Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (2024)

Malware is unsafe or unwanted software that may steal personal info or harm your device.

You may have malware on your device if:

  • Google signed you out of your Google Account to help protect you from malware on your device.
  • You notice suspicious signs on your device, like pop-up ads that won’t go away.

Find more signs of malware

Device symptoms

  • Alerts about a virus or an infected device
  • Anti-virus software you use no longer works or runs
  • A significant decrease in your device’s operating speed
  • A significant, unexpected decrease in storage space on your device
  • Your device stops working properly or working altogether

Browser symptoms

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

Other symptoms

Your contacts have received emails or social media messages from you, but you didn’t send the emails or messages.

Step 1: Make sure Google Play Protect is turned on

  1. Open the Google Play Store app Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (1).
  2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
  3. Tap Play Protect Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (2) Settings.
  4. Turn Scan apps with Play Protect on or off.

Tip: If you’ve downloaded apps from sources outside of the Google Play Store, turn on Improve harmful app detection.

Step 2: Check for Android device & security updates

Get the latest Android updates available for you

When you get a notification, open it and tap the update action.

If you cleared your notification or your device has been offline:

  1. Open your device's Settings app.
  2. Tap System Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (3) Software update.
  3. You'll find your update status. Follow any steps on the screen.

Tip: If you have a Pixel device, it may say "Software updates."

Tip: If you installed a modified (rooted) version of Android on your device, you lose some of the security protection provided by Google. To restart the security features provided by Google, reinstall the original Android operating system on your device.

Get security updates & Google Play system updates

Most system updates and security patches happen automatically. To check if an update is available:

  1. Open your device’s Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & privacy Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (4) System & Updates.
    • For security updates, tap Security Update.
    • For Google Play system updates, tap Google Play system update.
  3. Follow any steps on the screen.

Step 3: Remove untrusted apps

Uninstall any apps that are unnecessary, untrusted, or from sources outside the Google Play Store.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (5).
  2. Tap Apps & notifications Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (6) See all apps.
  3. Tap the apps you want to uninstall Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (7)Uninstall.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 4: Do a Security Checkup

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open a web browser, like Chrome.
  2. Go to myaccount.google.com/security-checkup.
  3. To fix any security issues in your account, follow the steps.

Tip: You can learn more about how to review your account settings and secure your account.

If you still notice signs of malware

If you continue to notice signs of unsafe software, you may choose to take one of the following steps:

Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (8)

Protect Your Identity Online

Get step-by-step visual guides on the tools and practices that will help you protect your personal information with Google's Online Security Guidebook.

Remove malware or unsafe software - Android (2024)

FAQs

Remove malware or unsafe software - Android? ›

How to determine if your phone has malware. If you suspect that there's malware on your Android device, download a reputable antivirus from the Google Play app store and run a deep scan. If the antivirus finds anything, it will likely prompt you to quarantine, block, or delete the infected files.

How do I completely remove malware from my Android? ›

How to get rid of a virus from an Android phone
  1. Clear your cache and downloads. Open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, and select Chrome. ...
  2. Restart your Android device in safe mode. ...
  3. Find and remove malicious apps. ...
  4. Activate Google Play Protect. ...
  5. Install anti-malware software.
Jan 24, 2024

How do I get rid of fake virus warning on Android phone? ›

Removing a Fake Virus Warning Pop-Up on Android
  1. Close all of the open browser windows that you can. ...
  2. Go to your Android Settings and tap Apps.
  3. Scroll down to the browser you were using just before seeing the fake virus warning pop-up. ...
  4. Tap Force Stop to force the browser application to stop running.
Jul 29, 2023

How do I remove a virus from my Android phone in safe mode? ›

Option 2: Manually remove the virus
  1. Step 1: Put your phone into safe mode. Restarting your phone in safe mode prevents all third-party apps from running, including malware. ...
  2. Step 2: View your downloaded apps. ...
  3. Step 3: Uninstall recent downloaded apps. ...
  4. Step 4: Prevent unknown apps from getting administrator permissions.
Feb 16, 2024

How to detect malware on Android? ›

How to determine if your phone has malware. If you suspect that there's malware on your Android device, download a reputable antivirus from the Google Play app store and run a deep scan. If the antivirus finds anything, it will likely prompt you to quarantine, block, or delete the infected files.

