Where Chrome notifications live and how to find them

Chrome notifications appear in the bottom right corner of your screen on Windows, or the top right on Mac. They come from websites you've visited — news sites, email services, messaging apps, social media — and they pile up fast. To stop them, you need to reach Chrome's notification settings, which sit in a different place than your browser's main settings menu.

Open Chrome and look at the address bar. Click the lock icon (or the "i" in a circle) that appears to the left of the web address. A small menu drops down. Look for "Notifications" in that menu — it will show either "Allow" or "Block" depending on what you chose before. This is the fastest way to control notifications from the site you're currently viewing.

If you want to see all your notification permissions at once — every site that has ever asked for permission — go to Chrome's main settings instead. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Settings," then choose "Privacy and security" on the left side. Click "Site settings," then "Notifications." You'll see two lists: sites you've allowed to send notifications, and sites you've blocked.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to stop notifications from one website is to click the lock icon next to the web address, find "Notifications," and change it to "Block."
  • To see all websites that have permission to notify you, go to Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications.
  • You can remove notification permission from any site by clicking the trash icon next to its name in the Notifications list.
  • Turning off "Notifications" in Chrome's main settings will block all notifications from all websites, but you can still allow them from specific sites afterward.
  • Chrome will ask permission again the next time you visit a site where you deleted its notification access.

Blocking notifications from a single website right now

When a website sends you a notification and you want it to stop, the quickest fix is to change that site's permission when ready. Click the notification itself — don't dismiss it, click on it. This usually takes you back to the website. Once you're there, click the lock icon or information icon next to the web address in your address bar.

A dropdown menu appears. Find the line that says "Notifications" and click on it. You'll see a radio button or toggle next to "Allow," "Ask," or "Block." Select "Block." Chrome will remember this choice and that website will never send you notifications again — unless you change your mind and switch it back to "Allow."

Removing all notification permissions at once

If you want to clear out every website's notification permission in one go, Chrome has a nuclear option. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. At the top of the page, you'll see a toggle or button labeled "Notifications" with an on/off switch. Turn it off. This blocks notifications from every website.

The catch: Chrome will ask for permission again the next time you visit a site that wants to send notifications. If you turn off notifications globally but then visit Gmail or a news site, Chrome will pop up a permission request. You can say "Allow" for that one site and "Block" for the next one. This method is useful if you're overwhelmed and want to start fresh, deciding site by site what you actually want to hear from.

Deleting notification permission from specific websites

You don't have to block all notifications to get rid of the ones you don't want. In Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, you'll see two sections: "Allow" and "Block." The "Allow" section lists every website that currently has permission to send you notifications.

Find the website you want to remove from the list. Click the trash icon on the right side of that entry. The website disappears from your "Allow" list when ready. Chrome will treat it as if you never gave permission — the next time you visit that site, it will ask again. This is the cleanest way to handle sites one at a time without turning off all notifications.

Stopping notifications from Chrome itself

Chrome can send you its own notifications separate from websites — things like "Chrome is out of date" or sync reminders. These come from Chrome's system, not from a website you visited. To turn these off, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Look for an entry that says "Chrome" or "Chromium" in the "Allow" list and delete it the same way you would delete a website.

If you don't see Chrome listed, it may not have permission to send notifications in the first place. You can also control some of these through Chrome's main Settings page under "Notifications" — scroll down in Settings and look for a section labeled "Notifications and quiet hours" or similar, depending on your version of Chrome.

What happens when you block notifications

When you block notifications from a website, that site can no longer send them to you. You won't see popups, badges, or sounds from that source. The website itself still works normally — blocking notifications doesn't affect your ability to use Gmail, read news, or do anything else on that site. It only stops the interruptions.

If you change your mind later, you can always allow notifications again. Go back to that website, click the lock icon, and change Notifications back to "Allow." Chrome will ask you to confirm, and then notifications from that site will resume. You're in control — Chrome just remembers your choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I allow notifications from one email address but block them from another on the same website?

No. Chrome's notification permissions work at the website level, not the account level. If you allow notifications from Gmail.com, you'll get notifications for all Gmail accounts you're signed into on that browser. To block notifications from one account, you'd need to use a different browser or an incognito window for that account.

Will blocking notifications stop emails or messages from arriving?

No. Blocking notifications only stops the alerts that pop up on your screen. Your emails, messages, and other content still arrive normally — you just won't be interrupted by a notification telling you they arrived. You can check them whenever you open the website or app.

What's the difference between "Block" and "Ask" for notifications?

"Block" means the website can never send notifications without asking again. "Ask" means Chrome will show you a permission request the next time that site tries to send a notification, letting you choose in that moment. Most people set sites to "Block" to avoid the repeated requests.

If I clear my browsing history, will my notification permissions disappear?

Not automatically. Notification permissions are stored separately from browsing history. However, if you clear "Cookies and other site data" when you clear your history, you may lose some notification permissions. To be safe, manage notifications through Settings instead of relying on history clearing.

Can I set up a schedule so notifications are allowed during the day but blocked at night?

Chrome doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature for notifications. However, Windows and Mac both have "Do Not Disturb" or "Focus" modes that silence all notifications on a schedule. You can use your operating system's settings to block notifications during certain hours, which will affect Chrome notifications along with everything else.