxy Fold/Flip device, pop-ups can ruin your experience.

The good news? You can stop them. You don’t have to live with unwanted ads flashing in your browser, on your home screen, or inside apps. In this deeply detailed guide, I’ll walk you through every possible fix so you can take full control of your Samsung device again.

Let’s get started.

Why Am I Seeing Pop-Up Ads on My Samsung Phone?

Before jumping into solutions, it helps to understand what causes them. Pop-up ads on Samsung phones can appear due to:

• Certain Free Apps With Aggressive Ad Policies

Game boosters, photo editing tools, flashlight apps, wallpaper apps, and cleaner apps are the usual culprits. Some apps push ads even when you’re not actively using them.

• Websites Triggering Pop-Ups in Browsers

Even legitimate websites sometimes trigger annoying pop-under ads or redirect pages.

• Notification Ads

Many apps disguise promotional messages as “notifications.”

• Samsung Services and Offers

Samsung occasionally sends promotional alerts via Galaxy Store, Samsung Pay, or Samsung services. Fortunately, these can be disabled.

• Malware or Adware

If ads appear even when you are not browsing or using apps, you may have unknowingly installed adware.

Now that we understand the causes, let’s eliminate them.

Method 1: Disable Pop-Ups in Samsung Internet Browser

If you use the Samsung Internet app, tweak its built-in ad blocker settings.

Steps:

1. Open Samsung Internet
2. Tap Menu (≡)
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Sites and downloads
5. Turn on Block pop-ups
6. Turn on Block background apps from sending pop-ups
7. Enable Smart anti-tracking for extra privacy

Add Extra Ad-Blockers:

1. Go to Menu (≡) > Ad blockers
2. Tap Download next to recommended ad blockers like:
   • Adblock Plus
   • AdGuard
   • AdBlock for Samsung Internet

These tools drastically reduce ads and trackers.

Method 2: Block Pop-Ups in Google Chrome

If you primarily browse in Chrome:

1. Open Chrome
2. Tap 3-dots > Settings
3. Go to Site settings
4. Tap Pop-ups and redirects
5. Turn Block on
6. Go back and tap Ads
7. Enable Block ads on sites that show intrusive ads

This eliminates most browser pop-ups immediately.

Method 3: Turn Off Notification Ads

Many apps abuse the notifications system to push ads disguised as alerts.

Stop at the source:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Notifications
3. Select App notifications
4. Find suspicious apps and disable notifications

Look for apps that say things like:

• Promotions
• Offers
• Messages with unknown icons

Turning off these notifications cuts many ad pop-ups instantly.

Method 4: Identify Apps Showing Ads in Background

If ads show up randomly, one installed app is responsible.

Check recently used apps:

1. When an ad appears, open Recent Apps
2. Look for unfamiliar app running behind

Scan app permission logs:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager
2. Check apps using Display Over Other Apps permission

Disable suspicious ones.

Remove problematic apps:

Apps often responsible include:

• Free flashlight apps
• RAM boosters or phone cleaner apps
• Free wallpapers or keyboard themes
• Unknown games or tool apps

If an app you don’t trust is here, uninstall it.

Method 5: Turn Off “Appear on Top” Permission

Some apps use overlay permission to push ads on your screen.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Apps
3. Tap Special access
4. Choose Appear on top
5. Disable for suspicious apps

Only keep enabled for trusted apps (Messenger chat bubbles, Maps pop-ups etc.).

Method 6: Disable Samsung Promotional Notifications

Samsung occasionally sends ads for services or updates.

Disable Offers:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Samsung account
3. Choose Samsung Privacy
4. Turn off Receive marketing info

Stop Galaxy Store ads:

1. Open Galaxy Store
2. Tap Menu > Settings
3. Turn off Marketing notifications

Stop Samsung Pay promos:

1. Open Samsung Pay
2. Go to Settings
3. Disable Promotional messages

This immediately reduces Samsung-generated notices.

Method 7: Use Samsung Device Protection (Built-in Antivirus)

Your phone has built-in protection powered by McAfee.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Battery and device care
3. Choose Protect device
4. Run a full scan

This helps find malware causing popup ads.

Method 8: Install a Trusted Ad Blocker (Optional)

If you want deeper security:

• AdGuard Premium
• Adblock Plus
• DNS-based blockers (NextDNS, Quad9, AdGuard DNS)

Use Ad-Blocking DNS:

1. Go to Settings > Connections
2. Tap More connection settings
3. Choose Private DNS
4. Enter:

dns.adguard.com

or

dns.quad9.net

No apps required. This blocks ads at network level.

Method 9: Reset Browser Settings

If the browser is overrun by pop-ups:

Samsung Internet Reset:

Settings > Samsung Internet > Privacy > Delete browsing data

Chrome Reset:

Chrome > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data

Method 10: Factory Reset (Use Only If Nothing Works)

If pop-ups continue even after removing apps, your phone may be infected by hidden adware.

Before Reset:

Back up data in Settings > Accounts and Backup

Reset Steps:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap General management
3. Choose Reset > Factory data reset

Your phone returns to clean state.

Best Practices to Avoid Pop-Ups on Samsung Phones

• Install apps only from Play Store or Galaxy Store
• Avoid cracked APK files
• Do not tap suspicious website pop-ups
• Revoke unknown app permissions
• Disable “Install unknown apps” permission

These habits stop ads permanently.

Final Thoughts

Pop-up ads on Samsung phones can feel overwhelming, but with the right settings and security habits, you can completely eliminate them. Samsung provides strong built-in controls, and with browser settings, ad blockers, and proper app management, you can enjoy a clean, smooth phone experience again.

If you’re still experiencing ads after trying everything here, it’s almost always caused by one rogue app or a hidden permission. Remove suspicious apps and scan again.

After these steps, your Galaxy device should feel faster, cleaner, and far more private.

Stay tuned for more Samsung and Android fixes and tips. Tech is meant to work for you — not annoy you.