Turn off pop-ups in Chrome's main settings

Chrome blocks most pop-ups automatically, but the setting can be turned off by accident or by a website you visited. To check whether pop-up blocking is on and turn it back on if needed, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Privacy and security on the left side, then Site settings.

Look for Pop-ups and redirects in the list. Click it. At the top, you should see a toggle that says Blocked. If it says Allowed instead, click the toggle to switch it back to Blocked. Chrome will now block pop-ups on all websites unless you add specific sites to an exception list.

If you see websites listed under "Allow", those are sites where you told Chrome to let pop-ups through. You can remove any of them by clicking the trash icon next to the website name.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome blocks most pop-ups by default, but you can verify this is on by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
  • If the pop-up blocker is set to Allowed, switch the toggle back to Blocked to re-enable blocking across all sites.
  • You can remove individual websites from the Allow list by clicking the trash icon next to each site name.
  • Some websites require pop-ups to work properly; if a site stops functioning after you block pop-ups, you can add it to the Allow list temporarily.

Remove websites from your pop-up exceptions list

If you previously told Chrome to allow pop-ups on a specific website, that site will appear in the Allow section of the Pop-ups and redirects settings. This often happens when a website asks "Allow pop-ups on this site?" and you click yes without thinking about it.

To stop allowing pop-ups on a website you no longer trust, go back to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Find the website name in the Allow list and click the trash icon next to it. Chrome will immediately start blocking pop-ups on that site again.

Clear cookies and site data if a website keeps asking for pop-up permission

Sometimes a website will keep asking for permission to show pop-ups even after you say no. This usually means the site's stored data is corrupted or the site is deliberately resetting your choice. The fastest fix is to clear that website's data from Chrome.

Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Then click Clear data. This removes everything Chrome remembers about that website, including your pop-up permission choice, so the site will start fresh the next time you visit.

Check your extensions if pop-ups appear despite Chrome's blocker

Browser extensions can override Chrome's pop-up blocker or inject their own pop-ups into websites. If you see pop-ups even though your blocker is on, an extension may be the cause. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots, then select Extensions > Manage extensions.

Look through the list for extensions you do not recognize or no longer use. Click the toggle next to each one to turn it off, then visit a website that was showing pop-ups. If the pop-ups stop, you found the culprit. You can either leave that extension off or click the trash icon to remove it entirely.

Some extensions that claim to block ads or pop-ups actually do the opposite — they show you more pop-ups so they can earn money from advertisers. If an extension you installed recently is followed by more pop-ups, disable it and remove it.

Distinguish between pop-ups and notifications

Chrome also has a separate setting for website notifications, which are different from pop-ups. Notifications appear as small boxes in the corner of your screen and are usually triggered by websites asking "Show notifications?" Pop-ups, by contrast, open new browser windows or tabs.

If you see notification boxes instead of pop-ups, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Switch the toggle to Blocked, or remove individual websites from the Allow list the same way you would for pop-ups. You can also click the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar and turn off notifications from there.

Use Chrome's safe browsing to catch malicious pop-ups

Some pop-ups are not just annoying — they are designed to trick you into downloading malware or giving away personal information. Chrome's Safe Browsing feature warns you when you land on a dangerous website. This is on by default, but you can check it in Settings > Privacy and security > Security.

Make sure Enhanced protection is selected. This setting sends information about websites you visit to Google so Chrome can warn you about phishing attempts, malware, and unwanted software before you download anything. If you prefer not to send this data, you can choose Standard protection instead, which still blocks most threats but relies on a less current database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a website say "pop-ups are blocked" but I still see them?

The website may be showing you notifications instead of pop-ups, or an extension may be overriding Chrome's blocker. Check your extensions first by going to Extensions > Manage extensions and disabling any you do not recognize. If that does not help, the website may be using notifications instead, which have a separate setting in Site settings.

Can I block pop-ups on some websites but allow them on others?

Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Keep the main toggle on Blocked, then add specific websites to the Allow list by visiting them and clicking the lock icon in the address bar, then Pop-ups and redirects, then Allow. Only those sites will show pop-ups.

What if I need pop-ups to work on a website I trust?

Add that website to your Allow list by visiting it, clicking the lock icon in the address bar, selecting Pop-ups and redirects, and clicking Allow. Pop-ups will work on that site only. You can remove it from the list anytime by going back to Site settings and clicking the trash icon next to the website name.

Do I need an extension to block pop-ups if Chrome already blocks them?

No. Chrome's built-in blocker handles the vast majority of pop-ups. Extensions that claim to block pop-ups better often do the opposite — they show you more pop-ups to make money. Stick with Chrome's native settings unless you have a specific reason to add an extension.