Pop Out Player ads: what it is and how to remove it
Many users might be under the impression that Pop Out Player might be a great addition to their browsers - it allegedly allows users to watch YouTube videos in a pop-out window when a screen is occupied by something else. However, what they are not aware of when installing the app, is that it can start delivering advertisements for monetization purposes.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
If Pop Out Player keeps coming back after uninstalling, a scan can find what reinstalls it.
Do it yourself · free Remove Pop Out Player ads yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Pop Out Player ads: summary
| Distribution | Software bundling, third-party websites, misleading ads |
|---|---|
| Damage | Ads might include links to potentially dangerous or even malicious websites, resulting in malware infection, personal information disclosure, or financial losses |
| Name | Pop Out Player |
| Type | Adware, potentially unwanted application |
| Symptoms | Shows intrusive advertisements and promotes other potentially unwanted applications |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 4 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Program | Pop Out Player |
| First seen | 7 June 2022 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Pop Out Player ads dangerous?
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Pop Out Player is an adware-type application that specializes in exposing users to intrusive ads
Many users might be under the impression that Pop Out Player might be a great addition to their browsers - it allegedly allows users to watch YouTube videos in a pop-out window when a screen is occupied by something else. However, what they are not aware of when installing the app, is that it can start delivering advertisements for monetization purposes.
Besides, Pop Out Player might be installed accidentally along with freeware on third-party websites or after being tricked by misleading advertisements. Due to these properties, this application has been assigned to the adware category - a type of potentially unwanted program which focuses on delivering deals, offers, coupons, and other types of ads to users.
Not only does it reduce the quality of your browsing sessions, but it may also be dangerous: adware is known for promoting other potentially unwanted applications along with misleading or phishing content. Therefore, it is best to get rid of extensions and programs that might pose a risk to your safety and device security.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Misleading features
It is not surprising that some users would install the Pop Out Player when looking for something with similar functionality.
When viewing videos on YouTube, users would not be able to actually see the video if they decide to go to a different tab or open another application.
Trying to fit several windows into a single monitor can also be quite awkward (especially with smaller sizes), so it is not surprising that users would look for an app that would allow the video to continue playing on top of everything else. The description of Pop Out Player claims the following:
It is not hard to see how this feature could be useful. However, upon the installation of the extensions, it asks for the following permissions:
While these might be seen as permissions that are required to fulfill the app's purpose, it also opens a window to another activity that is never mentioned in the description - ads.
This means that using the notification feature through the browser's API, the app could initiate pop-ups that show ads. They could be of suspicious or even malicious nature, and they could also be shown at any time whenever the browser is operational.
- Read and change all your data on all websites
- Display notifications.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Pop Out Player
- Cleaning web browsers is extremely important in order to prevent further data tracking by adware developers.
- This browser extension provides simple ways to open any YouTube video or playlist (including videos and playlists embedded in other sites/pages) in a configurable "popout" window that can be freely sized and/or position
How Pop Out Player ads got into your browser
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Many users say they themselves never install adware, only to find it later running on the system seemingly out of nowhere.
Despite popular belief, adware does not install itself on the system but is indeed installed by users themselves. This happens due to misleading and deceptive techniques used by PUP authors and its distributors.
Software bundling is an old practice that, just like any other one, was not intended to be used deceptively. Initially, Microsoft started selling apps in a bundle instead of one-by-one, which can be a better deal for some users, inclining them to spend more money on a package than a standalone app.
The principle also works for free apps, despite them not costing anything. Freeware and shareware are largely operated thanks to advertising revenue - small ads can be placed in some locations when the app is opened. This allows developers to keep the app free for users.
However, adware apps take this to a whole new level - they do not disclose intrusive advertising practices and even are associated with insecure networks. The promised features often don't even work or are useless, and the app's main goal is to monetize users' clicks on ads while not giving any benefits in return.
To avoid this deceptive practice, you should always pick the Advanced/Custom installation setting when prompted, watch out for pre-ticked checkboxes and fine print, and never rush through the installation steps. Also, it is recommended to go for official sources when this option is available.
Fake updates and deceitful ads
Software updates are something that most users are accustomed to. Once again, crooks and scammers use this to their advantage - they insert fake update prompts on various malicious websites.
Upon entering them for one reason or another, users are presented with a notification asking them to install an update for Chrome, Flash, or another popular software. Keep in mind that you should never download updates from unofficial websites and instead rely on the in-app option or visit the developer's official website instead.
Adware and other malicious software might be installed via fake prompts which claim that the system is infected or that security software is missing from the device. Please always refer to the URL of such pages, as they often hint at it being a scam.
How to remove Pop Out Player ads
How to remove the Pop Out Player 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Pop Out Player
Pop Out Player 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 Pop Out Player, 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 3: 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 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Pop Out Player 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
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Pop Out Player removal
Adware can be installed either on the system level or may also reside in the browser as an extension.
In this case, you will find it lurking in your browser(s), which is where you should remove it from.
Your final task is to ensure that all the trackers placed by Pop Out Player or other unwanted applications are removed. For that, you can use repair and maintenance utility if you want a quick and effective result. Alternatively, you can remove browser caches yourself as follows:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
- 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 plugin and click Remove.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Questions about Pop Out Player ads
Can I safely uninstall Pop Out Player?
If you did not install Pop Out Player 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.
Pop Out Player will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove Pop Out Player from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
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.
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 adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
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.
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 Pop Out Player?
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.
How did Pop Out Player get on my computer?
Our report lists the distribution as software bundling, third-party websites, misleading ads. Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites.
It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.
Will Fortect remove Pop Out Player?
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 Pop Out Player, 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
- Norton: What Is Adware? (read October 7, 2026)
- Kaspersky: What is Shareware? - How it works and how to protect yourself (read October 7, 2026)
- How-To Geek: What Is an API, and How Do Developers Use Them? (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)