Chrome blocks pop-ups by default. When one gets stopped, a small “Pop-up blocked” notice appears in the address bar. That protection usually helps, but some sites need pop-ups to function at all. Banking portals, document viewers, and booking systems are the usual suspects. Here’s how to disable pop up blockers in Chrome on desktop, Android, and iPhone, plus what to do when pop-ups keep showing anyway.
How to Disable Pop Up Blockers in Chrome on Desktop
Open Chrome on your computer and click the three-dot menu at the top right. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects.
You’ll see two options under Default behavior. Select “Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects” to turn off the pop up blocker completely. Every site can now open pop-up windows.
A full disable is rarely the smart move, though. The better option is keeping the blocker on and adding exceptions for the sites that actually need pop-ups.
Allow Pop-Ups From One Site Instead of Turning the Blocker Off
On the same Pop-ups and redirects page, scroll to “Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects” and click Add. Type the site address and confirm. To cover every subdomain, use the pattern [*.]example.com.
Even quicker: when Chrome blocks a pop-up on a page you’re viewing, click the “Pop-up blocked” icon in the address bar and select “Always allow pop-ups from this site.”
These steps work the same on a Chromebook, since ChromeOS uses the standard Chrome browser. If you manage your browser with add-ons, this walkthrough on adding Chrome extensions covers permissions worth reviewing alongside pop-up settings.
How to Disable Pop Up Blockers on Android
Open Chrome on your Android phone or tablet. Tap the three-dot menu next to the address bar, then Settings, then Site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle it off to allow pop-ups on every site.
Already on a page where something got blocked? Skip the settings entirely. Tap “Always show” at the bottom of the screen and Chrome adds that site to your allowed list.
Chrome for Android doesn’t support extensions, so the built-in blocker is what you get. There are workarounds through other browsers, which this guide to Chrome extensions on Android explains in detail.
How to Turn Off the Pop Up Blocker on iPhone and iPad
Open the Chrome app on your iOS device. Tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Content Settings, then Block Pop-ups. Move the toggle off.
As on Android, tapping “Always show” under a “Pop-ups blocked” message handles a single site without changing the global setting.
Stuck with a dialogue box that refuses to close? Switch the phone to airplane mode, close Chrome fully, then reopen it. The loop breaks without giving the site further access.
Pop-Up Blocker Settings by Platform
| Platform | Path to setting |
|---|---|
| Desktop / Chromebook | Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects |
| Android | Settings → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects |
| iPhone / iPad | Settings → Content Settings → Block Pop-ups |
Still Seeing Pop-Ups After You Disable the Blocker?
Two causes come up again and again. The first is notifications. If you once agreed to receive alerts from a site, those keep arriving no matter what the pop-up setting says, because notifications and pop-ups are separate systems.
To stop them, visit the site, click the padlock or info icon in the address bar, find Notifications, and set it to Block. Chrome also strips notification permissions from sites you haven’t visited in a while. Removed permissions show up under Settings → Privacy and security → Safety Check if you ever want them back.
The second cause is malware. Pop-ups that appear across many sites, even after you’ve changed every setting, point to unwanted software on the device. Rogue extensions are the most common source. Reviewing your installed add-ons against a list of trusted Chrome extensions helps you spot anything that doesn’t belong.
ChromeOS users have a few extra recovery options, from extension cleanup to a full Powerwash. This guide on removing malware from a Chromebook walks through each step, and there’s a separate breakdown of how to scan for viruses on ChromeOS if you want to run a check first.
Why You Can’t Change Pop Up Blocker Settings on a Work Device
On a managed work or school device, the pop-up setting may be locked. Your network administrator controls it, and the toggle stays greyed out for you. Contact whoever runs your organization’s Chrome deployment if a specific site needs an exception.
Site owners face a related issue. If Chrome flags pop-ups on a site you run, check the Abusive Experience Report in Google Search Console. It lists what Chrome objected to and what needs fixing before the warnings stop.
FAQs
How do I disable the pop up blocker in Chrome?
Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, then Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Select “Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects” to disable the blocker.
How do I allow pop-ups for just one website?
Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Under “Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects,” click Add and enter the site address.
Why do pop-ups still appear after I turned off the blocker?
You likely subscribed to site notifications, which the pop-up blocker doesn’t control, or malware is generating them. Block notifications through the padlock icon, or scan the device for unwanted software.
How do I disable the pop up blocker in Chrome on iPhone?
Open the Chrome app, tap the three-dot menu, then Settings → Content Settings → Block Pop-ups. Turn the toggle off to allow pop-ups on all sites.
Why can’t I change the pop-up setting in Chrome?
The device is managed by a work or school organization. Administrators lock the setting through policy, so only they can change it or add exceptions for specific sites.
