Ads X: what it is and how to remove it
Ads X is an advertisement in search results that users see on Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or other browsers if they have a potentially unwanted program installed on their machines. Users reported that they see ads on macOS, as well as Windows computers, and the associated application that usually causes Ads X to show up is usually related to All Video Downloader Professional or Apps Launcher.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Ads X: summary
| Distribution | Potentially unwanted applications are usually distributed as optional components within software bundle packages |
|---|---|
| Name | Ads X |
| Category | Adware |
| Sub-category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Associated apps | All Video Downloader Professional, Apps Launcher and many others |
| Purpose | To gain income from the pay-per-click marketing model |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Dangers | Can take you to potentially harmful web sites, promote dubious software, collect non personally-identifiable information |
|---|---|
| Deletion | You need to get rid of a browser extension or a standalone application from your Windows or Mac machine. For that, you can use manual removal guide below or employ anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Ad-supported program |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Ads X |
| First seen | 21 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Ads X dangerous?
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Ads X is a potentially unwanted program that fills users' searchers with sponsored links
Ads X is an advertisement in search results that users see on Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or other browsers if they have a potentially unwanted program installed on their machines. Users reported that they see ads on macOS, as well as Windows computers, and the associated application that usually causes Ads X to show up is usually related to All Video Downloader Professional or Apps Launcher.
These rogue apps typically enter users' computers bundled with free software or its updates they acquire from the internet. While many people might not notice the entry, the presence of adware can be observed as soon as users open their browsers:
- intrusive pop-ups
- banners
- in-text ads
- sponsored links hinder the ability to operate the browser
- even the computer
Additionally, Ads X advertisements can result in a virus infection or personal information leakage, especially if the infected computer's user is careless. Thus, getting rid of the annoying app as soon as possible is critical.
Ads X adware can also install additional components (sometimes without permission):
If you spot numerous Ads X ads and your browsers are struggling to cope (lag, slow loading, crashes, freezes, etc.), you can be sure that your computer got infected with adware which needs to be eliminated before normal PC operation is recovered.
Adware-type programs such as Ads X can collect non-personal details which are related to the users browsing habits. Developers gather all details about users' commonly visited websites and provide advertisements that are related to those type of pages so that the pop-ups will seem more attractive for the victims.
Moreover, you can detect Ads X adware from various redirects. If you are infected with this PUP, it might take you to developer-promoted or even potentially dangerous web pages. When redirected to a questionable site, you can accidentally step on malicious content and launch some type of malware straightly to your computer system.
Various redirects are one of the main reasons, why you need to remove Ads X virus from your computer and clean affected web browsers. You can take care of the damage with or any other similar computer security and fixing software. Such programs let you complete the process within a few minutes.
Additionally, there is a possibility to perform the Ads X removal manually. Follow them carefully to achieve the best results. After that, make sure you take some precautionary measures to prevent adware-type infections and other PUPs in the future.
- Browser extensions;
- Add-ons;
- Toolbars;
- Scareware;
- etc.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Search hijacking - how applications show you what they want you to see
Web browser search engines are powerful tools that allow users to view a lot of different information, shop online, read blogs, use social media, and so much more.
In the 90s, , when the Internet began to spread, the need for more sophisticated search tools arose, which also marked the start of a new web browser development era. As a result, there are plenty of browsers to choose from, and users can select the best browser-based on their preferences.
However, marketing firms and threat actors soon realized that browsers could also be used to generate ad revenue and began campaigns that corrupt users' web browsing time by inserting ads, hijacking browsers, and search engines. Currently, web browser hijacking activities are kept more or less under control, although users still fall victim to ads they did not ask for in the first place, and Ads X is one of those.
Ads X is not an application on its own, but its functionality is embedded within certain applications - usually, browser extensions. However, because the occurring ads do not name the app that they are connected to, users are baffled and struggle to remove Ads X from their browsers.
Unfortunately, there is no way to tell which apps are associated with this dubious activity, and the best way to figure it out is to get rid of each of the installed browser add-ons or apps one-by-one.
Another reason why Ads X ad similar search hijackers are successful is that many users do not understand the difference between organic search results and sponsored ones, as the markings are usually tiny, and are hard to notice. For some, even after noting these markings, it would not indicate anything, and users will proceed to visit the promoted sites without realizing that their searches are being manipulated.
Fortunately, most of the apps that bring sponsored links to your browser can be eliminated relatively easily, although sometimes such behavior might be embedded into extensions or apps that protect themselves from termination. In such a case, the best way to deal with Ads X and similar advertisements is to scan the machine with anti-malware that detects potentially unwanted programs.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Avoid dubious websites and beware of software bundling
According to IT professionals, various PUPs are commonly spread using software bundling and via dubious websites.
Therefore, check every page you click on to make sure that it fits the security requirements (for example, check if security certificate is still valid).
Moreover, if you like downloading programs from the Internet, it is advisable to go to the Custom or Advanced installation section and check through the list of incoming downloads in order to detect any suspicious-looking ones. Most importantly, you need to deselect the Quick or Recommended mode so that various PUPs will not be able to sneak in so easily.
Install antivirus protection as an automatic computer security tool. Experts from LosVirus.es recommend every user having such software on their computers as such programs can detect various threats which might have been missed by the user.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ads X
- In some cases, malware can cause users to experience system failures, crashes, errors, etc.
How to remove Ads X
Uninstall first, then remove what stays behind, so the ads do not come back after a restart.
Step 1: Uninstall Ads X
Ads X is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Ads X, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after Ads X, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Ads X that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Get rid of adware from Windows OS with the help of these instructions:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Refresh Chrome by completing each step carefully:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Clean Mozilla Firefox and eliminate all adware-added components with the help of these guidelines:
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Ads X and fix the damage done using a repair tool
If you have spotted symptoms related to adware and want to remove Ads X virus, you will need to get rid of all adware-added browser extension, plug-ins, and other questionable components. If you perform such actions cautiously, you will be able to clean web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and others.
Moreover, you can download and install an anti-malware tool for the Ads X removal. These tools speed up the process so you will be able to eliminate the cyber threat in a couple of minutes. After the elimination is done, make sure you refresh browsers that were affected by the PUP to check out if all unwanted content has vanished successfully.
Questions about Ads X
Can I safely uninstall Ads X?
If you did not install Ads X yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows. Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name.
Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
Ads X came back after I uninstalled it. Why?
Something else is reinstalling it. Common causes are a second program from the same publisher, a scheduled task that downloads it again, or a browser extension that keeps prompting for it. Sort Installed apps by install date and uninstall each entry from the same day that you did not choose.
Then open Task Scheduler and look in the Task Scheduler Library for tasks with updater-style names that you do not recognise. Check Startup apps in Task Manager too. If Ads X still returns, start Windows in Safe Mode, uninstall it there and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which looks for loaders that ordinary scans can miss.
Ads X has no uninstaller. What now?
Some adware does not register itself properly, or its uninstaller only opens a web page. First try Settings > Apps > Installed apps and the older Control Panel > Programs and Features; one may list it when the other does not.
If neither works, disable its entry in Task Manager > Startup apps, restart, and run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan, which remove known adware files. Then, if anything is left, delete the folder it ran from, which you can find by right-clicking the process in Task Manager and choosing Open file location.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing ad-supported program and clearing cookies is usually enough.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Ads X?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Will Fortect remove Ads X?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Ads X, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Midlothian Web: Just browsing: a brief history of web browsers (read October 6, 2026)
- Mozilla: What is search hijacking? (read October 6, 2026)
- LosVirus: LosVirus (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)