MplayerX ads: what it is and how to remove it

MplayerX by Zongyao Qu is a free media player similar to VLC Player. It has been launched in 2009 and keeps being active up till now.

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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Screenshot of MplayerX: pup
MplayerX as our 2020 report showed it.

MplayerX ads: summary

DistributionOfficial website, freeware bundles (e.g. tended to spread with VSearch), App Store
NameMplayerX
DeveloperZongyao Qu
TypeAdware, Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)
Compatibility64-bit Intel CPU, Mac OS X 10.7 or later
SymptomsThe adware may start displaying irritating ads and redirect random websites via third-party servers. It may download additional applications alongside
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 7 more facts
Associated programsVSearch, IronCore adware, MacKeeper, ZipCloud, MegaCloud, etc.
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DamageNot recorded in the old report
EvidenceOne write-up by a security site; details still limited
ProgramMplayerX
First seen3 July 2020
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is MplayerX ads dangerous?

From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since

MplayerX is a controversial video player that can download malware alongside

MplayerX by Zongyao Qu is a free media player similar to VLC Player.

It has been launched in 2009 and keeps being active up till now. Although it has been rather popular in the first half of its existence, cybersecurity experts found significant changes in the app's behavior since 2014 that emerged with the version 1.0.22.

Based on the behavioral analysis, the MplayerX has been included in the list of Mac malware, adware, and Potentially Unwanted Program. According to researchers, the player has been found spreading in a bundle with VSearch. Moreover, the app download from the official website was found carrying IronCore adware, MacKeeper, ZipCloud, and MegaCloud malware.

Many AV engines recognize the MplayerX virus as PUP as the official installer has been re-programmed to defy analysis. It means that app developers have something to hide and seek to hide some kind of malicious behavior. In fact, right after the installation of this tool, users might notice many changes within web browser, including start page alterations, endless ads on random sites, web browser's slowdown, and similar.

If your value smooth, fast, and uninterrupted browsing MplayerX virus infiltration is the last thing you should be dealing with. This rogue application is promoted as a tool providing an enhanced video streaming experience, but, unfortunately, these promises remain unfulfilled.

In fact, cybersecurity experts have labeled MplayerX adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP), and it is advisable to stay away from it. It can infect all the popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari aiming to promote the content of the affiliate parties.

If the MplayerX malware successfully infiltrates the system, the affected web browser starts acting out. Due to the corrupted settings, injected notification permissions, and sometimes replaces start page/search engine, the browser may start displaying intrusive pop-ups, banners, interstitial, and other kinds of ads.

Some of the MplayerX ads may be labeled with a related slogan or exhibit app logo. However, most of them seem not to be related to this application, which is why it may be difficult to understand where they come from.

Advertising schemes that this misleading player is based on cannot be relied on. The tool is sponsored by unknown third parties, which means that it can generate third-party content without checking its security.

If you fail to carry out the MplayerX removal in time, get yourself prepared for the never-ending redirects to unknown websites, system slowdowns, and other annoying malfunctions. The redirects initiated by this tool can expose your machine to malware-infected sites where you can easily get another PUP installed.

In addition to that, mplayerx mac virus may read non-personally identifiable information stored within your browsing history. Thus, if you do not want to charge your IP address, geolocation, search terms, and similar information with suspicious parties, remove MplayerX virus with the help of a reputable anti-spyware without a delay.

As we have already pointed out, the mplayer x application is closely related to other unwanted applications. Therefore, check your machine carefully to delete each of them.

Screenshot of MplayerX: pup
MplayerX in our 2020 report.
Screenshot of MplayerX: adware
MplayerX in our 2020 report.

From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on MplayerX

  • Mac malware can leave related entries upon elimination.
  • Thus, a proper system's repair is recommended using or similar tools

How MplayerX ads got into your browser

From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since

Like the majority of freeware, this player has its official website that is actually very informative and seems reliable.

There is an active download button, and you may easily install this application right there. However, if you would try to find its End-User's License Agreement and Privacy Policy sections in order to find more information about it, you won't manage to do so simply because they are not provided. Beware that it immediately signals that something is wrong with this application, and we highly do not recommend installing it.

Unfortunately, this virus may install onto your Mac without asking your permission directly. This particular application has been found spreading bundled with an infamous browser hijacker and other freeware. For this reason, it may get quite easily get inside unnoticed if users do not pay enough attention to the installation process of the new software.

To avoid PUP installation, always select Advanced or Custom installation option and carefully read every notification that is given to you. Look for check boxes stating that you accept to install additional features, a browser plug-in, add-on, toolbar, or extension. Otherwise, you may be surprised in a negative way and experience various inconveniences later on.

Screenshot of MplayerX: ads
MplayerX in our 2020 report.

How to remove MplayerX ads

How to remove the MplayerX extension

Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    MplayerX often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:

    • chrome://extensions
    • edge://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 menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Uninstall MplayerX

    Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find MplayerX, 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

  3. 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 Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  4. 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    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

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Mozilla Firefox users seeing MplayerX ads on the system can disable the unwanted extension this way:

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

In order to remove MplayerX malware from the system, follow this tutorial:

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Mplayerx malware has been designed for Mac OS only. Although it might seem useful, this application is ad-supported. It means that having it installed may enable an unstoppable flow of ads and other inconveniences. If it has already been installed, perform these steps to get rid of it:

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.

One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.

However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

Lost your files? Use data recovery software

While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.

Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:

  • power cuts
  • Blue Screen of Death errors
  • hardware failures
  • crypto-malware attack
  • even accidental deletion

To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since

Eliminate MplayerX Mac malware to prevent additional PUP downloads from

If you think that your PC has already been infected with MplayerX virus, do not wait until it floods your browser with ads or exposes you to malicious sites.

This application exhibits controversial behavior as it may perform as a fully-functional media player, but at the same time work as a third-party advertising platform.

You should remove MplayerX without any delay. There are two ways you can do it. You can either enable a professional anti-malware utility to take care of it or try to fight the infection by yourself. Do not overestimate your skills, though, because such considerably lightweight viruses can be surprisingly tricky to remove from Macs.

Thus, there's a risk that your machine contains the whole package of PUPs.

Questions about MplayerX ads

What is MplayerX and why is it on my PC?

MplayerX is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.

Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need MplayerX, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.

How do I stop programs like MplayerX from being installed again?

Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.

Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped MplayerX before it reached the app list.

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.

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.

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 MplayerX 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.

Is MplayerX a virus?

Not in the strict sense: MplayerX is unwanted software, classed here as an adware extension, not a self-copying virus. Security programs often label such software as adware, a potentially unwanted program or a browser hijacker.

It still needs removal, because it changes browser settings, shows ads and can lead you to unsafe pages. The larger risk is clicking an ad that leads to a fake update or scam page.

Will Fortect remove MplayerX?

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 MplayerX, 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

  1. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
  2. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
  3. Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
  4. Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)

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