Why Do Ads Keep Popping Up On My Android Phone?

Last updated on November 19th, 2024 at 12:06 am

Pop-up ads and redirects to shady websites can happen randomly while browsing, or it can be the result of adware infection on your device. You might wonder, “Why Do Ads Keep Popping Up on My Android Phone?”. One reason that your phone is having these problems is adware infection, but there can be other playing factors, too. It is possible for both of these problems can be fixed, though one may be more difficult than the other.

Adware is any application in which the advertising material appears while a program is running. The ads come from pop-up windows that appear on the program’s UI (user interface). Adware is usually made for PCs, but mobile devices can also be targeted for adware exploits.

Not all adware is bad, though. If you use apps like free-to-play games or language learning tools, there’s a chance you’ll encounter ads inside—and that’s fine. App developers use legitimate ads to support their development costs and reduce or eliminate the price of software for users, which is the reason why there are so many free apps today.

But if ads are popping up on the home screen, even when you’re not actively using the app, this is adware. These ads can sometimes contain cybersecurity threats that can track private user data, or lead users to malicious websites.

Here are two reasons why your Android phone got infected with adware:

In this case, if you find yourself on a strange website, it might redirect you to another, even sketchier website. Then, an ad will pop up and suggest you click on some link or download something. Don’t click anything, as this can lead to many malware infections on your phone. 

Malicious malware can get to your device from shady sites, bundled with other software applications, and through dangerous downloads. There are many types of malwares that exist and none of those is harmless. Malware can mess up your phone really badly — from taking over your web browser to even hijacking your OS. One of the oldest malware types is ransomware.

It’s not always noticeable, but if your device gets infected with adware, you will notice something suspicious is happening. Here are the most common signs your device has adware:

• You see ads pop up in unusual places, like for example system apps.
• Your device installs unwanted applications without your knowledge.
• Your browser runs unusually slow or randomly crashes.

On Android phones, there are two ways you can discover where pop-up ads on coming from.

Newer versions of Android made it easier to figure out what is running on your device and what permissions the app uses. When you spot a notification for an app you didn’t realize was running, long-press the notification and tap the More or Settings icon, depending on what phone model you have.

This will take you to the app’s notification permissions screen, where you can choose if the app should send any notifications or not.

More Android permission options can be located through Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Permission manager. You can also open the Settings app and type Permissions in the top search bar.

From here, you’ll find full details for the app, which should tell you if the app is delivering adware or is just a misconception on your part.

You can also see what apps are causing pop-ups to appear by checking your opened apps. Specific Android phones might require different steps, so keep that in mind.

• When the pop-up ad shows up, tap the recent apps button (or swipe up from the bottom of your phone’s screen, then hold your finger in the middle of your screen) to view the Overview screen. From here, you’ll be able to see the cards of any recently opened apps.
• Look for unusual app names. If you see one, long-press its card and tap the Settings icon to go to the app’s details page. You can also do this by tapping the app’s icon and selecting App info.

When you spot the offending apps, check the reviews of the app on the Play Store. Do any relate to surprise ads? Along the way, don’t forget to check other apps you have recently installed. See if any reviews are showing any negative feedback about the apps that were recently updated.

Now that you have found out which app is displaying an unnecessary number of ads, it’s time to get rid of it. Just open up Settings > Applications > See all, and locate the app that you believe is making adware appear. Next, tap the app and select Uninstall from the next page to delete it and stop pop-up ads from showing up on your Android device.