Random pop-ups, ads, or strange notifications are almost always caused by a single app, a website you visited in Chrome, or a setting on your phone. The good news: this isn't a virus and you don't need a new phone.

First — think about what changed

A few questions that usually point to the cause:

  • When did the pop-ups start?
  • Did you install a new app right before they started?
  • Did you tap on an ad, link, or text message that looked suspicious?

If the answer to either of the last two is yes, the most likely fix is uninstalling that app or clearing your browser.

Find the app sending the pop-ups

Check your most recently used apps

  1. Settings → Apps → See all apps.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu (top right) → Sort by → Recently opened.
  3. Look for anything you don't remember installing — names like "Cleaner," "Booster," "Optimizer," or unrecognized utilities are common culprits.

Check your notification history

  1. Settings → Notifications → Notification history.
  2. Turn Notification history on if it isn't already.
  3. Scroll through recent notifications and see which app sent the pop-ups.

Fix the source

Turn off Chrome pop-ups

  1. Open Chrome → three-dot menu (top right) → Settings.
  2. Scroll to Site settings.
  3. Tap Pop-ups and redirects and turn it off.
  4. Back in Site settings, tap Ads and make sure it's blocked.

Clear Chrome's cache

  1. Settings → Apps → Chrome.
  2. Force stop → OK.
  3. Storage & cache → Clear cache.

Turn off notifications from a specific app

Once you've found the offender:

  1. Settings → Apps → [the app] → Notifications.
  2. Turn off the notifications you don't want.

Uninstall the app

  1. Open the Play Store.
  2. Search for the app.
  3. Tap Uninstall.

What to avoid

  • Don't download apps from random websites or text-message links — stick to the Play Store.
  • Avoid apps that promise to "clean," "boost," or "speed up" your phone. They often add more pop-ups than they remove.
  • Don't tap pop-ups that say your phone is infected. The pop-up is the problem — not a real virus warning.

What to do if you can't make them stop

If you've worked through the steps above and the pop-ups continue:

  • Send us a screenshot of the pop-up and tell us when they started.
  • We can talk through a more complete reset of your phone as a last resort. Your contacts and photos are tied to your Google account and can be restored after.

When to contact support

  • You can't figure out which app is causing the pop-ups
  • Pop-ups persist after uninstalling the suspect app and clearing Chrome
  • A pop-up is asking you to pay money or share personal information — that's a scam, not a real warning. Don't tap it. Contact us.