How to clear pop-ups you may be getting in Microsoft Edge to optimize your computer's performance, improve its privacy and prevent it from getting infected with malware.
2. Scam Pop-Ups
Before We BeginBrowser-based tech support scam "warnings" are becoming increasingly more common. They are designed to look official, pretending to be from Microsoft, Google, your internet provider, or another legitimate company.
These messages will claim that your computer is infected, that your data is at risk, or that your computer has been "blocked" because it has been hacked. At the end of their scary warning, they will provide a telephone number and urge you to contact them for support.
There is most likely nothing wrong with your computer.
These are false messages designed specifically to frighten you into contacting the provided fraudulent "support" line, where an individual will attempt to sell you unnecessary support services or software, and will ask to remotely control your computer. By no means should you ever call one of these numbers or let them remotely control your computer.
In the vast majority of cases, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your computer. Unfortunately, the way these browser-based tech support scams are displayed, they can be very difficult and sometimes impossible to close via traditional means.
The following steps will walk you through terminating your browser to clear such messages, and help resolve other problems with pop-ups you may encounter.
3. Terminate Browser
The following steps can be used to terminate any browser, but the examples below will demonstrate using Internet Explorer.
Open the Windows Task Manager.
Using the Taskbar
Using your right mouse button, right-click on your Taskbar. Then select Task Manager from the menu.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
On your keyboard use Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
Using the Lock Screen
You can do Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard, then click on Task Manager.
Select your browser, then select End Task.
Basic View
Advanced View
Open Edge InPrivate Window
Microsoft Edge browser has a special mode called "InPrivate Browsing". We will use it to clear any remaining errant settings in normal mode, simply by opening in that special mode, then closing right away.
Using your right mouse button, right-click on Edge, and select New InPrivate Window.
If you don't see Edge on your Taskbar, open the Start menu and select Edge from there.
The browser will look a little different than usual. That is normal.
Close the browser by selecting the X in the upper-right corner.
4. Clear Cache and History
Open Microsoft Edge, select the menu in the top right, and select Settings.
Select Privacy & security on the left, then select Choose what to clear on the right.
Select the item categories you wish to clear, then select Clear.
SettingCheckboxBrowsing HistoryCheckedWhile you browse Your browser will keep track of every page you visit, to try to make it easier to return. This can become corrupt due to modern active web pages.Cookies and saved website dataCheckedThis clears your cache, making your browser get a new copy of the webpage, images, etc. It's important to clear this to get a fresh copy the next time you visit, as the copy your browser has may simply be corrupt.
You will have to log back into any pages you use, such as mail or social media.
Cached data and filesCheckedThis clears your cache, making your browser get a new copy of the webpage, images, etc. It's important to clear this to get a fresh copy the next time you visit, as the copy your browser has may simply be corrupt.Tabs I've set aside or recently closedCheckedThis clears tabs that you have set aside, as well as tabs that you've recently closed.Download HistoryPersonal ChoiceThese are a list of files you've downloaded recently. It is entirely safe to delete, or keep this list, as it won't affect pages. Checking this option does not delete the files you've downloaded, just the list the browser keeps.Autofill dataUncheckedInformation from entering forms online, such as your name, address, or other filled in information. This does not affect how a page loads, and can slow you down on your most commonly used pages.PasswordsUncheckedYour browser will save your passwords while you browse, making it easier to log into your most common websites later. This does not affect how a page loads, and can slow you down on your most commonly used pages.Media LicensesUncheckedClears any saved media licenses. These are typically used for streaming sites that you may have purchased content from.Website PermissionsUncheckedClears any permission granted to web sites. These permissions include permissions to access your audio devices such as your mic, and location services.
5. Test Site
Open Microsoft Edge, and visit the website you had problems with at the start.
Make sure the page loads properly, and try following a few of the links from the page.
6. Disable Extensions
Extensions provide extra features to Microsoft Edge. Sometimes, these Extensions are not coded well, break after an update, or because they change the way Microsoft Edge works in a malicious way to show you advertisements.
Disabling Extensions can help resolve these problems.
It is recommended to disable all Extensions. Then enable your wanted extensions one by one, testing each time to find the extension that's causing problems.
Open Microsoft Edge, select the menu in the top-right corner, and select Extensions.
Set the slider to Off for every extension you have installed.
Everything listed below "Suggested" aren't installed and can be ignored for this step.
7. Test Site
Open Microsoft Edge, and visit the website you had problems with at the start.
Make sure the page loads properly, and try following a few of the links from the page.
8. Continued Pop-ups
Unfortunately, your pop-up issue cannot be resolved via basic troubleshooting steps. Your machine will require hands-on service to determine the root cause of your pop-up issues.
9. Guided Path not helpful.
10. Escalate to PTE
If you are a PST, follow the Escalation Process to PTE.
11. What's next?
12. It Can't Happen Here
It Can't Happen Here
13. One Page
You are seeing pop-ups on one webpage, but not on others.
This means that the website you're using has advertising built-into it on purpose.
You can choose to continue to use the web site, understanding that this is their advertising method.
You can contact the website administrator to ask them to change their advertising method.
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