Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, Apple iPhone, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

How do I get rid of America Online (AOL) pop-up ads?

Dave, how do I get rid of all these stupid America Online pop-ups that plague me when I use my AOL account? I checked my AOL preferences and don't see anything that lets me turn them off!


Dave's Answer:

In the old days, when AOL seemed to have a competitive business model, they made a remarkable amount of revenue from their pop-up sales offers, and I know more than one person who ended up with stuff from AOL that they apparently ordered by clicking the wrong button to get rid of the pesky window. Nowadays, I think that there's been so much pushback from customers like yourself that they've eased back a bit. Or perhaps it's just that i don't use AOL much any more!

Anyway, it's not easy to find where to disable pop-ups from AOL but here's the trick: Go to keyword Settings (On the Mac that's found at Go --> Keyword, which brings you to this screen:

AOL Preferences Window

Here you want to click on Marketing (it's a slightly different color in the screen shot), though it's well worth spending 10-15 minutes one time going through all of the many AOL preferences. There's quite a bit you can fine-tune about your online experience!

Anyway, click on Marketing and you'll now see:

AOL Marketing Preferences Window

On the lower right is an entry "POP-UP": click on that and you'll be exactly where you want to be:

AOL Marketing Pop-Up Preferences Window

You can see that I've already set my preferences to not receiving pop-ups from AOL about stuff to buy (I already buy too much darn stuff without their help!). Make sure your setting matches, then click OK to set it.

While we're here, also click on "E-Mail" on the Marketing Preferences window so you can ensure that you're not getting spam (well, technically it's not spam if you've given the permissoin to send it) from AOL about stuff to buy or services to purchase. The E-Mail preference window looks familiar:

AOL Email Preferences Window

Make sure you have the latter of the two options set and click OK.

Done! That should make using AOL considerably more enjoyable.



Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon    
Categorized: Mac OS X Help   (Article 4087)
Tagged:
Previous: What is Windows OneCare?
Next: What's the best medium for my new book?

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

I was wondering how to get rid of the ads on Aol. I do not mean the pop-ups. I mean the ads on the bottom of the Mailbox, when you check your mail. Im sure if there is a version of kazaa with out ads then there is a version of aol!

Posted by: Shawn Y at August 20, 2005 9:17 PM

Thanks, Dave! Your instructions were very clear and helpful! No more AOL popups! Yeah!!

Posted by: Geri at August 30, 2005 11:34 PM

I had a hard time keeping your site up. Got the feeling someone didn't want me to find you. But I did and succeded in doing what I wanted to with your help.
Then I got kicked of aol. and when I got back and up running I couldn't find your site again but You can see that I finally did thanks again

Posted by: JUDITH at September 24, 2005 7:06 PM

Thank you soooooo much! Those AOL pop ups were driving me absolutely CRAZY! You're the best.

Posted by: Bobbie at November 21, 2005 3:29 PM

I mean the ads on the bottom of the Mailbox, naol 6 is bad with he morgage ad there... lets hack the screen so it is no longer there...

Posted by: ed at March 31, 2006 1:00 AM

I never use the AOL browser or even sign in using it (I am using wireless router which sings in automatically). In the last few days I've noticed AOL sending popups from internet explorer! At first I thought it was spyware but I tried other computers.

The only reason I now know it was from AOL is that one of the popups is for an AOL survey! When did they start doing this when using Internet Explorer?

Posted by: anon at May 29, 2006 5:52 AM

I tried to use your instructions to sto pop-ups but I couldn't find the screen for preferences, do you know if they took it out? I could only find marketing preferences and the only choices were to request offers. Can you help me.

Posted by: Jose at June 15, 2006 8:12 PM

I cannot get McAfee to run...I cancelled AOL, but it's still there somehow. I bought Mcafee VirusScan 2006 myself in March, downloaded it; can't get it to run, can't contact them (I'm willing to pay, but not $2.95 a minute to be put on hold for 10 minutes!) Can't contact AOL, can't get into AOL preferences to enable ActiveX controls. AOL is apparently still running McAfee on my system, but I cannot get it to run, cannot get any help anywhere. I use Mozilla/Firefox, it won't open sites I need.

