Chrome blocks most popups automatically, and you can turn that off for specific sites or disable it entirely
Chrome's built-in popup blocker stops most popups from opening without asking you first. If a website you trust needs popups to work — to show a login window, display a form, or open a document — you have three options: allow popups just for that one site, allow popups temporarily while you're on the page, or turn off the blocker for all sites. The fastest route is usually to allow popups for a single site, because you keep the blocker running everywhere else.
When a popup is blocked, Chrome shows a small popup icon in the address bar (the right side of the URL field). Clicking that icon gives you the option to allow popups from that site. If you don't see the icon, the site may not have tried to open a popup, or the popup may have opened but you didn't notice it.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to allow a popup is to click the popup-blocked icon in Chrome's address bar and select "Always allow popups and redirects from [site name]".
- You can also allow popups for a single site by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, then adding the site to the allowed list.
- Turning off the popup blocker entirely in Settings removes protection from all sites and is rarely necessary — allowing popups for one site at a time is safer.
- Some websites use popups for essential functions like login windows or document viewers, so you may need to allow them even though most popups are unwanted.
Allow popups for one site using the address bar icon
When Chrome blocks a popup, a small icon appears on the right side of the address bar — it looks like a rectangle with a line through it. Click that icon to see what was blocked.
A dropdown menu will show you the blocked popup and the site it came from. Click "Always allow popups and redirects from [site name]" to let that site open popups from now on. Chrome will remember this choice, so you won't have to do it again for that site unless you change your settings later.
If you want to allow the popup just this once without saving the choice, click "Show" instead. The popup will open, but Chrome will block the next one from the same site unless you click the icon again.
Allow popups for a site through Chrome Settings
If you don't see the popup-blocked icon, or if you want to add a site to the allowed list before visiting it, you can do this through Chrome's settings.
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then go to Privacy and security > Site settings. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects. You'll see two lists: "Not allowed" (sites where popups are blocked) and "Allowed" (sites where popups can open).
To add a site to the allowed list, click "Add" next to "Allowed" and type the website address — for example, example.com or mail.example.com. Chrome will let popups from that site open from now on. To remove a site from the allowed list later, click the three dots next to its name and select Remove.
Turn off the popup blocker for all sites
You can disable Chrome's popup blocker entirely, though this is rarely necessary. Most websites you visit don't need popups, and turning off the blocker means you'll see unwanted popups again.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. At the top, you'll see a toggle that says "Blocked (recommended)". Click it to switch to "Allowed". Chrome will now let all sites open popups without asking.
If you turn off the blocker and later want to turn it back on, return to the same setting and click the toggle again to switch it back to "Blocked (recommended)".
Know the difference between popups and new tabs
Chrome's popup blocker only stops popups — small windows that open on top of the page you're viewing. It does not stop websites from opening new tabs in the background, and it does not stop you from clicking a link that opens a new tab yourself.
If a website is opening new tabs instead of popups, the popup blocker won't affect it. You can control new tabs separately in the same Site settings menu under "Pop-ups and redirects" — look for the setting that says "Popups and redirects" and make sure it's set to "Blocked (recommended)" if you want to prevent sites from opening tabs without your click.
What to do if a site still won't work after allowing popups
Sometimes allowing popups isn't enough. The site might also be blocked by Chrome's other security features, or it might need a different browser setting to work properly.
If a site still doesn't work after you've allowed popups, try these steps: first, make sure you've actually allowed popups for that specific site — go back to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and check that the site is in the "Allowed" list. Second, try opening the site in an Incognito window (press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac) to see if an extension is interfering. Third, if the site uses Flash or Java, those technologies may be blocked separately — check Site settings for "Flash" or "JavaScript" and make sure they're enabled for that site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome block popups if some websites need them?
Most popups are advertisements or scams, so Chrome blocks them by default to protect you. Legitimate sites that need popups usually tell you to allow them, or they provide an alternative way to access the same content without a popup. If a site truly needs a popup to work, allowing it for that one site keeps you protected everywhere else.
If I allow popups for a site, will I see ads?
Possibly. Allowing popups means the site can open any popup it wants, including advertisement popups. Some sites use popups only for essential functions like login windows, while others use them for ads. If you start seeing unwanted ads after allowing popups, you can remove the site from the allowed list and try a different browser or contact the site's support team.
Can I allow popups for just one page on a website instead of the whole site?
No. When you allow popups for a site, Chrome allows them for the entire domain — so allowing popups for mail.example.com is different from allowing them for example.com, but you can't allow popups for just one specific page. If you want to be more selective, allow popups temporarily by clicking "Show" instead of "Always allow".
What if I accidentally allowed popups for a site I don't trust?
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, find the site in the "Allowed" list, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove. Chrome will block popups from that site again. If the site is already opening unwanted popups, close them and then remove the site from the allowed list.