Stop Chrome Notifications & Other Annoyances

This guide walks you through silencing intrusive website notifications and taming other common Chrome annoyances like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and intrusive permission prompts. You’ll learn where the controls live in current desktop versions of Chrome (Windows, Mac, and Linux), and how to apply them site-by-site or globally.

What You’ll Need

• A desktop version of Google Chrome (the steps are identical on Windows, Mac, and Linux).
• About five minutes. Most changes take effect immediately.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Chrome’s main settings. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser window (the “Customize and control Google Chrome” menu), then select Settings from the drop-down.
2. Go to Privacy and Security. In the left sidebar of the Settings tab, click Privacy and security. On the page that opens, click Site settings. This is the control center for all website permissions.
3. Block notifications globally. In the Site settings list, find and click Notifications. At the top of the page, under “Default behavior,” select Don’t allow sites to send notifications. This stops every new site from asking permission. Sites you previously allowed will still be able to notify you until you remove them (next step).
4. Remove existing notification permissions. Still on the Notifications page, scroll to the “Allowed to send notifications” section. Click the three-dot menu to the right of any site you no longer want to hear from, then select Remove. To block a site that’s already on the list, click the three-dot menu and choose Block instead.
5. Block pop-ups and redirects. Go back to the main Site settings list and click Pop-ups and redirects. Select Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects. This is the default, but it’s worth confirming it hasn’t been changed. Sites that need pop-ups (like your bank’s login) will prompt you to allow them on a case-by-case basis.
6. Stop autoplaying videos. In the Site settings list, click Additional content settings, then Sound. Here you can choose Don’t allow sites to play sound. This mutes autoplaying videos with audio. To also prevent video from playing at all, you’ll need a site-specific block: visit the noisy site, click the lock icon in the address bar, go to Site settings, find “Sound,” and set it to Block. There is no global “block all video” toggle in Chrome.
7. Reduce other permission prompts. Back in Site settings, review Location, Camera, Microphone, and Motion sensors. For each, select Don’t allow to stop sites from asking. You can still grant access to specific trusted sites later by clicking the lock icon in the address bar and adjusting that site’s permissions.
8. Silence intrusive extension pop-ups. If you see pop-ups or banners that aren’t from the website itself, they’re likely from a browser extension. Click the puzzle piece icon in the top-right toolbar to see your extensions. Click the three-dot menu next to a suspicious extension and choose Remove to delete it. For extensions you want to keep, click Details and toggle off “Site access” options to limit where it can run.
9. Reset a single annoying site. If one specific site is still misbehaving, click the lock icon in the address bar while on that site, then click Site settings. At the bottom of the page, click Reset permissions. This clears all permissions you’ve granted that site, returning it to the default behavior you set in the steps above.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking notifications globally but forgetting old permissions. The global “Don’t allow” only affects future requests. Sites you already clicked “Allow” for remain on the allowed list until you manually remove them (Step 4).
• Clicking “Allow” out of habit. When a site asks for notification permission, the buttons are often styled to make “Allow” look like the safe choice. Always read the prompt. If you’re not sure, click “Block” — you can always change it later.
• Mistaking extension pop-ups for website pop-ups. Blocking pop-ups in Site settings won’t stop pop-ups generated by your installed extensions. Those are controlled separately in the extension’s own options.
• Using “Sound” blocking as a video blocker. The global sound setting mutes audio but the video still plays. If you want to prevent video playback entirely, you must do it per-site via the lock icon.

Tips

• Use the lock icon for quick changes. When you’re on a site that’s annoying you, the lock icon in the address bar is the fastest way to adjust that site’s permissions without digging through Settings.
• Allow notifications for sites you actually need. For email, calendar, or messaging apps, you can re-enable notifications after the global block. Visit the site, click the lock icon, go to Site settings, and set Notifications to “Ask” or “Allow.”
• Set a default for pop-ups. If you use a site that legitimately needs pop-ups (like a payment portal), you can add it to the “Allowed to send pop-ups” list in Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
• Keep your extensions lean. The fewer extensions you have, the fewer pop-ups, toolbars, and permission prompts you’ll see. Review your extensions every few months and remove ones you don’t use.
• Use Chrome’s “Block all” for a site that keeps asking. If a site repeatedly asks for permission even after you’ve blocked it, click the lock icon, go to Site settings, and set the specific permission to “Block” rather than “Ask.”

Troubleshooting

• You still get notifications after following the steps. First, check that you removed the site from the “Allowed to send notifications” list (Step 4). If it’s not there, the notification might be coming from a different browser or from a web app installed via Chrome’s “Install page as app” feature. Open chrome://apps, find the app, right-click it, and select “Uninstall” or check its own settings.
• Pop-ups still appear. Confirm the global block is set in Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. If it is, the pop-ups are likely from an extension. Disable all extensions (chrome://extensions, toggle each off) and see if the pop-ups stop. Re-enable them one by one to find the culprit.
• Videos still autoplay with sound. The global sound setting blocks audio, but some sites use a workaround. Try the per-site block via the lock icon. If that fails, the site might be using a video player that ignores Chrome’s setting — in that case, use the site’s own mute button.
• Settings keep reverting. If your changes don’t stick, your Chrome profile may be corrupted or managed by an organization. Check chrome://settings/manageProfile to see if “Managed by your organization” is shown. If so, your admin has set policies that override your choices.
• You can’t find a setting. Use the search bar at the top of the Settings page. Type “notifications,” “pop-ups,” or “sound” and Chrome will jump to the relevant section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will blocking notifications break websites?
A: No. Notifications are purely optional. Websites will still function normally; they just won’t be able to send you push messages.

Q: How do I allow notifications for one site after blocking them all?
A: Visit the site, click the lock icon in the address bar, click “Site settings,” and next to “Notifications,” select “Ask” or “Allow.” You’ll be prompted again on your next visit.

Q: Can I block notifications on my phone too?
A: Yes, but the steps differ. On Android, go to Chrome’s three-dot menu > Settings > Site settings > Notifications. On iOS, go to Settings > Chrome > Notifications.

Q: Why do I still see “Allow notifications” prompts after blocking?
A: The global block stops prompts from appearing. If you still see them, you’re likely using a different browser or an incognito window that has its own settings. Check that you’re in regular Chrome and that the setting is saved.

Q: What’s the difference between “Block” and “Remove” for a site’s notifications?
A: “Remove” deletes the site from your allowed list entirely, so it will ask again next time if you’ve set the default to “Ask.” “Block” adds the site to a permanent blocklist, so it will never ask again.

Q: Does clearing my browser history reset these settings?
A: No. Clearing browsing data does not reset site permissions. To reset permissions, you must do so manually in Site settings or use “Reset permissions” for an individual site.

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