How to stop pop-ups on a Windows 10 computer

Pop-ups appear in a variety of forms, most of which are unpleasant. However, your Windows 10 computer comes pre-installed with techniques for dealing with all forms of pop-ups, including those it creates.

To stop pop-ups on a Windows 10 computer, all you have to do is edit Windows' notification settings.

How to stop pop-ups in Windows 10 in your browser

Microsoft Edge has a built-in pop-up blocker that can be activated by following these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click the three horizontal dotes in the top right corner, or press Alt-X, to open the options menu.

2. Click "Settings."
3. Click "Privacy and Security," which is the little padlock tab along the left hand side of the bar.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the Security options until you find the "Security" section. There, turn on "Block pop-ups."

How to stop Windows 10s system pop-ups

Windows 10 itself will often create pop-ups to try and sell you new products, download their software, or give you reminders. If you want to shut these down, there are a number of settings you should shut off.

To disable reminders about buying OneDrive or Microsoft Office:
1. Open your File Explorer. You can do this by opening any folder.

2. Click the "View" tab at the top of the window.

3. Click "Options" at the right of the menu bar and select "Change Folder and Search Options."

4. In the new window that opens, select the "View" tab. In the Advanced Settings options, uncheck "Show Sync Provider Notifications."

5. Select "Apply" to save your changes.

To stop ads on your lock screen:

1. Open the Start menu, search for "Themes and related settings" and click it when it appears in your search results.
2. Select "Lock Screen" from the menu on the left.

3. Turn off the toggle switch that's labeled "Get fun facts, tips and more..." just below the "Choose your Picture" options.

How to stop push notifications from programs:

1. Open the Start menu. Search for "Notifications & actions settings" and click it when it appears in your search results.
2. Turn off "Get notifications from apps and other senders."
3. Uncheck the third box, which begins "Show me the Windows experience..."

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