Posted by: Carol at July 11, 2006 10:09 AM

AOL started putting pop up ads on the bottom of each email. Had to threaten to quit before they got stopped. Now it is started again. Doing a quick restore clears it, and by unplugging my internet connection, I keep from getting updates as I sign off. AOL won't listen. Wish I could sue them to get them to stop it. Respectfully, Dave

Posted by: Dave Bonar at July 16, 2006 10:28 PM

I was wondering if you knew a way to stop AOL automatic updates when AOL closes. I use AOL on a Novell network and when I first installed AOL I was able sign on to AOL, minimize AOL and use Internet Explorer to browse. But after AOL updates, I can not browse with Internet Explorer. So I figured, if I stop AOL from updating, I will be able to use Internet Explorer. Can you help, please.

Posted by: Mike at August 27, 2006 6:24 PM

Like "Mike at August 2006" I can't stop the AOL automatic updates that happen whenever I am signing off and closing down my computer. How do I turn them off? AOL's "live" help seems to be a "pick your problem and the solution pops up" thing now but when your problem isn't listed, you get no help.

Posted by: Sandee at February 10, 2007 3:55 PM

I'm trying to get rid of A O L pop ups I click in keywords "Preferences " but I can't seem to get that screen that you show we should get .Am I doing something wrong here?

Posted by: Charles Edgett at March 10, 2007 11:15 AM

If you want to stop auto aol updates, choose any old crappy theme file that you do not use and copy/paste it in the aol directory,rename the file TOD and that is it.AOL cannot create a tod file if there is a file already named TOD....Make sure that you delete the original TOD file before you do this or else you won't be able to create a TOD file either.

Posted by: botkiller at April 11, 2007 12:40 AM

I hate to mention this for fear AOL will read it and thwart my efforts at hiding the email ads. I just drag the email down so the ad isn't visible. Not as nice as being able to stop the ads, but no one's mentioned how to do that in the posts I've read so far. At least I don't have to see them for more than a few seconds. Maybe I should switch to another service?

Posted by: dave at May 24, 2007 12:41 AM

I have overcome this problem by stretching my buddies window down as far as it will go, then it hides the popups. I have send many preference commands to AOL to stop popups but to no avail.

Posted by: Hazel Atkins at July 27, 2007 3:19 PM

why cant i add a new screen name and why cant i get help when i type in live help

Posted by: regina at October 5, 2007 9:16 PM

I have aol 9.0 and in my email box is adds that pop up when I try to minimize the email. Anyway I looked for what steps you wrote above, but when I put the keywords in , aol sends a page, nothing like the software above.

anyway I am getting those adds under the email to pop up unwanted. I have run all the spyware, virus checkers, nothing helped.

Barbara

Posted by: barbara at October 7, 2007 9:10 AM

I spoke with Angelina for a long time on oct.29th she indicated that the pop-up problem was solved.To-day isthe 30th and AOL Pops up with the sound and all. Please cut it out. I;m a 91 year old senior citizen it's Traumatic to me.

Posted by: bernard goldberger at October 31, 2007 3:26 PM

It's started happening to me since last week. Since then it's been popping up about once every 30 mins with information about a new 'vital update'. At the start I clicked 'Update', thinking that it would get them to stop, but it makes no difference. I just close them straight away now. Damn annoying though, and I can't get rid of them

Posted by: AJW at December 3, 2007 8:16 PM

THANKS A MILLION FOR SHOWING ME HOW TO BLOCK AOL POP UP ADDS. WHEW!

Posted by: SF BROCK at December 26, 2007 3:20 PM

No matter where I go on the computer, an AOL screen pops up and blocks my entrée into essential links. What a nightmare!

AOL doesn’t permit me to sign on because as soon as I do I am abruptly thrown off all internet operations. AOL does not permit me to click on many links because as soon as I do, the AOL screen comes on.

I have deleted everything and anything with the name AOL on it in All Programs, from the Start button and on the Desktop. I went into the registry and deleted American Online. The words disappear but shortly after they reappear on the registry.

I cannot get needed links nor do necessary operations in business. My business is practically shut down.

My computer is now infected and I cannot delete the quarantined infections. My computer problems seem endless because of AOL’s strangulation of my system.

Ray
rafipoe@nyc.rr.com



Posted by: Ray at January 6, 2008 2:45 AM

STOP YOUR POP-UPS ON MY COMPUTER NOW. AOL POP-UPS ARE NOT WHAT I WANT TO SEE EVERY FIVE MIN.

Posted by: WILLIAM MONDON at February 3, 2008 2:23 PM

On getting rid of AOL pop ups, I see under marketing they don't offer a YES or NO answer.
Now what ?

Posted by: bill at February 16, 2008 9:31 AM

Anotify.exe is the program that controls all of those annoying AOL popups you get asking you to upgrade this, upgrade that. Search and delete or just rename to badfileanotify.exe to stop those nags. Found it after AOL Live Help told me there was no way to disable the popups other than to update.

