Where Chrome notifications hide and how to find them

Chrome notifications live in your browser settings, not in Windows or Mac system settings. You reach them through a menu most people never open. The fastest way is to type chrome://settings/content/notifications directly into your address bar — Chrome will take you straight to the notification control panel.

If you prefer clicking through menus: open Chrome, select the three vertical dots in the top right corner, choose Settings, then click Privacy and Security on the left side. Select Site Settings, then Notifications. You'll see two lists: sites allowed to send notifications, and sites you've blocked.

The notification panel shows every website that has ever asked permission to notify you. Some you approved without thinking. Some you blocked and forgot about. This is where you take back control.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome stores notification permissions in Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications, or by typing chrome://settings/content/notifications in the address bar.
  • You can remove notifications from individual sites by clicking the trash icon next to each one, or block all notifications at once by toggling the default setting to Block.
  • Websites can ask for notification permission again after you've blocked them, so you may need to refuse multiple times before they stop asking.
  • Turning off notifications for a site does not delete your account or log you out — it only stops the pop-ups.

Removing notifications from sites you've already approved

In the Notifications panel, look for the section labeled "Allow". This list shows every site that currently has permission to send you notifications. Scroll through and you'll likely find sites you forgot you approved — news outlets, shopping sites, social media, email services.

To remove a site from this list, click the trash icon on the right side of its name. Chrome will delete the permission when ready. The site can ask again later, but you can refuse when it does. Repeat this for every site you don't want notifying you.

If the list is long and you want to start fresh, you can block all notifications at once. At the top of the Notifications panel, toggle the switch next to "Sites can ask to send notifications" to the Off position. This sets Chrome's default to Block, meaning no new sites can send notifications without your explicit permission.

Stopping websites from asking for notification permission

Even after you've removed a site's notification permission, it may ask again the next time you visit. This is by design — websites can request permission repeatedly, and Chrome allows it. You have two ways to handle this.

The first is to refuse each time. When a site asks "Allow notifications?", click Block instead of Allow. After you've blocked the same site a few times, Chrome may stop showing the request, though this varies by site.

The second is to add the site to your Block list preemptively. In the Notifications panel, look for the section labeled "Block". Click Add next to the trash icon at the bottom of the panel, type the website address (for example, example.com), and press Enter. That site will never ask for notification permission again in this browser.

Notifications from your email and work accounts

If you use Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or other services through Chrome, disabling notifications in the browser settings won't stop all alerts. These services often send notifications through their own systems, separate from Chrome's notification permission.

To turn off notifications from Gmail, open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right, select See all settings, then click the Notifications tab. You can disable desktop notifications, email notifications, or both. For Slack, open the app or website, click your profile picture, select Preferences, then Notifications. Teams has a similar menu under Settings > Notifications.

The Chrome notification panel controls only the pop-ups that appear on your screen. The services themselves control whether they send those pop-ups in the first place. You may need to adjust settings in both places to stop all alerts.

Clearing old notification permissions after a browser reset

If you've cleared your browser data or reset Chrome, your notification permissions may have been deleted along with your cookies and cache. When you return to sites you previously approved, they'll ask for permission again. This is normal.

You don't have to approve them again. Click Block when the request appears, or use the preemptive block method described above. If you want to keep notifications from a few trusted sites but block the rest, approve only those specific ones and block everything else.

If you're switching to a new computer or a new browser profile, you'll start with a clean slate. No sites will have notification permission until you grant it. This is actually an opportunity to be more selective from the start.

What happens to your accounts when you turn off notifications

Disabling notifications does not log you out, delete your account, or change any settings on the website itself. You remain logged in to Gmail, Slack, or any other service. You'll still receive emails and messages — you just won't get a pop-up alert on your screen when they arrive.

If you rely on notifications to know when something important happens, you'll need another way to check. Open Gmail or Slack manually, or set up email forwarding to a phone number or another email address. Some services let you choose which alerts go to your browser and which go to your phone instead.

Testing whether your changes worked

After you've removed a notification permission, visit that website and look for a notification request. If you see one, the removal didn't stick — try removing it again. If you don't see a request, the permission is gone.

Some sites are aggressive about asking for notifications. You may need to block them multiple times or add them to your Block list. If a site keeps asking after you've blocked it several times, check whether you're using a different browser profile or a private window — each has its own notification settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off notifications for just one website without blocking all notifications?

Yes. In the Notifications panel, find the site in the "Allow" list and click the trash icon next to it. That site loses permission, but other approved sites can still send notifications. You can also add specific sites to the "Block" list to prevent them from asking again.

Why does a website keep asking for notification permission even after I blocked it?

Websites can request permission multiple times, and Chrome allows this. Click Block each time, or add the site to your Block list in the Notifications panel. Some sites are more persistent than others, but blocking it several times usually stops the requests.

If I turn off notifications, will I miss important messages?

You'll still receive messages and emails — you just won't get a pop-up alert. Check the service manually, or ask it to send alerts to your phone or email instead. Most services let you choose which notifications go where.

Do I need to turn off notifications in Chrome if I already turned them off on my phone?

Yes. Chrome notifications and phone notifications are separate systems. Turning off notifications on your phone doesn't affect Chrome, and vice versa. You need to adjust settings in both places if you want to stop all alerts.

What's the difference between blocking a site and removing its permission?

Removing permission stops current notifications but lets the site ask again later. Blocking a site stops notifications and prevents it from asking for permission again. Use removal if you might want notifications later, and blocking if you never want to hear from that site.