How to Remove Adware From Windows

What Causes This?

Adware usually gets installed alongside free apps, fake browser extensions, bundled installers, or misleading “download” buttons on sketchy websites. Once installed, it can add startup entries, scheduled tasks, browser add-ons, and background processes that keep showing ads or redirecting your searches. Some adware also leaves behind temporary files and tracking data, which can make the problem come back even after you remove the main app.

Common Symptoms

• Pop-up ads appear even when your browser is closed
• Your homepage, default search engine, or new tab page changes on its own
• Unknown apps or browser extensions show up in Windows
• The PC feels slower, especially at startup
• You get redirected to unwanted websites or fake security alerts

How to Fix It Manually

1. Uninstall suspicious apps

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to Apps > Installed apps.
   • Sort by Install date and look for anything you don’t recognize, especially apps installed around the time the ads started.
   • Click the three dots next to the app and choose Uninstall.
   • Restart your PC after removing anything suspicious.

2. Disable unwanted startup items

   • Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   • Click Startup apps in the left sidebar.
   • Look for unknown or unnecessary entries with strange names, no publisher, or unusually high impact.
   • Right-click the item and choose Disable.
   • Do not disable drivers, audio software, or anything clearly tied to Microsoft or your hardware maker unless you know it’s unwanted.

3. Remove bad browser extensions and reset browser settings

   • In Chrome: open the menu ⋮ > Extensions > Manage Extensions and remove anything suspicious.
   • In Edge: open ... > Extensions > Manage extensions and remove unknown add-ons.
   • Then reset browser settings:
     • Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults
     • Edge: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values
   • Check that your homepage and default search engine are back to what you expect.

4. Check for scheduled tasks and background leftovers

   • Press Windows key, type Task Scheduler, and open it.
   • Click Task Scheduler Library and review tasks with random names or ones that launch browsers, scripts, or unknown programs.
   • Right-click suspicious tasks and choose Disable or Delete.
   • Then open File Explorer and check these folders for suspicious leftovers:
     • C:\Program Files
     • C:\Program Files (x86)
     • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local
     • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming
   • Delete folders only if they clearly belong to the adware you removed.

5. Run Windows Security

   • Open Start, type Windows Security, and open it.
   • Go to Virus & threat protection.
   • Click Scan options and choose Full scan, then click Scan now.
   • If anything is found, follow the recommended actions and restart the PC.

6. Clear temporary files and browser traces

   • Press Windows + I and go to System > Storage > Temporary files.
   • Select temporary files you want to remove, then click Remove files.
   • In your browser, clear cached images/files and cookies to remove tracking leftovers and stop bad redirects from persisting.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan for adware-related junk in one pass, including leftover files, browser traces, startup entries, and other clutter that manual cleanup often misses. It’s a faster way to clean up Windows and reduce the chance of the adware coming back after you uninstall the obvious app.

Download Kudu Free →