Chrome blocks pop-ups by default, but you can allow them for specific websites

Chrome automatically blocks most pop-ups to protect you from unwanted ads and malicious content. However, some legitimate websites need pop-ups to work properly — banking sites, online tools, document editors, and customer service chat windows often rely on them. If a site you trust isn't working because of blocked pop-ups, you can allow them for that specific site without opening yourself to every pop-up on the internet.

The fastest way is to click the pop-up blocker icon that appears in your address bar when Chrome blocks a pop-up, then select "Always allow pop-ups on [website name]". If you don't see that icon, you can also change the setting through Chrome's full settings menu. Either way takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears in your address bar — click it and choose "Always allow pop-ups on [website]" to unblock that site permanently.
  • You can also allow pop-ups through Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, where you'll see a list of all sites you've already allowed.
  • Allowing pop-ups for one website does not affect other websites — each site has its own setting.
  • If you change your mind, you can block pop-ups again for any site by going back to the same settings menu and removing it from the allowed list.

Allow pop-ups using the address bar icon

When a website tries to open a pop-up and Chrome blocks it, a small icon appears to the right of the address bar. The icon looks like a speech bubble with a slash through it, or sometimes shows as a small red circle with a number indicating how many pop-ups were blocked.

Click that icon. A dropdown menu will appear showing the blocked pop-ups. At the top of the menu, you'll see "Always allow pop-ups on [website name]" — click that option. Chrome will when ready allow pop-ups from that site going forward, and the blocked pop-up will usually open right away.

This method is the quickest because the icon only appears when Chrome actually blocks something, so you know you're on a site that needs pop-ups. You don't have to hunt through settings menus.

Allow pop-ups through Chrome settings

If you don't see the pop-up blocker icon, or if you want to manage your pop-up settings in one place, you can change them through Chrome's full settings menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "Settings".

In the left sidebar, click "Privacy and security", then click "Site settings". Scroll down until you see "Pop-ups and redirects" and click it. At the top, you'll see a toggle for the default setting — this should stay on "Blocked" to protect you from unwanted pop-ups. Below that, you'll see two sections: "Allowed" (sites where you've turned pop-ups on) and "Blocked" (sites where you've specifically turned them off).

To add a new site, click "Add" next to the "Allowed" section. Type the website address — for example, "bankofamerica.com" or "zoom.us" — and click "Add". Chrome will now allow pop-ups from that site.

Remove a website from your pop-up allow list

If you allowed pop-ups for a site and later want to block them again, go back to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Find the website in the "Allowed" section, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove".

You can also click the X button next to the site name if one appears. After you remove it, Chrome will go back to blocking pop-ups from that website.

Tell the difference between legitimate pop-ups and ads

Not every pop-up that appears is something the website actually needs. Some sites try to trick you into allowing pop-ups so they can show you ads. Before you allow pop-ups for a site, think about whether that site would actually need them.

Banking sites, video conferencing tools, online document editors, and customer service chat windows genuinely use pop-ups. News websites, shopping sites, and entertainment sites usually do not — if they're asking for pop-up permission, they probably want to show you ads. You can safely block pop-ups on those sites and use them normally.

If you're not sure whether a site needs pop-ups, try using it without allowing them first. If something doesn't work, then you know pop-ups are required.

What to do if allowing pop-ups doesn't fix the problem

Sometimes a website still won't work even after you allow pop-ups. This usually means the site needs a different permission — perhaps access to your camera, microphone, or location — or it has a technical problem that isn't related to pop-ups.

Check the address bar again for other icons. You might see a camera icon, microphone icon, or location icon if the site is asking for those permissions. Click those icons and allow the permission if you trust the site.

If you don't see any other icons and the site still doesn't work, the problem is likely on the website's end, not Chrome's. Try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or contacting the website's support team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I allow pop-ups for just one page on a website, not the whole site?

No. When you allow pop-ups, you're allowing them for the entire website — all pages under that domain. Chrome doesn't have a setting to allow pop-ups for just one specific page. If you want to block pop-ups again later, you'll have to remove the entire site from your allowed list.

Will allowing pop-ups on one site affect other websites?

No. Each website has its own pop-up setting. Allowing pop-ups on your bank's website does not change the pop-up setting on any other site. Chrome treats every domain separately.

What if a website keeps trying to open too many pop-ups even after I allowed them?

Chrome still limits how many pop-ups a site can open at once, even after you allow them. If a site is opening an excessive number of pop-ups, it may be malicious or poorly designed. You can remove it from your allowed list and block pop-ups again by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and clicking the X next to the site name.

Do I need to allow pop-ups on mobile Chrome?

Mobile Chrome works the same way as desktop Chrome. If a site tries to open a pop-up, Chrome blocks it by default. You can allow pop-ups by tapping the address bar icon or by going to Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups. The steps are the same, just adapted for a smaller screen.