What is the best app to remove malware from Android? ›

Bitdefender Mobile Security provides excellent malware protection with a light impact on performance. It also includes tools like an app lock, a Wi-Fi scanner, anti-theft features and data breach notifications. Norton Mobile Security provides great malware protection and has an intuitive design.

Can I remove malware myself? ›

What to do if you have Malware. Removing malware can be extremely difficult. Malware, by design, will try to make itself almost impossible to remove. The only guaranteed way to remove malware is to reformat your computer and reinstall - which will delete all of your files.

How do I find hidden viruses on my phone? ›

Here's how to see if your phone has a virus:
  1. Run Regular Scans. Routine scans ensure there's no unauthorized access or signs of malware on your phone. ...
  2. Check for Suspicious Apps. Go through your installed apps and confirm you recognize all of them. ...
  3. Examine Battery Usage. ...
  4. Monitor Data Usage. ...
  5. Check Phone Performance.
Mar 5, 2024

How do I get rid of a virus on my Android phone for free? ›

How to get rid of a virus on your Android phone: Step-by-Step
  1. Step 1: Clear your cache and downloads. ...
  2. Step 2: Reboot in safe mode. ...
  3. Step 3: Connect to a different network or change your connection method. ...
  4. Step 4: Change your Google password. ...
  5. Step 5: Change your passwords. ...
  6. Step 6: Identify and uninstall any suspicious apps.

What does a fake virus notification look like? ›

Fake virus alerts also tend to use lots of exclamation points and capital letters to create a sense of urgency. You are asked for a payment or remote access to your computer. If you click on a link in a virus alert and are asked to pay to install antivirus software, it likely is a scam.

How do I remove viruses from my phone for free? ›

Free virus detection software from a reputable provider like Avast is the best way to perform a free virus scan, online as well as off. We'll automatically detect, block, and remove viruses and other malware from your devices.

How do I check for malware on my Android for free? ›

Check for Android malware using Play Protect
  1. Open the Play Store on the Android device you want to scan.
  2. Tap on your profile in the upper-right corner.
  3. Tap on Play Protect.
  4. Tap Scan.
  5. Tap on the option to remove any detected malware.
Jan 5, 2023

How do you get rid of malware on your phone? ›

How to get rid of malware (step by step) from Android or iOS phones
  1. Step 1: Clear your browser cache. Cache is a reserved storage location on your device that holds temporary files to help websites load faster. ...
  2. Step 2: Remove unrecognized apps. ...
  3. Step 3: Perform a factory reset.
Oct 12, 2023

How do I remove system UI spyware? ›

Follow these steps to do a complete factory reset and remove spyware:
  1. Go to Settings and press on System > Advanced > Reset options.
  2. Depending on your version of Android, click either Erase all data (factory reset) or Factory data reset.
  3. You'll be asked to confirm – click on the Reset device or Reset phone button.
Jan 4, 2024

Does Android have built in malware protection? ›

Android's biggest built-in defense against malware is Google Play Protect. There are a few different components to Play Protect—including the Find My Device tools—but a big part of it is malware scanning. Every Android device that includes the Google Play Store has Play Protect.

How do I remove malware from my phone manually? ›

How to get rid of a virus on your Android phone: Step-by-Step
  1. Step 1: Clear your cache and downloads. ...
  2. Step 2: Reboot in safe mode. ...
  3. Step 3: Connect to a different network or change your connection method. ...
  4. Step 4: Change your Google password. ...
  5. Step 5: Change your passwords. ...
  6. Step 6: Identify and uninstall any suspicious apps.

How do I force remove malware? ›

How to remove malware from a PC
  1. Step 1: Disconnect from the internet. ...
  2. Step 2: Enter safe mode. ...
  3. Step 3: Check your activity monitor for malicious applications. ...
  4. Step 4: Run a malware scanner. ...
  5. Step 5: Fix your web browser. ...
  6. Step 6: Clear your cache.

Can Android malware survive factory reset? ›

Does Resetting Your Phone Help With Viruses? Yes. Performing a factory reset on your mobile device can help combat viruses by removing infected files and curing malware infections — but it won't always be enough to completely remove all malicious software from your phone.

How do I get malware off my phone? ›

How to get rid of malware (step by step) from Android or iOS phones
  1. Step 1: Clear your browser cache. Cache is a reserved storage location on your device that holds temporary files to help websites load faster. ...
  2. Step 2: Remove unrecognized apps. ...
  3. Step 3: Perform a factory reset.
Oct 12, 2023

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