If you're seeing some of these problems with Chrome, you might have unwanted software or malware installed on your computer:

  • Pop-up ads and new tabs that won't go away
  • Your Chrome homepage or search engine keeps changing without your permission
  • Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars keep coming back
  • Your browsing is hijacked, and redirects to unfamiliar pages or ads
  • Alerts about a virus or an infected device

In the future, avoid unwanted software by only downloading files or visiting sites that you know are secure.

Change your default ads permissions

To prevent sites from showing you intrusive or misleading ads by changing your settings.
  1. Open Chrome "".
  2. At the top right, click More More and then Settings.
  3. Click Privacy and security and then Site Settings.
  4. Click Additional content settings and then Ads.
  5. Select the option you want as your default setting.

Remove unwanted programs (Windows, Mac)

Before you reset your browser settings on a Windows or Mac, check your computer for unwanted programs.

Restore quarantined files (Windows)

Chrome can help you find suspicious or unwanted programs on your computer. If Chrome finds an unwanted program, Chrome will remove the software, change some settings to default, and turn off extensions.

If you think Chrome removed a file that’s safe or personal by mistake, you can restore the file.

  1. On your computer, open the folder %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome Cleanup Tool\Quarantine.
  2. Open the folder Quarantine.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. Right-click the file you want to restore and click Extract all.
  5. Enter the password chrome_cleanup.
Reset your browser settings
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click More More and then Settings and then Advanced.
    • On Chromebook, Linux, and Mac: Click Reset settings and then Restore settings to their original defaults and then Reset settings.
    • On Windows: Click Reset and cleanup and then Reset settings to their original defaults and then Reset settings.

If you removed unwanted programs or reset your browser settings, you might need to turn some extensions back on. To turn extensions on, at the top right, click More More and then More Tools and then Extensions. Only turn on extensions you trust.