How to allow pop-ups on Chrome on a Mac, iPhone, and iPad

If you remember the 2000s, you’ll probably remember when pop-ups referred to those annoying ads that would bombard you every time you accessed a website. 

Since then, pop-ups have evolved in meaning and usage — I’ve found them useful for notifications and updates, and sometimes they help open a website’s internal links. That’s why Chrome’s default pop-up blocker can occasionally have the opposite intended effect.

Tired of the inconveniences? I was too, and I’ll show you how to disable pop-up blockers in Chrome and explain why you’d want to do it if you’re not already convinced.

Why disable pop-up blocker?

At its core, people usually want to turn off pop-up blockers if it's causing issues with accessibility. I've been in countless situations where I've clicked on website links meant to open up in a new window or tab, and the pop-up blocker stops me from doing so. 

Other than general accessibility, though, there are reasons why knowing how to turn off the pop-up blocker on Chrome is useful:

• Prevent intrusive or misleading ads: Even though pop-up ads are less common now, they can still appear occasionally. Disabling a full blocker will let you be more in control of how to manage pop-ups and redirects for a specific site, as you can choose which websites allow them instead. For more information, read the article on how to block pop-up ads on Chrome.
• Avoid missing out on valuable information: Having a pop-up blocker turned on at all times might mean missing out on promotional content, useful discounts, or even important information that can cost you in more ways than one.
• Get access to all of a website’s features: Pop-up blockers can prevent you from using certain features like live chat or filling out forms that open in another window or tab. Without turning pop-up blockers off, there's typically no way you can access them.

The good news is that you don't necessarily have to use Google Chrome's native blocker. There are plenty of other options out there that could suit your needs much better.

If you prefer to have more complex permissions and only block certain things during your browsing experience, or if you'd like your tool to have other purposes, AdLock can cater to these needs with a more robust solution.

My favorite part of AdLock is that it gives me fine-tuned control over everything related to pop-ups. It’ll block components like banner ads and autoplay videos (where is that music coming from?), but in a flexible manner where you can set the exact blocking rules you want. 

AdLock can also effectively protect your data and privacy by hiding your browser settings from advertisers and protecting yourself against phishing and scammers.

How to disable and enable pop-ups on Chrome

Chrome typically has pop-ups blocked by default, but if you’ve noticed that this feature isn’t turned on, you can simply go to your Chrome settings on any device to fix that.

How to turn off pop-up blocker on Mac on Chrome

On a Mac? Follow these steps to turn off your pop-up blocker:

1. Open a Chrome browser.
2. Click on Chrome in the menu bar and choose Settings.
3. Click Privacy and Security > Site Settings.
4. Click Pop-ups and redirects.
5. Select Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects.

   

Below those basic settings, you can also go more granular and add custom settings for certain sites you want to allow pop-ups and redirects on and ones you don’t.

Want to learn more about how you can use private browsing to stop web trackers? Here’s an article just for you.

How to unblock pop-ups on Chrome on iOS

Using an iPhone or iPad? You’ll need to follow these steps then:

1. Open up the Chrome app.
2. Tap the three dots in the bottom right-hand corner.
3. Swipe left on the modules and tap Settings.
4. Tap Content Settings.
5. Tap Block Pop-ups and make sure it’s turned off.

   

Unlike the web browser version, the Chrome mobile app doesn’t let you adjust pop-up settings further than that.

Wrapping up: There are plenty of reasons to disable and enable pop-ups on Chrome

Unblocking pop-ups ain’t so bad after all — at least on the sites we trust. Navigating pop-ups using built-in ad blockers and third-party pop-up blocking tools like AdLock has become part of the internet experience, much like how keeping an eye on our online safety with ClearVPN is.

These two apps and dozens of other iOS and macOS apps are available to access through a 7-day Setapp subscription trial. With so much to discover there, you might even find new favorites for other purposes like productivity and organization.