Posted by: foxy at April 28, 2008 12:20 PM

Please tell me how to get aol to stop aol pop ups for google. I've set the menu to stop and save several times, but still keep getting those stupid pop ups. Please help!!!!

Posted by: marita willoughby at May 26, 2008 4:33 PM

AOL starting having the 'Search the Web' pop up window appear on sign in but there doesn't appear to be anyway to get rid of it no matter what you select as your start up selections. Any idea how to stop this?
Thanks

Posted by: Trish at July 1, 2008 9:47 PM

If you want to turn off the search popup on AOL, go to Keyword: Search Window and you can opt out of it there.

Posted by: anon at July 9, 2008 1:28 PM

I keep getting a pop-up in my lower right hand corner of my screen from "AOL SPYWARE PROTECTION" Every 5 minutes. I've researched the removal, but have found that it is a bogus non-AOL pop up. I cant stand it every 5 minutes. HOW can I get rid of it? I just unchecked the 3 boxes you suggested here so I dont know if that will solve it or not...NOPE...there it is again. It tells me an Update is Available....PLEASE HELP!!!!~Thanks~

Posted by: Frank at July 12, 2008 10:17 AM

Drag doewn Keyword from the AOL menu. Type "Search Window" and click go. Click the OPT OUT button when it appears. This will get rid of the new Google AOL Search POP UP

Posted by: Mike at July 17, 2008 5:42 PM

pop - ups no help in site. Is there a free ware that can solve this your solution did not work!

Posted by: Bob Wissler at July 25, 2008 11:52 AM

If I leave my computer sit for a bit when I come back to it and try to get on a game I get a window that pops um welcome to AOL even though I'm already signed on

Posted by: sherry at August 7, 2008 5:32 AM

Great tip! I dont believe that find this now when i'm about to dumb aol. Its year 2008 and i still have this aol account! arrgghh!

Posted by: Minz at August 19, 2008 7:56 AM

I cannot thank you enough, Dave Taylor, for the great information about how to disable those most annoying AOL Pop-Ups. No matter how hard I had tried to eliminate them, they kept right on poping up on my computer. Most objectionable were the jitterbugging figures that drive me nuts! AOL has become far too controlling as a provider of internet services. They have lost many once loyal subscribers because of their unwelcomed and constant intrusions into all aspects of their subscribers activities.

Posted by: TAYLOR at August 20, 2008 4:55 PM

Hi,

anyway to remove the "upgrade to aol 9.1 which appears 25 x a day?
thank u....

Posted by: tony at August 22, 2008 12:00 PM

while waiting for an answer,
I renamed anotify.exe as explained in a previous post here.
Will let you know if it works.

[removing the annoying "upgrade to aol 9.1"] pop-up.

Posted by: tony at August 22, 2008 3:34 PM

I'm trying to create a new screen name, but it's telling me i have to accept all cookies and javascript...How do I do this, because i really need a new screen name

Posted by: teresa at October 15, 2008 2:39 PM

Well Dave, this is the SECOND time this week where your site has helped me. Nice to know that somebody out there has the answers to my problems.

Cheers, Mike

Posted by: Mike Maxson at October 25, 2008 12:04 PM

I am trying to access my son's facebook(he is 14). Any suggestions on how to log on without knowing the password?

Posted by: laurie at November 23, 2008 10:21 AM

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME GET RID OF THE AOL POP UP SEARCH BAR.I WASTED SO MUCH TIME WITH AOL TRYING TO GET RID OF IT..
THANK YOU AGAIN.

Posted by: carol at December 5, 2008 5:25 AM

Hi, These instructions don't work with the new AOL 9.1 which is giving me an ad when i close send every email! help!

also the new 9.1 is putting my header ABOVE my highlighted text when i return an email and want to include part of their text in it. Can you help with that too?

Posted by: Michele at December 7, 2008 7:58 AM

I have turned all of my pop up blockers with AOL on, but I still get pop up ads when I visit a cnn.com web page. How can I stop this? I've ran Adware, but still get these things from cnn.com while I'm on AOL. Help...

Posted by: Jim at December 8, 2008 3:46 PM

I am sick and tired of this stupid Spyware Update popping up. I've seen that a few others have the same problem, but there doesn't seem to be any advice at all on how to stop it. I'm ready to leave AOL based on that alone! It's so darn annoying.....any clues?? I'm talking about the Spyware Update that pops up ALL DAY LONG, no matter how many times you click CANCEL or try to Update. HELLLLLLLLLLP!!!

