Chrome blocks pop-ups by default, and you turn that off in Settings

Chrome's pop-up blocker is on automatically. To turn it off entirely, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings. Go to Privacy and security on the left, then click Site settings. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle the switch at the top from Blocked (recommended) to Allowed. That disables the blocker for all websites.

Most people do not want to disable it everywhere. If a specific website's pop-ups are not showing, you can allow pop-ups for just that site instead. Go through the same steps to reach Pop-ups and redirects, but this time look for the Allow section. Click Add and type the website address — for example, example.com — then click Add again. Pop-ups from that site will now work while the blocker stays on for everywhere else.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome's pop-up blocker lives in Settings under Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects.
  • Toggling the switch to Allowed turns off the blocker for all websites at once.
  • You can allow pop-ups from a single website by adding it to the Allow list instead of disabling the blocker globally.
  • If you disable the blocker and change your mind, the same toggle switch turns it back on.

Why Chrome blocks pop-ups in the first place

Pop-ups can be annoying, but some are legitimate — a bank might use one to confirm your identity, or a ticketing site might open your receipt in a new window. Others are ads or scams designed to trick you into clicking. Chrome's blocker stops most of these automatically, which is why it is on by default.

The blocker does not catch everything. Some pop-ups are technically not pop-ups — they are windows that open because you clicked something, or they are built into the page itself. If you see something that looks like a pop-up but the blocker did not stop it, that is usually why. Disabling the blocker will not stop those either.

Allowing pop-ups for one website without disabling the blocker everywhere

If only one site needs pop-ups to work, adding it to the Allow list is safer than turning off the blocker globally. Open Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Under the Allow section, click Add. Type the website address — use just the domain name like banksite.com, not the full URL — and click Add.

From that point on, pop-ups from that site will work, but the blocker stays active everywhere else. If you later decide you do not want pop-ups from that site anymore, go back to the same page, find the site in the Allow list, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove.

Turning the blocker back on after you disable it

If you turned off the pop-up blocker and want to turn it back on, the process is identical. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Click the toggle switch at the top to turn it back to Blocked (recommended). Any websites you added to the Allow list will stay there, so pop-ups from those sites will still work even with the blocker on.

Turning the blocker back on does not remove your Allow list. If you decide later that you want to block pop-ups from a site you previously added, you have to manually remove it from the Allow list by clicking the three dots next to the site name and selecting Remove.

What to do if a website says pop-ups are blocked but you do not see them

Sometimes a website will tell you that pop-ups are blocked, but you have already turned off the blocker or added the site to the Allow list. This usually means the pop-up is being blocked by something else — your browser extensions, your operating system, or the website itself.

Try disabling any ad-blocking or privacy extensions you have installed, then reload the page. If that does not work, try opening the site in Chrome's Incognito mode (press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac), which disables most extensions by default. If the pop-up appears in Incognito mode, one of your extensions is the culprit. If it still does not appear, the website or your operating system is blocking it, and there is not much Chrome can do about it.

Blocking specific pop-ups while keeping the blocker on

Chrome's blocker is all-or-nothing for each site — you either allow all pop-ups from a domain or you block them all. If you want to allow pop-ups from a site but block specific ones, you cannot do that in Chrome's settings. You would need a browser extension designed for that purpose, though most people find the built-in blocker sufficient.

If you find yourself constantly closing unwanted pop-ups from a site you added to the Allow list, consider removing that site from the list and finding another way to access what you need. Many banks and services offer alternative ways to confirm your identity without pop-ups, like sending a code to your phone instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling the pop-up blocker make my computer less safe?

Disabling it globally exposes you to more ads and scams, but it does not directly install malware or steal data. The real risk is clicking something you should not. If you disable the blocker, be extra careful about what you click on, and consider re-enabling it after you finish with the site that needed it.

Can I block pop-ups from one site while allowing them from another?

Yes. The Allow list lets you pick specific sites where pop-ups work. Every other site stays blocked. You can add as many sites as you need to the Allow list without affecting the blocker for the rest of the web.

What if a website is not working because of the pop-up blocker?

Add that website to the Allow list, reload the page, and try again. If it still does not work, the problem is probably not the pop-up blocker — it might be an extension, your internet connection, or the website itself. Try opening the site in Incognito mode to rule out extensions.

Will turning off the blocker affect other browsers on my computer?

No. Each browser has its own settings. Changing Chrome's pop-up blocker does not affect Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other browser you use. You have to change each one separately.