How to stop pop-ups on Galaxy S9
Are you experiencing random or frequent pop-ups on your Galaxy S9? You’re in luck as this article will help you deal with it. Learn what you can do about this problem by following our solutions below.
How to stop pop-ups on Galaxy S9
Dealing with pop-ups, whether on a phone or computer is not a straightforward task. Often, there’s no obvious reason why pop-ups are displayed. In some cases, a legit app may be a reason but in others, it can be due to a bad app, virus, or malware. Below are the troubleshooting steps that you can do.
Solution 1: Disable Marketing information
Samsung does not stop making money off your device after you paid for it. In fact, it can continue making deals with third party companies to allow them to send you offers with the help of the least known feature under Settings menu called Marketing information. This feature is disabled by default but if turn it on before without knowing what it does, it’s probably high time to turn if back off.
Keep in mind that Samsung does not intentionally make your Galaxy S9 vulnerable by enabling Marketing information. But since some unscrupulous developers may do whatever it takes to make money, they may resort to means that forces ad pop-ups on devices. Turning off Marketing information feature is a good idea in your situation.
Solution 2: Turn off Pop-ups under Chrome
If pop-ups seem to appear when you’re browsing the web using Chrome, which is the default browser in most Android devices, you can troubleshoot it by disabling an option under the app’s Settings menu. Here’s how:
- Open Google Chrome app.
- Tap on More Settings icon at the upper right (three dots).
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Site settings.
- Select Pop-ups.
- Disable Pop-ups by moving the switch to the right.
Other third party browsers offer more robust protection against popups. Try them if Google Chrome can’t seem to control the pop-ups. Good examples of alternate browsers are Mozilla Firefox and Samsung Internet browser.
Solution 3: Check for bad third party app
In many cases, ad pop-ups are brought about by third party apps. Such types of apps can hijack the system or compromise its security. Once the system’s defenses had been weakened, other apps may be installed without a user knowing. Only when pop-ups start showing regularly will you realize that there may be a problem.
To check if there’s a third party problem, you can try to restart the device to safe mode. When running on this mode, your Galaxy S9 suspends all third party apps. If there’s no pop-ups problem in this mode, you can bet a bad app is to blame. Follow the steps below to boot your device to safe mode:
- Turn the device off.
- Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
- When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
- Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
- Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
- Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.
- Observe the phone for some time to see if pop-ups return.
Solution 4: Uninstall apps
If pop-ups are absent on safe mode, that means one of the installed third party apps is the reason for your trouble. Keep in mind that some legit apps may use pop-ups infrequently to make money. However, if the pop-ups are totally absent on safe mode but returns once you restart the device to normal mode, that’s a clear indication of a bad app problem. Because safe mode won’t help you pinpoint the exact problem app, you’ll have to use elimination method to identify it. Here’s how:
- Restart to safe mode.
- Check for the problem.
- Observe the phone for some time.
- If there are no pop-ups, start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
- After you uninstall one app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
- If pop-ups return, repeat steps 1-5.
The above steps are the only way to know a problem app in this case. Make sure to do it methodically by following the steps in order to narrow down the suspect apps.
Solution 5: Wipe your device (factory reset)
If the safe mode method won’t help at all, the next troubleshooting step that you can try is to wipe the phone. Factory reset will erase all non-system critical addition including potentially bad apps, viruses, malware, and codes that forces pop-ups. Make sure to create a backup of your personal data before doing this solution. Also, be sure to remove the Google account from your S9 to avoid problems that may be caused by Factory Reset Protection feature.
To factory reset your Galaxy S9:
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
- When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
- Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’.
- Press Power button to select.
- Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
- Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
- When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
- Press the Power key to restart the device.
Solution 6: Install antivirus app
After wiping the phone and before you install your apps, we highly recommend that you add an antivirus app first. There are many good but free antivirus app that you get from the Play Store.
You can start with AVG AntiVirus or with any other ones.
When selecting an antivirus app, it’s important to choose a reputable one. There are many viruses and malware that disguise themselves like legit antivirus apps. Make sure to read reviews from other users and use only the one from known developers.
Adding one antivirus will help protect the system from known bad apps during installation but is adding more better? NO! Having more than one antivirus app on your system is not a good idea. It can cause severe performance issue and other probnlems. Pick one and stick with it. Or, simply uninstall the first one before replacing it.
Solution 7: Filter apps carefully before installing them
Antivirus apps, just like any form of automation is only useful at a certain level. There’s a constant cat-and-mouse battle between good and bad guys in Android environment. It still falls largely on your shoulder to keep your free from viruses or pop-ups. If the problem returns after wiping the device, that means that you’re not doing your job properly in ensuring that only good apps are installed. To avoid malware and pop-ups, make sure that only good or legit apps are added to the system. Make sure that you do research to know if an app you’re adding back is good or not.
If you’re not sure whether an app is good or not, there are a few tips that can help figure it out. Start by checking the reviews from other users. If a lot of people are saying that the app is no good, has lots of pop-ups, or appear to be making suspicious activities, you’re better off staying away from it. Another way to help you is by doing some research about the publisher or developer of the said app. Developers of legit apps are active in reaching out to users who report problems. They also tend to have good reputation in general. Developers of popular apps may not have the pressure of monetizing their products but less popular products may experience the opposite. This can force developers to use non-legit means to make money from their apps, including the use of pop-ups to show ads. Needless to say, you are the first line of defense of your device when it comes to viruses or pop-ups.