How to Remove Viruses & Malware From Any Phone or Computer

Q: Can phones really get viruses?

True viruses on smartphones are rare, but malware and spyware can still infect phones—especially Android devices—through malicious apps, phishing links, or unsafe downloads.

Q: What’s the best free malware removal tool?

Malwarebytes Free is one of the best options for detecting and removing malware. It often finds threats that built-in security scanners may miss.

Q: Should I factory reset if I see pop-ups?

A factory reset should be a last resort. Try running security scans and removing suspicious apps first. Reset the device only if malware keeps returning or scans fail to resolve the issue.

If your phone or computer suddenly feels sluggish, gets hot for no reason, throws pop-ups in your face, or just acts weird, there’s a good chance malware’s behind it. Real computer viruses—the kind that spread by themselves—don’t show up as much these days, especially on phones. But malware, spyware, ransomware, adware, and sneaky phishing attacks are everywhere in 2026.

Here’s the upside: you can kick out almost any infection without spending a cent. All you need are the right built-in security tools and a good free antivirus scanner or two. I’ll walk you through exactly how to clean your Android, iPhone, Windows, or Mac, step by step—no paid tools, no nonsense.

Quick Answer

Want to clear out malware fast and free? Here’s what to do: Restart your device, delete any apps or programs you don’t recognize, clear your browser’s data, run the security scan that comes with your device (like Windows Security or Google Play Protect), and try a free antivirus like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender. If you still have problems after all that, back up your must-have files and do a factory reset.

Start Here (Takes 2–5 Minutes)

Before you go all-in with the cleanup, do these right away:

Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data
Restart the device
Delete any new or weird apps/programs
Run the built-in security scan

If things go back to normal, you probably just solved it.

How to Tell if Your Phone or Computer Has Malware

Watch out for these classic warning signs:

Everything feels slow, freezes up, or crashes a lot
Battery runs out super fast, or the device gets hot
You see pop-ups, weird redirects, or fake virus warnings
Your data usage jumps for no reason
New apps or programs show up that you didn’t install
Settings change on their own
Random crashes, restarts, or (on Windows) blue screens
CPU or RAM usage is crazy high in Task Manager or Activity Monitor

If you spot more than one of these, don’t wait around—start cleaning.

How to Remove Malware from Android Phones (Free)

Android’s flexible, which makes it a bigger target. Here’s how to clean it up:

1. Restart in Safe Mode

Safe Mode blocks third-party apps from running.

Hold down the power button
Press and hold “Power off” until you see “Safe Mode”

If your problems disappear, a downloaded app’s to blame.

2. Delete Suspicious Apps

Go to Settings → Apps → See all apps
Sort by date or storage size
Uninstall anything you don’t recognize or didn’t mean to install

Skip “system cleaner” or “booster” apps—they’re usually junk

3. Clear Browser Data

For Chrome:

Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data
Pick “All time,” clear cookies and cache

Do the same for any browser you use

4. Run a Free Antivirus Scan

Grab just one trusted app from the Play Store:

Malwarebytes for Android – Great at finding and removing threats
Bitdefender Mobile Security – Light and reliable
Avast or AVG Mobile Security – Solid free scanners

Run a full scan, erase or quarantine anything bad

5. Turn on Google Play Protect

Open Play Store → Tap your profile → Play Protect → Scan
Make sure automatic scanning’s on

6. Factory Reset (Only If You Have To)

If the malware’s still hanging on:

Back up just your photos and contacts
Go to Settings → System → Reset → Factory reset
Don’t restore all your apps from backup—just start fresh

How to Remove Malware from iPhone or iPad (iOS)

iPhones lock down apps hard, but you can still get hit with bad profiles, spyware, or shady apps.

1. Restart and Update iOS

Restart your phone or tablet
Go to Settings → General → Software Update

Install any updates—they patch security holes

2. Remove Suspicious Profiles

Settings → General → VPN & Device Management
Delete anything you don’t remember installing

3. Get Rid of Bad Apps

Press and hold the app icon → Remove App
Focus on anything new or that looks out of place

4. Clear Safari Data

Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data

5. Antivirus Apps on iPhone: The Truth

iOS doesn’t let antivirus apps scan your whole system. Malwarebytes, Avast, and the like can block some bad websites, but they can’t dig out deep infections. Manual cleaning is still your best bet.

6. Reset iPhone (If Nothing Else Works)

Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone
Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”
Set it up as new—don’t restore from an old backup

How to Remove Viruses & Malware from Windows PCs (Free)

Windows is still the biggest target out there, but you’ve got some great free tools.

1. Run a Full Scan with Microsoft Defender

Open Windows Security
Go to Virus & threat protection → Scan options → Full scan

2. Scan in Safe Mode (when things get tricky)

Restart your computer and hold down Shift while it boots up. Then head to Troubleshoot, hit Advanced options, and pick Startup Settings. Once you’re in Safe Mode, try running your scan again.

3. Use Free Malware Removal Tools

Here are the best free choices for 2026:

Malwarebytes Free – Great for a second opinion
Bitdefender Antivirus Free – Fast, accurate, and doesn’t slow you down
Avast or AVG Free Antivirus – Both solid and reliable

Start with Windows Defender, then run a Malwarebytes scan just to be sure nothing slips through.

4. Clean Up Your Browsers

Toss out any weird or suspicious extensions. If your browser feels hijacked, just reset the settings and start fresh.

5. Reset Windows (The Nuclear Option)

Go to Settings, then System, then Recovery. Click “Reset this PC.”
Pick “Keep my files” if you want to save your stuff, or do a full wipe if you need a clean slate.

How to Remove Malware From Mac (Free)

macOS has some built-in security, but let’s be honest, adware and spyware still sneak in.

Here’s what to do:

First, update macOS. Head to System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
Next, check your login items. Go to System Settings, then Login Items, and remove anything you don’t recognize.
Take a look at your browser extensions—sometimes those are the culprits.
Download and run Malwarebytes for Mac (it’s free) or try Avast for Mac.

If things still look bad, reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode (hold Command + R while your Mac boots up).

How to Prevent Viruses & Malware in 2026

Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Seriously, don’t skip the updates.
Only download apps from official app stores.
Don’t sideload, avoid cracked software, and skip jailbreaking—those open the door to all kinds of problems.
Use strong, unique passwords for each account and turn on two-factor authentication.
Be careful with links, emails, and texts—scammers love those.
Back up your files, either to the cloud or an external drive. You’ll thank yourself later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can phones really get viruses?

Real viruses on phones are rare, but malware and spyware? They’re out there—especially on Android.

What’s the best free malware removal tool?

Malwarebytes Free does a great job finding and cleaning threats that built-in scanners often miss.

Should I factory reset if I see pop-ups?

Only if regular scans don’t fix the issue or if the malware keeps coming back.

Final Thoughts

Most device infections aren’t as scary as they seem. You can usually get rid of them quickly and for free by following these steps. Built-in security plus a trusted scanner like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender usually does the trick. If malware just won’t leave, or you’re worried about sensitive info, a full reset is your safest bet.

Stay updated, stay smart, and back up your stuff. It’s way easier to prevent problems than to clean up after them.

Author

Fixlp

Adnan John founded FixLP and leads our content team. He’s spent over fifteen years fixing tech, solving software issues, and figuring out home gadgets. Adnan’s all about turning messy problems into simple, doable steps.

How to Remove Viruses & Malware From Any Phone or Computer (100% Free – 2026 Guide)