Chrome blocks most pop-ups automatically — here's how to allow them for specific sites
Chrome's built-in pop-up blocker stops most unwanted windows from opening, but sometimes you need a pop-up to work. A banking site might use a pop-up for two-factor authentication. A document editor might open files in a new window. When this happens, you can turn off the blocker for that one site without disabling it everywhere else.
The fastest way is to click the pop-up blocker icon in your address bar when Chrome blocks something, then choose to allow pop-ups from that site. If you want to change the setting before a pop-up gets blocked, you can adjust it in Chrome's site settings. Both methods take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears in the address bar — click it and select "Always allow pop-ups from [site name]" to unblock that site permanently.
- You can also go to Chrome Settings, find Site Settings, then Pop-ups and Redirects, and add the website to the allowed list manually.
- Allowing pop-ups for one site does not affect Chrome's blocker for any other site.
- If you turn off the blocker entirely, you lose protection on every website you visit, so allowing specific sites is safer than disabling the feature completely.
Allow pop-ups using the address bar icon
When Chrome blocks a pop-up, you'll see a small icon in the right side of the address bar — it looks like a window with a slash through it. Click that icon and a menu appears showing how many pop-ups were blocked.
Next to the site name, you'll see the option "Always allow pop-ups from [website]." Click that text, and Chrome will remember to let pop-ups through from that site from now on. The page may reload automatically, or you may need to refresh it yourself to see the pop-up.
This method works for most situations because you're only allowing pop-ups after you've confirmed that site actually needs them. Chrome keeps this permission even after you close the browser, so you won't have to repeat the step next time you visit.
Allow pop-ups through Chrome Settings
If you want to set up pop-up permissions before visiting a site, or if you need to manage multiple sites at once, use Chrome's Settings menu. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Scroll down until you see Pop-ups and Redirects and click it. Under the "Allow" section, click "Add" and type the website address you want to allow pop-ups from. Use the format https://www.example.com — Chrome will accept variations of that address automatically.
Once you add the site, Chrome will allow its pop-ups when ready. You can see all your allowed sites listed under "Allow," and you can remove any of them by clicking the trash icon next to the site name.
Remove a site from the allowed list
If you allowed pop-ups for a site and later want to block them again, go back to the same Pop-ups and Redirects page in Settings. Find the site name under the "Allow" section and click the trash icon on the right side of that row. Chrome will remove it from the list and start blocking pop-ups from that site again.
You can also manage permissions directly on a website. Visit the site, click the lock icon or information icon in the address bar, then find Pop-ups in the list. Change the setting from "Allow" to "Block," and Chrome will update that site's permission when ready.
Disable the pop-up blocker entirely (not recommended)
You can turn off Chrome's pop-up blocker completely, but this leaves you unprotected against malicious pop-ups on every website. Most people should not do this — allowing pop-ups for specific sites is safer.
If you do want to disable it entirely, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Pop-ups and Redirects. At the top, change the setting from "Blocked (recommended)" to "Allowed." Every website will now be able to open pop-ups without restriction. You can turn the blocker back on by changing that same setting back to "Blocked."
Troubleshooting when pop-ups still don't appear
Sometimes a pop-up won't open even after you've allowed it. First, check that you added the site to the allowed list correctly — the address must match what appears in your browser's address bar. If the site uses a subdomain like mail.example.com instead of example.com, you may need to add both versions.
If the pop-up still doesn't work, the problem might not be Chrome's blocker. Some websites require you to disable other extensions that block pop-ups, like ad blockers. Try temporarily turning off any extensions you have installed, then visit the site again. You can do this by clicking the puzzle piece icon in Chrome's top right corner, finding the extension, and clicking the eye icon to hide it.
Another possibility is that the website itself has a setting you need to change. Some banking sites and document editors require you to enable pop-ups in your account settings, not just in your browser. Check the website's help section or contact their support if pop-ups still won't open after you've allowed them in Chrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will allowing pop-ups for one site affect other websites?
No. When you allow pop-ups for a specific site, Chrome only changes the setting for that one address. Every other website remains blocked unless you add it to the allowed list separately. This is why allowing specific sites is much safer than disabling the blocker entirely.
What's the difference between allowing pop-ups and allowing redirects?
Pop-ups are new windows that open on top of the current page. Redirects happen when a website sends you to a different page automatically. Chrome's Pop-ups and Redirects setting controls both, so allowing one site affects both types of behavior. If you only want to allow pop-ups but block redirects, you'll need to use an extension.
Can I allow pop-ups for a site only once, instead of permanently?
Chrome's built-in settings don't offer a one-time permission — once you allow a site, it stays allowed until you remove it. If you want temporary permissions, you can use Chrome's Incognito mode, which doesn't save site settings after you close the window.
Does allowing pop-ups on Chrome affect other browsers?
No. Each browser has its own pop-up blocker settings. If you use Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you'll need to adjust their pop-up settings separately. Chrome's permissions only explore when you're using Chrome.