How to remove an Android virus

Although Android’s open system offers great flexibility, it also makes it more susceptible to malicious software. Even the best Android phones and best Android tablets can be infected.

Common signs of an Android-based virus include unexpected ads popping up or appearing out of nowhere, unexplained spikes in data usage, and your battery depleting faster than usual.

You might also notice unfamiliar apps that you don’t remember installing or your device might experience performance issues such as slowdowns, crashes or apps freezing frequently.

If you believe that your phone has been infected by a virus, you can check out our guide on how to scan for a virus on Android. If the scan turns out to be positive, follow the steps below to remove the virus and protect your device from future infections.

How to remove an Android virus

Enter Safe Mode

To help determine if a recently installed app is causing the issue, you can enter Safe Mode, which disables third-party apps.

To do this, press and hold the power button until the power-off option appears on screen, then tap and hold the power-off option until the Safe Mode prompt appears. If you don’t have an option to access Safe Mode in your phone’s Power options menu, try holding volume-down as you reboot the phone.

Tap ‘OK’ to restart your device in Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, only pre-installed apps will run, which can help you see if the problem is resolved, indicating that a third-party app is causing the issue.

Uninstall suspicious apps

Once in Safe Mode, you should identify and uninstall any recently installed or suspicious apps.

Go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Apps’ or ‘Apps & Notifications’. Scroll through the list of installed apps and look for any you don’t recognise or that were installed around the time problems started. Tap the app and select ‘Uninstall’ to remove it.

Some malicious apps can also gain admin rights, making them more difficult to uninstall. To remove admin rights, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Security’, and then ‘Device Administrators’. Check if any unfamiliar apps have admin rights. If you find one, uncheck the box to remove its admin rights and then uninstall the app.

Use a mobile security app

To ensure your device is thoroughly cleaned and protected, consider why do you need Android antivirus and then install one on your phone. Some popular options include:

• Norton Mobile Security
• McAfee Mobile Security
• Avast Mobile Security
• Bitdefender Mobile Security
• Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus
• AVG Free Antivirus

Run a full scan of your device using the security app and follow the instructions to remove any detected threats.

We’ve put together lists of the best Android antivirus apps and the best antiviruses for 2024, if you want to know what else is out there. You might also want to check some of the best free antiviruses.

Clear cache and data

Sometimes, clearing the cache and data of apps can help eliminate residual malware. Follow our guide on how to clear cache on Android, to learn more.

Perform a factory reset

If all else fails, a factory reset will remove all data and apps, including viruses. To perform a factory reset, follow the steps in our how to factory reset Android guide.

However, be sure to back up important data before proceeding. You can see the steps we recommend in our how to back up your data for free guide. 

How to protect Android from viruses

Don’t install apps from outside the Google Play Store

This functionality should be disabled by default, but do check. In recent versions of Android, the ability to install apps from unknown locations has changed from a system-wide permission to an app-specific permission.

It’s now found in ‘Apps & Notifications’ > ‘Advanced’ > ‘Special App Access’ > ‘Install unknown apps’. If you do install an app from outside the Google Play Store – such as from another app store or an APK file that came as an attachment on an email or other message – be absolutely certain that it is above board and comes from a legitimate source.

Avoid cloned apps

99 percent of the time it’s safe to download apps from the Google Play Store, however, even then malicious code has been found within a small fraction of the offerings there. Avoid downloading what appear to be cloned apps (apps that look familiar but come from unknown developers), or apps that simply don’t do what they say they do.

Check app permissions

No matter from where you are installing an app, check its required permissions before hitting ‘install’. Never allow an app device admin permission, as this can prevent it being deleted.

And consider, does a video player really need to see your contacts? You can also check reviews online and browse a developer’s website to see whether it’s a genuine operation or cowboy business.

Keep Android up to date

The latest version of the Android operating system won’t necessarily be available for your phone or tablet, but you should check that your device is as up to date as it can be.

Next time you upgrade, consider a brand that is known for its timely operating system updates. Check out our guide on how to update Android, for further advice.