How to Turn Off Notifications in Google Chrome

One of the most frustrating aspects of the modern web is the endless barrage of pop-ups demanding your attention. Almost every news site, blog, and online store you visit will instantly hit you with a small window asking, “Website.com wants to Show Notifications.”

If you accidentally click “Allow,” that website gains the power to send push notifications directly to your computer desktop, even when you aren’t actively browsing their site. This can lead to a constant stream of distracting chimes and pop-up advertisements interrupting your workflow.

Fortunately, Google Chrome gives you the power to revoke these permissions for specific websites, or completely disable the notification prompt so you never have to click “Block” again.

Method 1: Stop a Specific Website from Sending Notifications

If you are currently receiving annoying notifications from one specific website (like a news outlet or a tech blog), you can revoke their permission in seconds.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
5. In the main window, click on Site Settings.
6. Scroll down to the “Permissions” section and click on Notifications.
7. Scroll down to the section labelled Allowed to send notifications. You will see a list of every website you have ever accidentally granted permission to.
8. Find the offending website in the list. Click the three vertical dots next to its name.
9. Select Remove (which deletes the site from the list) or Block (which permanently bans the site from ever asking again).

Method 2: Silence All Notification Prompts Permanently

If you are tired of clicking “Block” every time you visit a new webpage, you can change a single setting in Chrome that acts as a universal silencer. This forces Chrome to automatically reject every notification request on your behalf.

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

From this moment on, you will never see a “Website wants to Show Notifications” pop-up ever again. You can browse the web in peace.

The Compromise: Use Quieter Messaging

What if you want notifications from a few important sites (like your webmail or a calendar app), but you still hate the intrusive pop-ups?

Chrome offers a brilliant middle-ground setting called “Quieter Messaging.”

1. On the same Notifications settings page, look under the “Default behavior” section.
2. Select the radial button next to Sites can ask to send notifications.
3. Directly beneath that, check the box labelled Use quieter messaging (blocks notification prompts from interrupting you).

When this setting is active, websites are still allowed to ask for permission, but they cannot show you a pop-up window. Instead, a tiny, silent bell icon will appear in your address bar (next to the bookmark star) with a small line through it. If you actually want notifications from that site, you can click the bell and manually grant permission. If you don’t, you can completely ignore it and continue browsing uninterrupted.