How to stop pop-ups in Google Chrome (2024)

As it stands, Google does a pretty good job of keeping pop-up windows under control in its Chrome browser. A sea of pop-up windows invading your traditional browsing experience usually indicates a problem: your default settings are in disarray.

Below we list a number of detailedmethods for preventing pop-ups in Chrome, from running malware scans to creating an exception list. The easiest way to start, though, is by making sure you have the latest version of Chrome. Navigate tochrome://settings/helpin your browser to check for any available updates, since newer builds have better pop-up blocking capabilities.

Managing pop-up blocking in the Chrome browser begins with fivebasic actions:

1. Navigate to chrome://settings/help.
2. Type 'pop' in the search bar.
3. ClickSite Settings from the list below.
4. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects.
5. Toggle the Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects option under default behavior.

Enable Google Chrome's pop-up blocking feature

1. Click onChrome's menu icon in the upper-right corner of the browser, then select "Settings" from the list below

2. Type "pop" into the Search settings field.

3. Click"SiteSettings."

4. Under Popups it should say Blocked. (If it says Allowed, click Pop-ups and redirects.)

5. Toggle the "Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects" under default behavior.

Check your approved list of sites

1. Follow steps 1 through 4above.

2. Scroll down to Allowand click on thethree dots icon.

3. Select Remove.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 as necessary.

Scan for malware

1. Google search to find and install an antivirus program such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, because it's possiblethat pop-ups aren’t coming from websites you visit. They may be originating from annoying software that’s causing a bit of trouble on your system. Download your antivirus software of choice, and install it.

2. Run a full scan of your system – preferably in Safe Mode, if you can. If you don’t find anything, try another app or two just to be sure. (Avast is another good option.)

Uninstall odd software

1. Go to your Windows Control Panel(or Settings > Apps in Windows 10 and 11).

2. Select any suspicious programs to remove. Be on the lookout for anything that looks a little… odd: Perhaps an app that you accidentally installed as a package deal alongside an app that you actually wanted; a strange game-sounding program that somehow appeared out of nowhere; or anything that just doesn’t seem quite right. If you don’t recognize (or use) an app that you have installed, you might want to consider uninstalling it – it could be the source of your pop-up problems.

Note: If you have no idea whether an installed program is “good” or not, err on the side of keeping it, lest you accidentally remove something rather critical to Windows’ healthy operation).

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