Chrome's pop-up blocker is on by default, and you turn it off in Settings

Chrome blocks most pop-ups automatically. To let pop-ups through on a specific website, open Chrome and go to Settings (the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then Settings). Click Privacy and security on the left, then Site settings. Find Pop-ups and redirects and click it. You will see two sections: Not allowed (sites where pop-ups are blocked) and Allowed (sites where they go through).

To allow pop-ups on one website, scroll down to the "Not allowed" section and click the three dots next to the website you want to unblock, then choose Allow. The next time you visit that site, pop-ups will appear. If you want to block pop-ups again on that site later, go back to the same menu and click the three dots, then Block.

If you want to turn off the pop-up blocker entirely so all websites can send pop-ups, go to Pop-ups and redirects in Site settings and toggle the switch at the top from Blocked to Allowed. This is not recommended because most pop-ups are advertisements or unwanted content, but some older websites need it to work properly.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome blocks pop-ups by default; you control which sites can send them through Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
  • To allow pop-ups on one website only, find it in the "Not allowed" list and click the three dots next to it, then select Allow.
  • You can turn off the blocker entirely by toggling the switch at the top of the Pop-ups and redirects page, though this exposes you to unwanted ads.
  • Blocking pop-ups again on a site you previously allowed is the same process: find the site in the "Allowed" list and click Block.

When you need to allow pop-ups on a specific site

Some websites use pop-ups for legitimate functions: online banking sites may open pop-ups for security verification, educational platforms may use them for quizzes or notifications, and some tools require a pop-up window to work. If a site tells you to disable the pop-up blocker and you trust the site, allowing pop-ups only on that domain is safer than turning off the blocker everywhere.

Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Under "Not allowed," find the website's name. If it is not listed, the site may not have tried to send a pop-up yet — visit the page that needs the pop-up first, then return to Settings. Once you see the site listed, click the three dots next to it and select Allow. Refresh the website and try again.

Removing a site from the allowed list

If you allowed pop-ups on a site and now want to block them again, the process is identical but in reverse. Open Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and look for the site in the Allowed section at the top. Click the three dots next to it and select Block.

You can also remove a site entirely by clicking the three dots and selecting Remove. This puts it back into the default state — Chrome will block pop-ups there unless the site tries to send one and you manually allow it again.

Turning off the blocker for all websites

At the top of the Pop-ups and redirects page, you will see a toggle switch that says Blocked or Allowed. Clicking it to Allowed disables the pop-up blocker entirely. Every website can now send pop-ups to you without restriction.

This is rarely necessary. Most sites that need pop-ups to function will work fine with the blocker on — only very old websites or poorly designed ones require it off. If you turn it off and regret it, go back to the same switch and toggle it to Blocked.

Distinguishing pop-ups from other browser notifications

Chrome's pop-up blocker only stops windows that open in new tabs or windows. It does not control notifications — the small messages that appear in the corner of your screen even when Chrome is closed. If you are seeing unwanted notifications instead of pop-ups, you need a different setting.

For notifications, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. You will see the same Not allowed and Allowed lists. Block notifications the same way you block pop-ups: find the site in the Allowed list, click the three dots, and select Block. You can also toggle notifications off entirely at the top of the page, though this will silence notifications from sites you do want to hear from.

What to do if a site still shows pop-ups after you allow them

Sometimes a website will send pop-ups even after you have allowed them. This usually means the site is using a redirect or a script that Chrome treats differently from a standard pop-up. Go back to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings and look for Redirects — this is part of the same setting as pop-ups. If the site is listed under "Not allowed" for redirects, click the three dots and select Allow.

If the site still does not work, the problem may not be Chrome's blocker. Some websites have their own internal pop-up systems that are separate from the browser. Check the website's help section or contact their support to see if there is a setting on their end you need to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I allow pop-ups on a site without turning off the blocker everywhere?

Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, find the site in the "Not allowed" list, click the three dots next to it, and select Allow. Pop-ups will work only on that site; the blocker stays on for all others.

Why does a website say pop-ups are blocked when I already allowed them?

The site may be using redirects instead of pop-ups, or it may have its own pop-up system separate from the browser. Check the site's settings or help page. You can also try allowing redirects in the same Settings menu under "Redirects."

If I turn off the pop-up blocker, will it stay off?

Yes, until you turn it back on. The setting persists across browser sessions. You can turn it back on anytime by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and toggling the switch to Blocked.

Does disabling the pop-up blocker affect my security?

Turning off the blocker exposes you to more unwanted ads and potentially malicious pop-ups, but it does not disable other Chrome security features. If you only need pop-ups on one site, allow them for that site only instead of disabling the blocker globally.