Chrome blocks pop-ups by default — here's how to turn that off

Chrome's built-in pop-up blocker stops most pop-ups automatically. If a website you trust needs pop-ups to work properly — like a banking site that opens documents in a new window, or a scheduling tool that displays forms in pop-ups — you can turn the blocker off for just that site, or disable it entirely. The steps take less than a minute.

You have two choices: allow pop-ups only on the specific website you're using right now, or turn off the blocker for all websites. Most people should use the first option, because it keeps you protected on other sites while letting the one you need work properly.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome blocks pop-ups automatically, but you can allow them for a single website without turning off protection everywhere.
  • When a pop-up is blocked, a small icon appears in the address bar — click it to allow pop-ups just on that site.
  • If you disable the blocker entirely through Settings, it stops working on every website you visit.
  • You can remove permission for a website later by going back to its settings and switching the pop-up permission off again.

Allow pop-ups for one website only

This is the safest approach because it protects you on other sites while letting the website you need work properly. When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears in the address bar on the right side — it looks like a square with a line through it, or sometimes shows a number like "Pop-ups blocked (2)".

Click that icon. A dropdown menu appears showing the blocked pop-ups. At the bottom of the menu, click "Always allow pop-ups and redirects on [website name]". Chrome remembers this choice and stops blocking pop-ups on that site from now on. Refresh the page, and the pop-ups should appear.

If you don't see the icon in the address bar, the website may not have tried to open a pop-up yet. Try clicking the button or link on the page that's supposed to trigger the pop-up, then look for the icon again.

Turn off the pop-up blocker entirely

If you want to disable the blocker for all websites, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the menu.

On the left side, click "Privacy and security", then click "Site settings". Scroll down and click "Pop-ups and redirects". At the top, you'll see a toggle that says "Blocked (recommended)". Click it to switch it to "Allowed". The blocker is now off for every website.

This approach is simpler if you visit many sites that need pop-ups, but it removes your protection across the entire browser. Most people should stick with allowing pop-ups for individual sites instead.

Remove pop-up permission from a website

If you allowed pop-ups on a site and later want to block them again, the process is straightforward. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots, then go to "Settings" > "Privacy and security" > "Site settings" > "Pop-ups and redirects".

Under "Allowed", you'll see a list of every website you've given permission to. Find the site you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove". Pop-ups on that site will be blocked again the next time you visit.

What to do if pop-ups still don't appear

Sometimes a website's pop-ups are blocked by something other than Chrome's built-in blocker. Your computer might have a separate pop-up blocking program, your internet provider might be blocking them, or the website itself might have a problem.

First, make sure you actually allowed pop-ups by checking the address bar icon again. If Chrome shows "Pop-ups allowed on this site" and pop-ups still aren't appearing, try a different browser like Firefox or Edge to see if the pop-ups work there. If they do, the issue is with Chrome or an extension you've installed. If they don't appear in any browser, the website may have a technical problem, and you should contact the website's support team.

Disable extensions that might be blocking pop-ups

You might have installed a browser extension that blocks pop-ups separately from Chrome's built-in blocker. These extensions sometimes override Chrome's settings. To check, click the puzzle-piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome (or the three dots, then "More tools" > "Extensions").

Look through the list for any extension with "blocker", "ad block", or "pop-up" in the name. Click the toggle next to it to turn it off temporarily, then try the website again. If pop-ups appear now, that extension was the problem. You can leave it off, remove it entirely by clicking "Remove", or turn it back on if you prefer the extra blocking on other sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off the pop-up blocker make my computer unsafe?

Disabling it entirely exposes you to more pop-ups, some of which can be annoying or contain ads you don't want. However, allowing pop-ups for a single trusted website is safe. Most security threats come from clicking inside pop-ups, not from the pop-ups themselves, so be cautious about what you click.

Can I allow pop-ups on one website but keep them blocked everywhere else?

Yes — that's the recommended approach. Click the blocked pop-ups icon in the address bar and select "Always allow pop-ups and redirects on [website name]". This keeps the blocker active on every other site you visit.

What if I see a pop-up icon in the address bar but no menu appears when I click it?

The icon might be something else, like a notification permission request or a download indicator. Make sure you're clicking the square icon with a line through it. If you're still not seeing a menu, try refreshing the page and triggering the pop-up again by clicking the relevant button on the website.

Can I undo allowing pop-ups on a website?

Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, find the website under "Allowed", click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove". Pop-ups will be blocked on that site again.

Do I need to restart Chrome after changing pop-up settings?

No. Changes take effect immediately. If you allowed pop-ups for a site, just refresh the page and the pop-ups should appear. If you disabled the blocker entirely, pop-ups will work on any site you visit next.