Chrome blocks most pop-ups by default, and you turn this off in Settings
Chrome's pop-up blocker stops most new windows from opening without your permission. If a website you trust needs to open pop-ups — for a login window, a document preview, or a form — you can turn the blocker off entirely, or you can allow pop-ups only on that one site. The fastest route is usually to allow pop-ups just where you need them, rather than disabling the blocker everywhere.
The setting lives in Chrome's main menu under Privacy and Security. You reach it the same way on Windows, Mac, and Linux, though the menu button looks slightly different depending on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's pop-up blocker is controlled from Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
- You can allow pop-ups on a single website by clicking the pop-up icon in the address bar when Chrome blocks one, rather than turning off the blocker everywhere.
- If you turn off pop-up blocking entirely, Chrome will stop protecting you from unwanted pop-ups on all websites.
- The pop-up icon appears in your address bar only when Chrome actually blocks a pop-up on that page.
Allow pop-ups on one website without disabling the blocker
When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears on the right side of your address bar — it looks like a square with a slash through it. Click that icon and you will see a list of the pop-ups Chrome blocked. At the bottom of that list is an "Always allow pop-ups and redirects from [website name]" button. Click it, and Chrome will let that website open pop-ups from now on.
This is the safest approach because you keep the blocker active everywhere else. The next time you visit that website, pop-ups will open normally. If you change your mind later, you can undo this by going back to Settings and removing the site from the allowed list.
Turn off pop-up blocking entirely in Settings
If you need to disable the blocker completely, open Chrome and click the three-line menu button in the top right corner. On Windows and Linux, it is in the very top right. On Mac, it is also in the top right, but may be harder to see depending on your screen brightness.
From that menu, select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and Security, then click Site Settings. Scroll down until you see "Pop-ups and redirects" and click it. At the top of that page, you will see a dropdown that currently says "Blocked (recommended)". Click that dropdown and select "Allowed".
Chrome will now let websites open pop-ups without asking. This change takes effect when ready on all websites. You do not need to close and reopen Chrome.
Re-enable pop-up blocking if you turned it off
If you disabled the blocker and later want to turn it back on, follow the same path: Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Click the dropdown at the top and select "Blocked (recommended)". This restores the default protection.
Any websites you previously allowed will stay on your allowed list even after you re-enable blocking. If you want to remove a specific site from that list, you can do so on the same page — look for "Allow" and find the site name, then click the trash icon next to it.
What to do if the pop-up icon does not appear
Sometimes a website tries to open a pop-up but Chrome does not block it — this usually means the pop-up is not technically a pop-up, or it is opening in a way Chrome does not recognize as a pop-up attempt. In these cases, the address bar icon will not appear because there is nothing to block.
If a website claims it is opening a pop-up but you see nothing, the issue is usually not Chrome's blocker. The website itself may be broken, or your browser extension (like an ad blocker) may be interfering. Try disabling any extensions you have installed and reload the page.
Allowing pop-ups on some sites while keeping the blocker on others
You can maintain a list of websites where pop-ups are allowed while keeping the blocker active everywhere else. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Under "Allow", you will see every website you have given permission to. Each one has a trash icon next to it — click that to remove a site from the allowed list.
This approach gives you the most control. You allow pop-ups only where you actually need them, and Chrome continues to protect you from unexpected pop-ups on other sites. Over time, your allowed list will grow as you visit different websites that need pop-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome block pop-ups in the first place?
Most pop-ups are advertisements or scams designed to distract you or trick you into clicking something. Chrome's blocker stops these automatically. Legitimate websites usually do not need pop-ups — they use other methods to show you information.
If I allow pop-ups on one website, will other websites see that?
No. Your pop-up settings are stored only in Chrome on your device. Other websites cannot see which sites you have allowed. Each website can only open pop-ups if you have specifically allowed that website.
Can I allow pop-ups for one login but block them again after?
You can remove a site from your allowed list at any time by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects and clicking the trash icon next to the site name. After you remove it, Chrome will block that site's pop-ups again.
What if a website says I need to disable my pop-up blocker but I do not trust it?
Use the address bar icon method instead. Click the pop-up blocker icon, allow that one pop-up, and reload the page. This lets the website open what it needs without disabling protection everywhere. If the site still does not work, it may have a different problem.