Chrome's popup blocker is on by default, but you can turn it off for all sites or just the ones you trust

Google Chrome blocks most popups automatically. If a website you use needs popups to work — like a login window, a document viewer, or a scheduling tool — you can disable the blocker. You have two choices: turn it off for one site only, or turn it off everywhere. Most people should turn it off for specific sites instead, because popups can be annoying or malicious on sites you don't trust.

The steps are the same whether you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux. You'll work from the address bar, not from Chrome's settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome blocks popups by default, and you can allow them for a single website without changing your settings for every site.
  • When a popup is blocked, a small icon appears in the address bar — click it to see what was blocked and allow popups from that site.
  • If you don't see a blocked popup icon, go to Chrome settings, find Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Popups and Redirects to allow them manually.
  • Allowing popups for one site does not affect your blocker on other sites.
  • You can turn the blocker back on for a specific site at any time using the same address bar icon.

Allow popups from a single website using the address bar

When Chrome blocks a popup, a small icon appears to the right of the address bar. The icon looks like a box with a line through it. Click that icon to see what popups were blocked.

A dropdown menu will show you the blocked popups. Click "Always allow popups and redirects from [website name]" at the bottom of that menu. Chrome will now let popups through from that site. You can close the dropdown — the change takes effect when ready.

If you navigate away from the site and come back later, popups will still be allowed. The setting stays in place until you change it again.

Allow popups for a site through Chrome settings

If you don't see a blocked popup icon in the address bar, the site may not have tried to show a popup yet, or the blocker may already be off for that site. You can also allow popups by going through Chrome's settings directly.

Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Scroll down and click Popups and Redirects.

You'll see two sections: "Allowed" sites and "Blocked" sites. To add a site to the allowed list, click "Add" next to "Allowed to send popups and redirects". Type the website address (for example, example.com) and click Add. Chrome will now allow popups from that site.

Turn the popup blocker back on for a specific site

If you allowed popups for a site but want to block them again, use the same address bar icon. Click the icon that now shows an open box (no line through it), and select "Block popups and redirects from [website name]".

You can also remove a site from the allowed list in settings. Go to Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Popups and Redirects. Find the site in the "Allowed" section, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove.

Turn off the popup blocker for all websites

You can disable Chrome's popup blocker entirely, though this is not recommended because many websites use popups for advertising or other purposes you may not want to see.

Go to Chrome settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Popups and Redirects. At the top, toggle the switch next to "Popups and redirects" to the off position. The switch will turn gray. Chrome will now allow all popups from all websites.

To turn the blocker back on, return to the same setting and toggle the switch back to on (it will turn blue).

Why a popup might not appear even after you allow it

Sometimes you allow popups for a site, but they still don't show up. This usually means the popup was already blocked before you changed the setting. Refresh the page or navigate away and come back. The popup should appear on your next visit.

Some websites also use popups that Chrome's blocker does not catch, or they may use other methods to show content that look like popups but are actually part of the page itself. If refreshing doesn't help, the site may be using a different type of window that the blocker doesn't affect.

Popups that look allowed but still get blocked

If you allowed popups for a site but Chrome is still blocking some, the blocker may be catching popups that come from a different domain. For example, if you allow popups from example.com, but the popup actually comes from ads.example.com, Chrome may still block it. Add the subdomain to your allowed list as well.

You can also check whether an extension is blocking popups instead of Chrome itself. Some browser extensions have their own popup blockers. If you have extensions installed, try disabling them one at a time to see if one of them is the source of the block.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if Chrome blocked a popup?

A small icon appears in the address bar on the right side — it looks like a box with a line through it. Click it to see what was blocked. If you don't see the icon, no popup was attempted, or popups are already allowed for that site.

Will allowing popups for one site affect other websites?

No. When you allow popups for a specific site, the change applies only to that site. Your blocker remains on for every other website. You can allow popups for as many individual sites as you need without changing your overall settings.

Can I allow popups for a website on my phone?

Yes. Open Chrome on your Android or iPhone, navigate to the site, and tap the address bar. Tap Site Settings, then Popups and Redirects, and toggle it on. The process is the same as on a computer.

What if I accidentally allowed popups and want to block them again?

Click the address bar icon (now showing an open box) and select "Block popups and redirects from [site name]". Or go to Settings, Privacy and Security, Site Settings, Popups and Redirects, find the site in the "Allowed" list, and click Remove.

Is it safe to turn off the popup blocker completely?

It is not recommended. Many websites use popups for ads, scams, or other content you may not want. Allowing popups for specific sites you trust is safer than disabling the blocker for all sites.