How to Disable Pop-up Blockers in Google Chrome

In the early days of the internet, malicious websites would constantly bombard users with dozens of intrusive pop-up windows, advertising everything from fake antivirus software to gambling sites. To combat this, Google Chrome includes a highly aggressive, built-in pop-up blocker that is turned on by default.

While this is excellent for security, it can sometimes be too aggressive. Many legitimate banking websites, university portals, and corporate login systems rely on pop-up windows to function correctly. If Chrome is blocking a pop-up that you actually need to see, you must manually instruct the browser to allow it.

How to Allow Pop-ups for a Specific Website

This is the safest and most highly recommended method. It allows the specific website (like your bank) to use pop-ups, while continuing to block malicious pop-ups everywhere else on the internet.

1. Navigate to the specific website in Google Chrome (e.g., mybank.com).
2. Look at the address bar at the top of the browser. To the immediate left of the website URL, click the small icon (usually a padlock or a settings slider icon).
3. A drop-down menu will appear. Click on Site settings.
4. A new Chrome settings tab will open, showing all the permissions for that specific domain.
5. Scroll down the list until you find Pop-ups and redirects.
6. Click the drop-down menu next to it and change it from “Block (default)” to Allow.
7. Close the settings tab and return to your website.
8. Click the Reload button (or press F5) for the changes to take effect.

Your bank or university portal will now be able to open new windows without Chrome instantly blocking them.

How to Disable the Pop-up Blocker Completely

If you are using a heavily restricted corporate intranet where almost every tool relies on pop-ups, and you are entirely confident that you will not be visiting the wider, public internet, you can turn off Chrome’s protection entirely.

Warning: Doing this on a personal computer that browses the public web is a significant security risk.

1. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2. Select Settings.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
4. Click on Site settings.
5. Scroll down to the “Content” section and click on Pop-ups and redirects.
6. Under the “Default behaviour” heading, select the option Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects.

The global shield is now down. Any website you visit will have full permission to launch new windows on your screen. To turn the protection back on, simply return to this menu and select “Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups.”