What Is Mobile Adware and How Do You Remove It?

If your phone has suddenly started showing ads in strange places — popping up on your home screen, hijacking your browser, or appearing between apps — there’s a decent chance adware is to blame.

Adware is one of the most common forms of mobile malware out there. Adware accounted for 62% of all mobile malware detections in 2025 making it more widespread than spyware, banking trojans, or ransomware. While it’s not always the most dangerous threat, it’s definitely one of the most annoying and it can expose you to worse risks if left unchecked.

Here’s everything you need to know about mobile adware: what it is, how to spot it, and how to get rid of it.

What Is Mobile Adware?

Adware — short for advertising-supported software — is unwanted software designed to bombard you with ads. It generates revenue for its developer every time you see or click on one of those ads.

It’s worth separating adware from closely related terms you might have heard:

Malware is the umbrella term covering all malicious software, including viruses, trojans, spyware, and adware.

Spyware is designed specifically to monitor your activity — recording messages, tracking your location, or stealing personal data. Adware is generally less sinister than spyware, but the line between them has blurred in recent years. Some adware also tracks your browsing habits or collects data it shouldn’t.

Adware developers have found various ways to evade detection, including hiding it inside legitimate-looking free apps, disguising it as a fake software update, or even encrypting the code so basic security tools can’t scan it.

There are essentially two types of mobile adware:

• Bundled adware: Ads that come with a free app you’ve knowingly downloaded. These are annoying but broadly within the rules — you’re paying for a “free” app with your attention.
• Malicious adware: Software that installs itself without your permission — often by sneaking in with another app download or when you tap a deceptive link. This is the kind worth worrying about.

Signs of Adware on Your Phone

Adware tends to make itself known. Common signs include:

• Ads appearing on your home screen, lock screen, or notification bar
• Your browser homepage has changed without you changing it
• Tapping links redirects you somewhere you didn’t expect
• Your browser is noticeably slower than usual
• New browser extensions or toolbars you don’t recognize
• Apps you don’t remember installing showing up on your device
• A surge in pop-up notifications

If you’re seeing ads across multiple apps, or in places ads have no business appearing, that’s a strong signal something unwanted has been installed on your device.

How to Remove Adware from Android

Adware primarily affects Android devices, thanks to Android’s more open app ecosystem. If you suspect adware on your Android phone, work through the steps below.

Step 1: Run a Google Play Protect Scan

Google Play Protect is Android’s built-in security scanner and your first line of defense. It automatically scans apps on your device for known threats. Here’s how to run a manual scan:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Play Protect.
4. Tap Turn on to enable it and run a check.

If Play Protect flags anything suspicious, follow the on-screen prompts to remove it.

Fig 1. Enabling Play Protect.

Step 2: Use Safe Mode to Identify the Culprit

If the ads are still appearing and you’re not sure which app is causing them, Safe Mode can help you narrow it down. Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. If the ads stop in Safe Mode, you know the cause is an installed app rather than something built into your phone.

Here’s how to enter Safe Mode on most Android devices:

1. Press and hold the power button.
2. Long-press the Power Off option until a Safe Mode prompt appears.
3. Tap to confirm. Your phone will reboot into Safe Mode (you’ll see “Safe Mode” displayed in the corner of your screen).

Fig 2. Enabling Safe Mode.

To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your phone normally.

Once you’ve confirmed an app is the source, go back to Settings > Apps, find the offending app, and uninstall it.

Step 6: If Nothing Works, Consider a Factory Reset

If adware is still present after trying all of the above, a factory reset will wipe your device back to its original state. This is a last resort as it removes everything — make sure to back up your photos, contacts, and important files first.

You’ll find the factory reset option under Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset on most Android devices (again, the path may vary slightly by device).

Fig 6. Performing a factory reset.

After resetting, be careful about what you reinstall — only download apps from the Google Play Store, and avoid reinstalling anything you suspect may have caused the issue.

What About iPhones?

iPhones are far less vulnerable to adware than Android devices, largely because of Apple’s tightly controlled App Store and iOS sandboxing. It’s unusual for adware to install itself on an iPhone the way it can on Android.

That said, you can still encounter adware-style behavior on an iPhone, usually through your browser. If you’re seeing intrusive pop-ups or suspicious redirects in Safari, try clearing your browser data:

Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

Fig 7. Clearing Safari history and website data.

Jailbroken iPhones carry much higher risk — removing Apple’s restrictions opens the door to all kinds of malicious software, including adware. If your phone has been jailbroken and you’re seeing unexpected ads or unusual behavior, it’s worth running a full security scan.

How to Prevent Adware

Removing adware is one thing — avoiding it in the first place is better. A few habits will go a long way:

• Only install apps from the Google Play Store or Apple Appstore. Third-party app stores have far weaker security checks and are a common source of adware.
• Read app permissions before installing. An app that wants access to your microphone, camera, or storage without a clear reason is a red flag.
• Keep your OS up to date. Software updates patch security vulnerabilities that adware and other malware can exploit.
• Be careful with “free” apps. If an app seems too good to be true, check the reviews and the developer’s history before installing.
• Avoid tapping ads and pop-ups that tell you your phone is infected. These are almost always scams designed to get you to install something malicious.

Wrapping Up

Adware is frustrating, but it’s also very fixable. In most cases, working through the steps above will clear it up without too much hassle. The most important thing is to catch it early — the longer adware sits on your device, the more it can collect about your browsing habits, and some variants are a gateway to more serious threats.

If you’ve cleaned everything up and your phone is still behaving strangely, it’s worth running a dedicated security scan. Certo AntiSpy can check your device for any remaining threats and help you get back to a clean bill of health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can adware steal my personal information?

Standard adware is designed to serve ads and generate ad revenue rather than steal data. However, some more aggressive variants do track your browsing habits or collect personal information. It’s worth treating any unauthorized software on your device as a potential risk and removing it promptly.

Is adware the same as a virus?

Not exactly. A virus is a type of malware that can replicate and spread between files or devices. Adware is designed to display ads rather than cause the kind of damage a virus does. Both fall under the broader umbrella of malware, but they work differently.

Why does my phone keep showing ads even after I uninstall an app?

If ads persist after removing an app, the adware may have left behind browser data or settings it changed. Try clearing your browser’s data completely . If that doesn’t help, check for any remaining device admin apps or consider a factory reset.