Few things make a Windows 11 PC feel slower or older than a constant stream of pop-up ads — browser windows that open by themselves, desktop notifications selling vitamins, lock-screen "tips" that look suspiciously like adverts. We see machines like this every week at our Edinburgh workshop, often brought in from Leith and Morningside by people convinced their PC has a serious virus. In most cases it doesn't: it's a mix of permissive browser settings, allowed notifications, and a stray bit of adware that crept in with another download.
This guide walks through every place pop-up ads on Windows 11 actually come from, and how to switch each one off. If the ads keep returning after you've worked through these steps, our virus and malware removal team can deep-clean the machine for you.
Where Are Those Pop-Ups Coming From?
Before you start clicking settings, it helps to know which type of pop-up you're dealing with, because the fix is different for each. A pop-up that appears only when you're using a browser is a website or a browser-permission issue. A pop-up that appears on your desktop or above the system tray when no browser is open is a Windows notification, often from a website you've previously visited. And a pop-up that takes over the screen with sirens and a fake Microsoft phone number is a scam — see our tech support scams guide before you do anything else.
Block Pop-Ups in Microsoft Edge
Edge has a built-in pop-up blocker that is sometimes switched off after a software install. To turn it back on, open Edge, click the three dots in the top-right corner, choose Settings, then Cookies and site permissions. Scroll to Pop-ups and redirects and make sure the toggle is set to Blocked (recommended). While you're there, click Ads and switch Block ads on sites that show intrusive or misleading ads on too. Edge will still allow legitimate pop-ups you explicitly permit, but the rest will be silenced.
Block Pop-Ups in Google Chrome
Chrome handles this in a very similar way. Open Chrome, click the three dots, choose Settings, then Privacy and security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Set the default to Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects. Right below that, check the Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects list and remove anything you don't recognise — adware often whitelists itself here.
Turn Off Sneaky Browser Notifications
This is by far the most common cause of pop-ups in 2026. A site asks "Allow notifications?", you click Allow by accident, and from then on it can post messages straight to your Windows action centre. They look like real Windows alerts but they're adverts. In Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Notifications and either set the default to Ask before sending and clear the Allow list, or just block notifications entirely. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications and do the same. Most home users don't need notifications from any website, so blocking them globally is a safe choice.
Switch Off Windows 11's Built-In Tips and Suggestions
Windows 11 itself shows promotional content that many people mistake for ads. Open Settings (Windows key + I) and turn off the following:
- System → Notifications — scroll to the bottom and untick Show the Windows welcome experience, Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device, and Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows.
- Personalisation → Lock screen — change Personalise your lock screen to Picture instead of Windows spotlight, and untick Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.
- Personalisation → Start — turn off Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.
- Privacy & security → General — turn off Show me suggested content in the Settings app and Let apps show me personalised ads by using my advertising ID.
Run a Full Malware Scan
If pop-ups still appear after you've tightened the browsers and Windows, you're probably looking at adware. Open Windows Security from the Start menu, choose Virus & threat protection, click Scan options and run a Full scan. While that's running, download Malwarebytes from the official malwarebytes.com site (never from a search advert) and run that too — it catches a lot of adware that Defender ignores. Our signs your PC has a virus post is worth a read if you're not sure what counts as suspicious behaviour.
Check Your Installed Programs for Adware
Adware often hides inside utilities with names like "PC Cleaner Pro", "Driver Booster", "Smart Search Bar" or fake browser extensions. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, sort by Date installed, and uninstall anything you don't recognise — particularly anything installed on the day the ads started appearing. Customers in Livingston and Bonnyrigg often bring us laptops loaded with three or four of these, usually picked up when installing a no-name PDF reader or video downloader from an unfamiliar site. Our bloatware removal guide walks through this in more detail. If you're not sure whether a program is legitimate, our software troubleshooting team can take a look.
Reset Your Browser as a Last Resort
If pop-ups keep coming back in one specific browser, there may be a malicious extension you can't spot or a corrupted profile. Both Edge and Chrome have a built-in reset. In Edge: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values. In Chrome: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults. This disables all extensions, clears site permissions and notification grants, and wipes the new-tab redirect that adware loves to hijack. Your bookmarks and saved passwords stay intact.
When to Call in a Professional
If you've worked through every step above and pop-ups still appear, there's a good chance the machine has a deeper infection — a rootkit, a scheduled task pulling adware back down, or browser policies forced on by a malicious app. We deal with this every week across Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Lothians. Use our remote support service if you'd rather not bring the PC in, or our business IT support team if it's a work machine that several staff use. Either way, we'll make sure the ads stay gone for good.