How to stop a link from going to an ad.

Hi,

It sounds like you’re dealing with a redirect ad. This usually happens when a website forces you through an ad landing page before you can access the actual content. Try going to Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Pop-ups and redirects, then turn that option on. After that, go back and open Intrusive ads, and enable it as well.

If the issue persists, installing an ad blocker extension can help, since some search result links pass through multiple redirect-heavy pages. Let me know if you’d like a recommendation for a reliable ad blocker.

The behavior described is typically caused by website advertisements, pop‑ups, or unwanted software that modifies browsing, not by a new Microsoft algorithm.

To reduce or stop this behavior in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10:

1. Block pop-ups and third‑party cookies
   1. Open Microsoft Edge.
   2. Press Alt+F to open the Settings and more menu.
   3. Select Settings.
   4. Go to Cookies and site permissions.
   5. Open Manage and delete cookies and site data.
   6. Make sure Block third-party cookies is turned on.
   7. Ensure the pop‑up blocker is enabled under Pop-ups and redirects.
2. Clear browser cache and data
   1. In Edge Settings, go to Privacy, search, and services.
   2. Use the option to clear browsing data (history, cached images/files, and cookies) to remove old ad/tracking data that might be contributing to redirects.
3. Check for unwanted or deceptive software Unwanted software can:
   • Modify the browsing experience
   • Show ads that can’t be easily closed
   • Change browser behavior without consent
   If any of the following are seen, unwanted software may be present:
   • Browser opens extra ad pages when clicking links
   • New toolbars or changes to home page/favorites that were not made intentionally
   • Browser suddenly closes or stops responding
   In that case, run a full security scan with Windows security tools to detect and remove deceptive or unwanted software.
4. Understand that some ads cannot be blocked as pop‑ups Even with the pop‑up blocker enabled, some website advertisements are designed to look like pop‑ups but are actually part of the page content. These cannot be blocked by the Edge pop‑up blocker and may still appear when links are selected.
5. If ads look like scams or tech‑support warnings If full‑screen or aggressive ads claim the device is infected or instruct to call a phone number or install software, treat them as scams. Close the browser tab or window and avoid calling any numbers or installing anything from such pages.

If the issue persists after blocking pop‑ups/third‑party cookies, clearing cache, and scanning for unwanted software, it is likely due to aggressive advertising on the specific sites being visited rather than a problem with Windows or Edge itself.

References:

• Use a screen reader to block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge
• Unexplained Windows or software behavior may be caused by deceptive software
• Unwanted software
• I WAS HACKED - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft Defender Scam or Do I have a virus on my computer - Microsoft Q&A
• How can I remove McAfee Norton Pop Ups on Windows 11? It is not showing up on Apps or Task Manager. - Microsoft Q&A
• Why am I seeing this ad?
• How to report a concern or contact Bing