Bwplayer ads: what it is and how to remove it
Bwplayer is an ad-supported program which infiltrates the system by using numerous techniques used to go around users back and spread without permission. This PUP mostly comes inside bundled with other software and starts its annoying activity by modifying various browser settings right after that.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Bwplayer ads: summary
| Name | Bwplayer |
|---|---|
| Category | Adware |
| Possible dangers | Various ads can redirect you to potentially dangerous websites filled with malware |
| Symptoms | Modified browser's settings, numerous ads that interrupt your browsing, slowdowns, and crashes |
| Goal | To get income from provided adverts |
| Spreading techniques | Bundling, rogue websites |
| 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 8 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Adware extension |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Bwplayer |
| First seen | 3 May 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Bwplayer ads dangerous?
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Bwplayer – an ad-supported application which causes "push notifications" to fill web browser with numerous ads
Bwplayer is an ad-supported program which infiltrates the system by using numerous techniques used to go around users back and spread without permission.
This PUP mostly comes inside bundled with other software and starts its annoying activity by modifying various browser settings right after that. Bwplayer virus provides numerous intrusive advertisements which overload the computer's screen each time the user tries to surf the Internet via the infected web browser.
Such adverts might be produced each time the search is started and can cause regular browser slowdowns or even crash downs. To revert such unwanted changes, you need to eliminate the PUP and all its components.
Bwplayer ads are not only annoying. They can also redirect you to safe-looking dubious websites which might be lacking protection and can include damaging content inserted somewhere unexpected, e.g., in a link or a picture. If you click on such questionable links, you might easily infect your computer system with a more dangerous threat like ransomware or a Trojan horse .
You can recognize Bwplayer adware from these symptoms:
If you spot such signs, you can be sure that an adware-type program has occupied your web browser and is performing its annoying activity. Bwplayer ads let developers gain benefit from gullible users. There is a marketing method called pay-per-click which is used for getting revenue from various ads. Each time a user clicks on a particular ad, money falls straight into the developer's pocket.
However, if you detect the infection on your computer, you need to remove Bwplayer without hesitating. Not only annoying adverts are produced, but you also might be redirected to a harmful site. In spite of this fact, you should complete the elimination manually or automatically.
If you decide to perform the Bwplayer removal with the help of an anti-malware tool, we suggest using . After you complete the deletion process, make sure you take some precautionary measures to avoid adware in the future.
- You are being redirected to strange-looking webpages;
- Numerous ads in forms of pop-ups, pop-unders, banners, and coupons, start popping out;
- Your browsers have been modified without your permission;
- Web browsers are working slower than before.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Types of ads by Bwplayer
Ads by Bwplayer can get especially annoying when in-text links appear on various sites, static images fill up the screen and tons of different pop-ups come redirecting your online traffic to possibly malicious sites.
Flash advertisements and video material are even more challenging to get rid of since there is no X button that closes the window. However, the more time you give for this adware, the more types of Bwplayer ads you encounter.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Giveaway ads
These pop-up advertisements or in-browser banners deliver content stating that you can try your luck in a giveaway or different lottery.
What makes such ads attractive for the user is valuable prizes like gift cards, iPhones and other IT devices. People often click on this content, and all those pop-ups redirect them to commercial material-filled pages and expose to malicious content. You can often see "Congratulations!" or "Winner!" on those pop-ups.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Promotional advertisements
In most cases, such programs like adware or browser hijackers are related to many PUP developers so these pop-ups deliver promotional content and push games, online services or rogue tools for visitors and users. Ads by BWplayer offers these advertisements to encourage people downloading or even purchasing software and applications. Be aware that such advertisements also may include the direct downloading link or trigger the automatic installation.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Shopping advertisements
Since PUPs are known for tracking and collecting data with the purpose of later use in malvertising campaigns, in most cases, commercial content is targeted and geared towards the particular user.
If you are the one that tends to shop online, many ads that redirect to shopping sites appear on your screen more often than any other commercial content. The attractive feature of these pop-ups or pop-unders is coupons or deals, discounts that trick you into clicking on the window.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Online service ads
You can also encounter commercial material that promotes particular services like:
People tend to click on useful advertisements that offer to improve their time online or make the device quicker. Websites that provide features like file converting or ad-free browsing thrive right now, and PUP developers promote such domains. BWplayer is one of many adware programs that deliver such pop-ups and banners to help create views and generate revenue.
- video converters;
- online casino sites;
- gambling services;
- hyperlink shortening tools;
- social media sites;
- file readers or converters;
- search engines.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Bwplayer
- Install and get rid of the adware content
How to remove Bwplayer ads
How to remove the Bwplayer extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Bwplayer often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Bwplayer
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find Bwplayer, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
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
Remove adware and all dubious components from Windows operating system. Use 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
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)
Use this guide to clean Mozilla Firefox and eliminate all questionable content:
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.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Get rid of all unwanted browser extensions from Explorer with the help of these steps:
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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Prevent adware by performing some simple steps
According to malware experts , PUPs such as adware-type applications can spread in various ways.
The most common ones are by other freeware or shareware, dubious websites and questionable links. Look through these tips if wanting to get knowledge about PUP prevention:
- Use only original installers. Third-party ones can bring lots of unwanted components to your computer. Opt-out all suspicious-looking downloads that you did not request for.
- Stay away from suspicious websites and hyperlinks. Do not click on every link, ad or similar thing you run into while browsing the Internet, especially if it looks unrecognizable to you. Such content might be harmful to your computer.
- Install antivirus protection. Every user should have a security tool on their computer. Such a program takes care of your PC and prevents various infections that can secretly infiltrate the system. One more thing: always keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. If not, the tool might not work correctly and include misleading entries.
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Bwplayer annoying ads without any issues
You need to remove Bwplayer as soon as you spot the first signs that your computer is infected by an adware-type program.
If you choose to carry out the elimination on your own, you will have to be very cautious while performing each step.
You need to eliminate all dubious browser-extensions, plug-ins, various add-ons, and apps. This method will help you clean browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and get rid of the PUP infection.
However, if you decide to perform the Bwplayer removal in an automatical way, you should choose reliable computer fixing software for that purpose. You can pick from our suggested ones or get an anti-malware tool of your consideration.
This method is quicker as it will take no longer than a few minutes. After the process is finished, make sure you complete one more step. Refresh browsers that were infected to make sure that no adware-related content is left.
Questions about Bwplayer ads
Can I safely uninstall Bwplayer?
If you did not install Bwplayer 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.
Bwplayer 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 Bwplayer 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.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
Did Bwplayer collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?
No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:
- running a downloaded file
- installing an extension
- giving a stranger remote access
That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
What is Bwplayer?
Bwplayer is an ad-supported program which infiltrates the system by using numerous techniques used to go around users back and spread without permission. This PUP mostly comes inside bundled with other software and starts its annoying activity by modifying various browser settings right after that.
The summary table at the top of this guide lists the type, the detection names, the symptoms and the damage of Bwplayer. Reading it first helps you decide whether your computer shows the same signs. The removal plan below it works in order, from the safest step to the more thorough ones.
Will Fortect remove Bwplayer?
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 Bwplayer, 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
- Wikipedia: Trojan horse (computing) (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)