How to Turn Off Notifications on a Chromebook

Because Chromebooks are essentially just Google Chrome laptops, they handle notifications exactly like a web browser. Every time you log into a new news website, social media platform, or web app, the site asks for permission to send you notifications. If you blindly click “Allow,” your Chromebook screen will soon be bombarded with annoying pop-ups in the bottom right corner, distracting you while you try to work.

Fortunately, Chrome OS provides highly granular controls. You can mute the entire computer instantly for a meeting, or you can dive into the settings and permanently revoke notification privileges from specific, spammy websites.

Method 1: Do Not Disturb (The Instant Mute)

If you are about to share your screen in a meeting or just need an hour of focused writing, you can instantly silence all incoming notifications without permanently changing any deep settings.

1. Look at the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen. Click on the time or battery icon to open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Look for the icon that resembles a circle with a horizontal line through it (like a “Do Not Enter” traffic sign). This is the Do Not Disturb button.
3. Click the icon. It will turn blue.

While this is active, no pop-ups will appear on your screen and no notification sounds will play. They will be silently collected in your notification tray for you to review later. To turn notifications back on, simply click the icon again.

Method 2: Blocking Notifications from Specific Websites

If a specific website (like Facebook or a news blog) is constantly sending you annoying alerts, Do Not Disturb won’t fix the root problem. You must revoke that website’s permission to notify you.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your Chromebook.
2. Click the three vertical dots (the menu) in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
4. In the middle of the screen, click on Site settings.
5. Scroll down to the “Permissions” section and click on Notifications.

You are now looking at the master list of every website that has requested permission to notify you. Scroll down to the section labeled Allowed to send notifications.

6. Find the annoying website in the list (e.g., https://www.spam-news.com).
7. Click the three vertical dots next to that specific website.
8. Select Block from the dropdown menu (or select ‘Remove’ if you just want it to ask you again next time you visit).

That website can never send a pop-up to your Chromebook again.

Method 3: Stop Websites from Asking Entirely

If you are tired of every single website you visit displaying a pop-up that says “This site wants to show notifications,” you can turn off the prompt system-wide.

1. Navigate back to the exact same Notifications menu as Method 2 (Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications).
2. Look at the very top of the page under “Default behavior.”
3. Select the radio button next to “Don’t allow sites to send notifications.”

Now, Chrome will automatically deny the request in the background. You will never see a prompt, and you will never accidentally subscribe to a website’s notifications again.