Posted by: Ashleigh at December 26, 2008 10:46 AM

I cancelled my aol account, as I have another account will SBC, but I am still getting their anti-virus pop ups, and something very incidious - a pop up that says something like "an error has occured in your scipt....do you want to keep running this script:, and if I click on "yes" it keeps popping back. It is also preventing me from downloading anything, from the at&t tribune news articles, to downloading attachments from e-mails.

Posted by: Hazel at February 17, 2009 3:15 PM

I am also looking for help removing tht God-awful spyware update POS from my screen. How do I do this as someone asked the same question but I couln't find a reply. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide.
Respectfully,
Eric

Posted by: Eric at February 25, 2009 1:33 AM

"I am sick and tired of this stupid Spyware Update popping up. I've seen that a few others have the same problem, but there doesn't seem to be any advice at all on how to stop it. I'm ready to leave AOL based on that alone! It's so darn annoying.....any clues?? I'm talking about the Spyware Update that pops up ALL DAY LONG, no matter how many times you click CANCEL or try to Update. HELLLLLLLLLLP!!!

Posted by Ashleigh"
Uh, Ashley, "Spyware Update is spyware.
You might try using Avast (a free program and very good and Super Anti Spyware (also) free. Just send your favorite search engine out and they'll find them for you.
If these don't work for you, you might consider reloading Windows.

Posted by: Catmoves at March 31, 2009 3:37 PM

How do I prevent the AOL search box from popping up on every log in? I see someone above had the problem solved. Can you direct me to the link via email please? thanks

Posted by: KC at May 17, 2009 8:13 PM

Dave thank you so much for this great idea how to stop these annyoing pop-ups from AOL. You, your knowledge and your kind help (sharing it with all of us) is greatly appreciated. Have a terrific day!

Posted by: E at May 25, 2009 2:33 PM

To stop AOL search window from popping up every time you log in ...

Open AOL browser. Press CTRL + K, in the keyword window, type in "Search Window". In the next window, select the "OPT OUT" button.

Worked for me.

Posted by: Chrissy at May 28, 2009 3:37 PM

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your website. I tried to follow your instructions to
get rid of AOL pop-ups,etc. but haven't been successsful.
I have a MAC and get AOL through Safari. "Go --Keyword" doesn't appear on my screen. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Allison

Posted by: Allison at June 5, 2009 9:01 AM

In response to Ashleigh's plea on the every 5 minute "AOL spyware" alert that never goes away no matter how many times I either go into AOL settings or the spyware settings itself. (Note: there is NOT a threat - I have checked numerous times) The following does not fix the problem, but minimizes it so it's bearable. I have double-clicked the alert to view the supposed threats then I "minimized" the box so now it rests on the lower bottom left of my screen and sits there "quietly" taking up 1/2" x 2" of space and does not even pop up anymore...Thank God!

Posted by: Jean Strausser at September 27, 2009 4:13 PM

Hate the "AOL Goggle Search Window"? Just go to keyword: Search Window" and click the "Opt Out" button. Thank goodness enough of us conplained so that we could finally choose after 12 months of frustrations.

Posted by: Jean at September 28, 2009 1:42 PM

How the hell do you OPT out of these ANNOYING PopUp ads on AOL?????? I am ready to SCREAMMMM!!!
The onlt option I get is *OPT IN*....never get an OPT OUT, so what's up with that? Is it because I get AOL free, so I have NO choices to opt out??? Someone PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!
L.P.

Posted by: L.P. at October 3, 2009 11:48 PM


Everytime I come on line I get an annoying pop-up from aol asking me if I want to stay online..even though I'm in the middle of a game or doing some type of work...then it starts popping up after that every 5 minutes..its driving me crazy! Is anyone else getting this, and how do I stop them?
Please help!
Suiteypie

Posted by: Maggie at October 10, 2009 8:00 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











Remember personal info?


Please note that I will never send you any unsolicited commercial email. Ever.

While I'm at it, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site.









snow leopard pre order advert amazon

Follow me on Twitter @DaveTaylor

Search
Find just the answers you seek from among our 2300+ free tech support articles by using our Lijit search engine.


Help!





Subscribe to
Ask Dave Taylor!

Add to Google Reader
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe in NewsGator Online

RDF   XML

Free Updates!
Sign up and get free weekly updates and special offers on books, seminars, workshops and more.


Recent Entries
Book Links
© 2002 - 2009 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site.

[whiteboard marker tray]
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.