The Missing Windows
Google Chrome features an aggressive, built-in pop-up blocker designed to protect you from malicious advertisements and spam websites. By default, Chrome automatically blocks any website script that tries to open a new window without your direct click. While excellent for security, this breaks many legitimate enterprise tools. If you use a banking website to generate a PDF statement, a university portal to open an exam window, or an internal corporate dashboard that relies on pop-up dialog boxes, Chrome will silently block the action, leaving you confused as to why clicking a button does nothing.
How to Disable the Global Pop-Up Blocker
If you prefer to handle pop-ups yourself or use a dedicated ad-blocking extension instead of Chrome’s native tool, you can disable the blocker globally for all websites.
1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Select Settings.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
5. In the main pane, click on Site settings.
6. Scroll all the way down to the “Content” section and click on Pop-ups and redirects.
7. Under “Default behavior,” select the radio button labelled Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects.
How to Allow Pop-Ups for a Single Website
Disabling the blocker globally exposes you to massive amounts of spam on the wider internet. The safer, better approach is to leave the global blocker on, but create a specific exception for your banking or school website.
1. Navigate to the website that requires pop-ups (e.g., your bank portal).
2. Look at the very left edge of the URL address bar and click the small View site information icon (it looks like a padlock or a slider toggle).
3. Click on Site settings in the drop-down menu.
4. A new tab will open showing the specific permissions for that exact website.
5. Find Pop-ups and redirects in the list.
6. Click the dropdown menu next to it and change it from “Block (default)” to Allow.
7. Close the Settings tab and refresh your bank website. Your pop-ups will now work perfectly.