Chrome blocks most pop-ups by default, and you can turn that off for specific websites or disable it entirely
Google Chrome comes with a built-in pop-up blocker that stops most pop-up windows from opening. If a website you trust needs pop-ups to work properly — for example, a banking site that opens account statements in new windows, or a web process that uses pop-ups for forms — you can disable the blocker for just that site, or turn it off completely. The process takes less than a minute and you can change it back anytime.
The most common reason to disable pop-up blocking is that a legitimate website stops working. You'll notice this when you click a button and nothing happens, or a feature that should open in a new window doesn't appear. Before disabling the blocker, make sure the website is one you recognize and trust.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's pop-up blocker is on by default, and you can turn it off for one website without affecting other sites.
- The fastest way is to click the pop-up blocker icon in the address bar when Chrome blocks a pop-up, then select "Always allow pop-ups on this site."
- You can also disable pop-up blocking through Chrome's settings menu under Privacy and Security, which gives you a list of all sites where you've allowed pop-ups.
- Turning off the blocker entirely removes protection from all websites, so disabling it for just the sites you need is safer.
- You can remove a website from the allowed list at any time by finding it in settings and deleting it.
Allow pop-ups on a single website using the address bar
When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears in the address bar on the right side — it looks like a window with a slash through it. Click that icon and a menu appears with the option "Always allow pop-ups on this site." Click that option and Chrome will let pop-ups through on that website from now on.
This is the easiest method because you only do it when you actually need it. The next time you visit that site, pop-ups will open normally. If you change your mind later, you can reverse this decision through the settings menu (see the section below on managing your list).
If you don't see the icon in the address bar, it means Chrome didn't block anything — the pop-up either wasn't blocked, or the website isn't trying to open one. In that case, the problem is something else, and disabling the pop-up blocker won't help.
Allow pop-ups through Chrome's settings menu
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 until you see "Pop-ups and redirects" and click it. You'll see two sections: "Allowed" and "Blocked." Under "Allowed," click "Add" and type the website address where you want to allow pop-ups. Type just the domain — for example, "mybank.com" rather than "https://www.mybank.com/login" — and Chrome will explore the setting to the whole site.
Use this method when you want to set up pop-up permission before you visit a site, or when you want to see a list of all the websites where you've already allowed pop-ups.
Turn off pop-up blocking completely
If you want to disable the pop-up blocker for all websites, follow the same path: three dots menu, Settings, Privacy and security, Site settings, then "Pop-ups and redirects." At the top of that page, you'll see a toggle that says "Blocked" or "Allowed." Click it to switch from "Blocked" to "Allowed."
Turning off the blocker entirely means every website can open pop-ups without restriction. This removes a layer of protection against unwanted advertisements and potentially malicious pop-ups. Most people should not do this — it's safer to allow pop-ups only on the specific sites that need them.
If you do turn it off completely and later want to turn it back on, return to the same menu and click the toggle again to switch it back to "Blocked."
Remove a website from your allowed list
Go to Settings, Privacy and security, Site settings, then "Pop-ups and redirects." Under the "Allowed" section, you'll see a list of every website where you've permitted pop-ups. Find the site you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove."
Once you remove a site, Chrome will start blocking pop-ups there again. If that site tries to open a pop-up, you'll see the blocker icon in the address bar again, and you can choose to allow it or leave it blocked.
What to do if a website still doesn't work after disabling the blocker
Sometimes a website has problems that have nothing to do with pop-ups. If you've disabled pop-up blocking for a site and it still doesn't work, the issue is likely something else — a browser extension interfering, outdated browser version, or a problem with the website itself.
Try these steps in order: First, refresh the page by pressing Ctrl+R (or Cmd+R on Mac). Second, clear your browser cache by going to Settings, Privacy and security, Clear browsing data, and selecting "All time" and "Cookies and other site data," then clicking Clear data. Third, try the website in an incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N or Cmd+Shift+N) to see if an extension is causing the problem.
If none of those work, contact the website's support team. They can tell you whether pop-ups are actually required or whether there's a different way to access the feature you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome block pop-ups if some websites need them?
Most pop-ups are advertisements or unwanted windows, so Chrome blocks them by default to protect you. Legitimate websites that need pop-ups can ask you to allow them, and you can do that on a case-by-case basis. This way you get protection from unwanted pop-ups while still being able to use sites that require them.
If I allow pop-ups on one website, does that affect other websites?
No. When you allow pop-ups for a specific site, that permission applies only to that site. Other websites will still have pop-ups blocked unless you separately allow them. This is why allowing pop-ups per site is safer than turning off the blocker entirely.
Can I allow pop-ups on a website just one time instead of permanently?
Chrome doesn't have a "one time only" option for pop-ups. When you allow them, the permission stays until you remove it. If you want to remove the permission later, go back to Settings, Privacy and security, Site settings, Pop-ups and redirects, find the site under "Allowed," and click the three dots next to it to remove it.
What if I accidentally allowed pop-ups on a website I don't trust?
Go to Settings, Privacy and security, Site settings, Pop-ups and redirects, and look under "Allowed." Find the website, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove." Chrome will block pop-ups there again. You can do this anytime if you change your mind about a site.