We think highly of Windows 10, but things haven’t always gone smoothly. From privacy concerns to buggy updates, Microsoft’s operating system has seen its fair share of controversy. It’s surprising, then, that the company continues to double down on its most annoying feature by keeping advertisements inside Windows 10 (and adding even more to Windows 11).
You could install a third-party tool to disable these ads with one click, but I generally don't recommend using them. Windows "privacy" tools may seem quick and convenient, but many of the options these programs offer can depend on other settings. By using these one-size-fits-all tools—many of which dig into the Registry—you can make it difficult to troubleshoot why other settings don't act the way you want.
You're better off doing it yourself, so you know what to go back and tweak later if something goes wonky. Thankfully, most of these ads have simple toggles to turn them off within the Windows 10 settings menu. (The same goes for the ads in Windows 11).
Microsoft has a history of bringing ads to new places (how about in the Windows 11 Start menu and your Xbox games?) and restoring "suggested" apps that have already been removed with Windows updates, so you may have to go back from time to time to make sure everything is still how you want it. The steps below may not remove everything, but should tone things down to some extent.
Remove Promoted Apps From the Start Menu
Whitson Gordon is a writer, gamer, and tech nerd who has been building PCs for 10 years. He eats potato chips with chopsticks so he doesn't get grease on his mechanical keyboard.
Most major web browsers include features that block unwanted pop-up ads. Here's how to block pop-up ads in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, and Firefox using any Windows, Mac, Linux, or mobile device.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Google Chrome
The process for blocking pop-up ads in the Google Chrome web browser is similar on Chrome on a Mac, PC, iOS device, or Android device.
Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on a Mac or PC
Open Chrome on a Mac or PC.
Select More (the three vertical dots located in the upper-right corner), then select Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Site Settings.
Select Pop-ups and redirects.
Turn on the Blocked (recommended) toggle switch.
Since some pop-ups are legitimate, under Allow, add any sites for which you want to accept pop-ups. If you only want to block pop-ups from specific sites, add those sites under Block.
Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on iOS Devices
Open the Chrome app, tap More (the three dots), then tap Settings.
Tap Content Settings > Block Pop-ups.
Turn off the Block Pop-ups option.
Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on Android Devices
Open the Chrome app on the Android device.
On the right of the address bar, tap More (the three dots), then tap Settings.
Tap Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
Turn off Pop-ups and redirects.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Microsoft Edge
These instructions apply only to the new Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser on Windows.
For Edge on a Mac, go to Settings, select Site Permissions > Pop-ups and redirects, then turn on the Block toggle.
Open Edge and go to Settings and more (the three dots).
Select Settings (the gear icon).
Go to Site Permissions.
Select Pop-ups and redirects.
Move the Block toggle to On.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Internet Explorer 11
These instructions apply only to Internet Explorer 11 in Windows.
Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer and recommends that you update to the newer Edge browser. Head to their site to download the newest version.
Open Internet Explorer 11, select Tools (the gear icon), then select Internet Options.
On the Privacy tab, under Pop-up Blocker, select the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box, then select OK.
Select Settings.
In the Pop-up Blocker settings dialog box, under Blocking level, set the blocking level to High: Block all pop-ups (Ctrl + Alt to override).
Select Close, then select OK.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Safari
For Macs with OS X El Capitan and higher OS X and macOS versions:
For Safari on iOS devices, tap Settings, then select Safari. Under General, turn on Block Pop-ups.
Go to the Safari menu, then select Preferences.
Select Security at the top of the window.
Select the Block pop-up windows check box to enable this feature.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Opera
These instructions apply to the Opera web browser.
In Opera, press Alt+P to open Settings.
Turn on Block Ads.
Alternatively, select the shield icon at the right side of the Opera address bar and turn on Block ads.
Block Pop-Up Ads in Mozilla Firefox
These instructions apply to Firefox on Macs or PCs.
For Firefox on an iOS device, tap the Firefox menu button and select the Settings icon. You may have to swipe left to locate this option. Turn on the Block Pop-up Windows option.