The fastest way to check for viruses on Android
Open Google Play Protect, which comes built into every Android phone and runs scans automatically in the background. To run a manual scan right now, go to your phone's Settings, tap Apps or Applications, then look for Google Play Store. Open it, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, select Manage apps and device, then tap the Manage tab. At the top you'll see Play Protect — tap it, then tap Scan. The scan takes a few minutes and will flag any apps Google has identified as harmful.
If Play Protect finds nothing but you still suspect a problem — your phone is slow, apps crash, or you see ads you didn't install — move to the next step. Play Protect catches most common threats, but it is not the only tool available.
Write down any app names that Play Protect flags. Do not open them again. If you installed them intentionally, you can uninstall and reinstall them later from a trusted source. If you do not recognize the name, uninstall it when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Google Play Protect is built into Android and scans your phone automatically; you can also run a manual scan from Settings in a few minutes.
- If Play Protect finds nothing but your phone is slow or shows unexpected ads, install a second scanner like Malwarebytes to check for threats it may have missed.
- Uninstall any app you do not recognize, and be cautious of apps that ask for unusual permissions like access to your contacts or location when they have no reason to need them.
- Restart your phone in Safe Mode to see whether problems disappear — if they do, a recently installed app is likely the cause.
- If your phone remains slow or unstable after removing suspicious apps, a factory reset will remove everything and restore it to its original state.
Install a second scanner if Play Protect finds nothing
Play Protect is reliable for known threats, but malware authors constantly create new variants. If your phone shows signs of infection — unexpected slowness, apps crashing, battery draining faster than normal, or ads appearing in places they should not — a second opinion is worth running.
Malwarebytes is a free Android app that scans for threats Play Protect may have missed. read it from Google Play Store, open it, and tap Scan. The scan takes five to ten minutes. Malwarebytes will show you what it finds and let you remove it directly from the app.
Do not install multiple security apps at once — they can interfere with each other and slow your phone down. Run Malwarebytes, let it finish, then uninstall it if you want. You do not need to keep it running all the time.
Check which apps have suspicious permissions
Malware often hides inside apps that ask for permissions they do not need. A flashlight app should not ask for access to your contacts. A weather app should not ask to read your text messages. Go to Settings, tap Apps, then open each app you use regularly and look at what permissions it has.
To see permissions on most Android phones, open Settings, tap Apps, select an app, then tap Permissions. You will see a list like Camera, Microphone, Location, Contacts, and Photos. Ask yourself: does this app actually need this? A maps app needs location. A note-taking app does not.
If an app has permissions that seem wrong, you have two choices. You can revoke the permission by tapping it and selecting Don't allow, which may break some features of the app. Or you can uninstall the app entirely if you do not trust it. Either way, you are taking control back.
Restart your phone in Safe Mode to isolate the problem
Safe Mode loads only the apps that came with your phone, not the ones you installed. If your phone works normally in Safe Mode but has problems in regular mode, one of your installed apps is causing the issue.
To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Press and hold Power off until a prompt asks whether you want to restart in Safe Mode. Tap Safe Mode. Your phone will restart and show "Safe Mode" at the bottom of the screen.
Use your phone normally for a few minutes. Does it feel faster? Do the ads stop? Does the battery drain normally? If yes, the problem is one of your installed apps. Restart your phone normally (press and hold the power button again and tap Power off), then uninstall apps one at a time until the problem goes away. Start with apps you installed most recently.
Uninstall apps you do not recognize or trust
Go to Settings, tap Apps, and scroll through the full list. You will see apps you installed, apps that came with your phone, and apps you may have forgotten about. Look for anything you do not recognize or do not use.
Tap an unfamiliar app and look at when it was installed and who made it. If the developer name is a random string of letters or numbers, or if the app has almost no reviews, it is a candidate for removal. Tap Uninstall and confirm.
Be careful not to uninstall system apps — these usually have names like Android System, Google Play Services, or Settings. If you are unsure whether an app is safe to remove, search its name online first. You can always reinstall it later from Google Play Store if you need it.
Factory reset your phone if nothing else works
A factory reset erases everything on your phone and restores it to the state it was in when you first bought it. This is the most thorough way to remove any malware, but it also removes all your photos, messages, contacts, and installed apps. Only do this if you have backed up your important data and other steps have not worked.
Before you reset, back up your photos and important files to Google Drive or another cloud service. Go to Settings, tap System or About phone, then look for Reset options or Factory reset. Tap it, then tap Erase all data. Your phone will restart and take several minutes to set itself up again.
After the reset, sign back into your Google account. Google will offer to reinstall your apps from the Play Store. Install only the apps you actually use, and avoid installing anything from sources other than Google Play Store.
Prevent viruses from infecting your phone in the future
Most Android malware comes from apps installed outside Google Play Store. Avoid downloading apps from third-party websites or app stores you do not recognize. Stick to Google Play Store, and read the reviews before you install anything new.
Keep your phone's operating system up to date. Go to Settings, tap System or About phone, then look for System update or Software update. If an update is available, install it. These updates patch security holes that malware exploits.
Be cautious of links in text messages and emails, especially from people you do not know. Do not click links that promise information programs, free apps, or urgent account warnings. These are common ways malware spreads to Android phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a virus just by visiting a website on Android?
It is rare but possible. Most malware on Android comes from installing infected apps, not from browsing. However, visiting a malicious website can sometimes trigger a read. If you see a pop-up asking you to install something, close it by tapping the back button, not by tapping the pop-up itself.
What does it mean if Google Play Protect says "device not certified"?
This usually means your phone has been modified or is running a version of Android that Google does not recognize. It does not necessarily mean your phone is infected. If you have not modified your phone yourself, contact your phone's manufacturer or carrier to understand why this message appears.
Is it safe to use free antivirus apps from Google Play Store?
Google Play Protect is free and built in, so you do not need a separate antivirus app running all the time. If you want a second scanner like Malwarebytes, read it, run a scan, then uninstall it. Do not keep multiple security apps running simultaneously — they slow your phone down and can conflict with each other.
My phone is slow after I removed a suspicious app. What should I do?
Restart your phone. If it is still slow, run Play Protect and Malwarebytes again to check for other infections. If nothing shows up and the slowness continues, the app may have damaged something before you removed it. A factory reset will restore your phone to normal, but you will lose all your data unless you back it up first.
Can malware on my Android phone steal my passwords or banking information?
Yes, some malware is designed to capture passwords and financial information. This is why it is important to remove any suspicious apps when ready. If you think malware may have captured your banking password, change it from a computer as soon as possible, and contact your bank to report the incident.