Chrome blocks pop-ups by default, and you can turn that off for specific sites or everywhere

Chrome's pop-up blocker stops most unsolicited windows from opening, but sometimes a legitimate website needs to open a pop-up to work — a login portal, a document viewer, a payment form, or a map. When that happens, you have two choices: turn the blocker off for just that one site, or turn it off globally. Turning it off for a single site is safer and takes 30 seconds.

The fastest way is to click the pop-up blocker icon (a circle with a line through it) in the address bar when Chrome blocks something, then choose to allow pop-ups from that domain. If you don't see the icon, the site may not have triggered the blocker, or the pop-up may have come from somewhere else on the page.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome shows a small icon in the address bar when it blocks a pop-up; click it and select "Always allow pop-ups from [site]" to unblock just that domain.
  • You can also go to Chrome Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and Redirects to manage the blocker for all sites or add exceptions.
  • Turning off the blocker for one site is safer than disabling it everywhere, because most pop-ups are ads or malware.
  • If a site claims it needs pop-ups but doesn't actually trigger the blocker, the pop-ups may be coming from ads or scripts on the page, not the site itself.

Allow pop-ups from a single site using the address bar icon

When Chrome blocks a pop-up, a small circular icon with a slash through it appears on the right side of the address bar. Click that icon to see what was blocked.

A dropdown menu will show you the number of pop-ups blocked and the domain they came from. Click "Always allow pop-ups from [domain name]" — for example, "Always allow pop-ups from example.com". Chrome will remember this choice and stop blocking pop-ups from that site in the future.

If you change your mind later, you can undo this by clicking the same icon again and selecting "Don't allow pop-ups from [domain]".

Turn off the pop-up blocker in Chrome Settings

If the address bar icon doesn't appear, or you want to manage the blocker more broadly, go to Chrome Settings. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings.

In the left sidebar, click Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and Redirects. You will see a toggle at the top that says "Blocked (recommended)". Click it to turn the toggle off, which disables the blocker for all sites.

Below that toggle, you can also see a list of sites you have already allowed or blocked. You can add a new site to the "Allow" list by clicking "Add" next to the "Allow" section and typing the domain name.

Why you should leave the blocker on for most sites

Pop-ups are one of the oldest ways malware and unwanted ads spread. Turning off the blocker everywhere exposes you to a lot of noise and risk. Most legitimate sites that need pop-ups will trigger Chrome's blocker, so you will see the address bar icon and can allow them one at a time.

If a website tells you to disable the pop-up blocker but Chrome never shows the blocked icon, the pop-ups are probably coming from ads or tracking scripts on the page, not from the site's core function. In that case, disabling the blocker won't help — you will just see more ads.

What to do if a site still won't work after you allow pop-ups

Sometimes a site needs pop-ups but Chrome's blocker is not the problem. The issue could be an ad blocker extension, JavaScript being turned off, or the site using an outdated pop-up method that Chrome no longer supports.

Try opening the site in an Incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows, Cmd+Shift+N on Mac), which disables most extensions by default. If it works there, an extension is the culprit. If it still doesn't work, the site may have a technical problem or may require a different browser.

Difference between pop-ups and pop-unders

Chrome's blocker stops both pop-ups (windows that appear on top) and pop-unders (windows that open behind your current window). Some sites use pop-unders for legitimate purposes, like opening a receipt or a help window that you can access later.

The blocker treats both the same way. If you allow pop-ups from a site, you are also allowing pop-unders from that site. There is no separate setting to allow one but not the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the pop-up blocker icon show up in the address bar?

Chrome only shows the icon when it actually blocks something. If a site opens a pop-up and you don't see the icon, Chrome did not block it — the pop-up came through. This usually means the pop-up is from an ad or script on the page, not from the site itself, and disabling the blocker won't stop it.

Can I turn off the blocker for one site without going to Settings?

Yes. Click the pop-up blocker icon in the address bar when it appears, then select "Always allow pop-ups from [site]". That is the fastest way and requires no Settings menu.

If I turn off the blocker, will it affect other browsers on my computer?

No. Chrome's settings are separate from Firefox, Edge, Safari, or any other browser. Changing the blocker in Chrome only affects Chrome.

Does turning off the pop-up blocker make my computer less secure?

Turning it off everywhere increases your exposure to unwanted pop-ups and ads, some of which could be malicious. Turning it off for one specific site is a small risk if that site is legitimate. If you are unsure about a site, leave the blocker on.