To remove adware from a Windows PC, uninstall any unwanted app you can identify, update Microsoft Defender security intelligence and run a full scan, then check your browser’s extensions and notification permissions. If unwanted software persists, Microsoft Defender Offline can scan outside normal Windows startup. Pop-ups alone do not prove that your PC is infected: they can also come from a website permission or browser add-on.
First, work out where the ads are coming from
Note when the ads or redirects appear: only on one website, across several websites, or even when your browser is closed. That pattern can help you decide what to check first, but it does not diagnose the cause by itself. Microsoft distinguishes malware from potentially unwanted apps (PUAs). PUAs are not necessarily malware, but they can show unexpected advertising, use system resources, or offer or install other apps. Microsoft’s Windows Security guidance and its PUA overview explain the distinction.
Uninstall suspicious apps you recognize
If the unwanted software has a normal uninstall entry, remove it through Windows Settings rather than deleting files manually. Microsoft suggests sorting installed apps by install date to spot a recent program you do not remember installing. Windows labels can vary by release.
- Open Start > Settings > Apps (on some releases, the installed-apps page has a different label).
- Review the installed apps and, if available, sort by install date.
- Select a recent app you recognize as unwanted and choose its uninstall option. Do not remove unfamiliar Windows components or edit the registry based only on a guess.
See Microsoft’s unwanted-software removal guidance for its recommendations.
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Update Defender and run a full scan
Use the built-in Windows Security app for a comprehensive malware check. Update security intelligence first so Defender scans with current definitions, then run a full scan.
- Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
- Open the section for protection updates and check for security-intelligence updates.
- Return to Virus & threat protection, choose the scan options, and select Full scan.
- When the scan finishes, review its results and any actions Defender recommends.
If Defender reports a PUA, open the detection details, choose an appropriate action such as quarantine or removal, and select Start actions. Microsoft notes that a detection can remain blocked but not be removed until you choose and execute an action. Do not choose Allow for an item you do not recognize; allowing a threat can put the device or data at risk. You can review detections and actions in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history. See Microsoft’s PUA guidance and Protection history instructions.
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Check browser extensions and site notifications
Unwanted software may add a browser extension, so inspect the add-ons in each browser you use. Remove extensions you do not recognize or no longer want. If ads appear as alerts on the desktop, review that browser’s site notification permissions too: a website you previously allowed to send notifications can produce pop-ups without establishing that the PC is infected. Browser settings and labels vary by browser and version; use the browser’s own current help for exact menu steps. Microsoft also identifies browser add-ons as a possible unwanted-software change in its removal guidance.
Use Microsoft Defender Offline if the problem persists
If unwanted software remains after the full scan, or a scan outside normal Windows startup is warranted, Microsoft Defender Offline is a deeper option on supported systems. It restarts the PC into a separate scanning environment.
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- Save open work and close your apps.
- Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
- Select Microsoft Defender Offline scan > Scan now and follow the restart prompt.
- After Windows starts again, check Protection history for results and actions.
If the system drive is protected by BitLocker, have the recovery key available before starting: Windows may ask for it during the restart. Microsoft advises checking its preparation instructions and suspending BitLocker protection as directed. Offline-scan availability and BitLocker behavior depend on the Windows platform and device configuration. Follow Microsoft’s Defender Offline instructions.
Choose the cleanup step that fits
| Step | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Uninstall in Settings | You can identify an unwanted app that has a regular uninstall entry. |
| Full Defender scan | You want a comprehensive first check after updating security intelligence. |
| Browser add-on cleanup | Ads or redirects may be connected to a browser extension or site permission. |
| Defender Offline | The problem persists or a scan outside normal Windows startup is appropriate; it requires a restart. |
| Microsoft Safety Scanner | You want an additional downloadable Microsoft scan and removal tool. Microsoft offers it, but its guidance does not make it a routine requirement for adware cleanup. Microsoft Safety Scanner details. |
Confirm the result and reduce the chance of a repeat
Check Protection history to see whether Defender took the selected action. If detections remain, follow the available action and run an updated scan again. A completed scan does not guarantee that every unwanted change has been undone, so check whether the original ads or redirects continue.
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- Dell Optiplex 3050 SFF Desktop computer PC, Intel Quad Core i5-6500 up to 3.6GHz, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD
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- Install apps from sources you trust and decline bundled offers you do not want.
- Keep Windows, browsers, and apps updated.
- Use Windows Security’s potentially unwanted app blocking options if available on your Windows version. Microsoft describes the settings in its Windows Security guidance.
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