Chrome Site Notifications: Turn Them On or Off

This guide shows you how to control website notifications in Google Chrome on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook) and Android. You’ll learn how to block or allow notifications for specific sites, and how to manage the overall notification permission. No special tools are needed—just your Chrome browser.

What You’ll Need

A computer or Android device with Google Chrome installed.
The website you want to manage (you don’t need to be on it for most steps).

Step-by-Step

On Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook)

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
In the left sidebar, click Privacy and security.
Click Site settings.
Scroll down to the Permissions section and click Notifications.
You’ll see two main sections:
- Allowed to send notifications – sites that can show you notifications.
- Not allowed to send notifications – sites that are blocked.
To block a site that is currently allowed, click the three-dot menu next to that site and select Block.
To allow a site that is currently blocked, click the three-dot menu next to it and select Allow.
To remove a site entirely from the list (so it will ask again next time), click the trash icon or select Remove.

Quick Way from the Address Bar

Go to the website you want to manage.
Click the lock icon (or info icon) on the left side of the address bar.
In the dropdown, click Site settings.
Find the Notifications row and use the dropdown to select Ask, Allow, or Block.
Reload the page for the change to take effect.

On Android

Open Chrome on your Android device.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top-right.
Select Settings.
Tap Site settings (under Advanced).
Tap Notifications.
You’ll see a list of sites that have asked for permission. Tap a site to change its permission to Allow or Block.
To clear all notification permissions, tap Clear & reset at the bottom.

Common Mistakes

Mistaking “Ask” for “Allow”: If you choose “Ask,” the site will still prompt you every time you visit. To stop prompts entirely, choose “Block.”
Forgetting to reload: Changes to notification settings often only apply after you reload the page. If you don’t, the site may still show notifications until you refresh.
Blocking all notifications globally: If you use the top-level toggle “Sites can ask to send notifications” and turn it off, you won’t get any notification prompts, but you also won’t be able to allow any site unless you turn it back on. This is a blunt tool.
Confusing “Remove” with “Block”: Removing a site from the list resets it to “Ask” mode, so the site will prompt you again on your next visit. If you want to permanently stop it, use “Block.”

Tips

Use the quick address bar method when you’re already on the site—it’s faster than digging through settings.
If you’re getting too many notification prompts from a site, block it immediately—you can always change it back later.
For a clean start, periodically review your notification lists and remove sites you no longer use.
On desktop, you can also type chrome://settings/content/notifications in the address bar and press Enter to jump directly to notification settings.

Troubleshooting

I blocked a site but still get notifications.
Make sure you selected “Block” and not “Remove.” Also, close and reopen the browser, or at least reload the page. If notifications persist, the site may be using a service worker that needs to be cleared: go to the site, click the lock icon → Site settings → Clear data.

I allowed a site but don’t see notifications.
Check your system notification settings—Chrome may be silenced at the OS level. On Windows, go to Settings → System → Notifications and ensure Chrome is allowed. On macOS, go to System Preferences → Notifications and check Chrome. Also, make sure Chrome is running in the background (not fully closed).

The notification settings page is grayed out.
This can happen if Chrome is managed by your school or employer. The organization may have locked notification settings. You’ll need to contact your administrator.

I cleared all notifications but sites still ask.
That’s expected—clearing resets to “Ask,” so sites will prompt you again. To stop prompts, you need to block each site individually or turn off the global “Sites can ask” toggle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off notifications for a specific site without visiting it?

Go to Chrome Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications. Find the site in the “Allowed” list and click the three-dot menu → Block. You don’t need to visit the site.

What’s the difference between “Block” and “Remove” for notifications?

“Block” permanently prevents the site from asking or showing notifications. “Remove” deletes the site from the list, which resets it to the default “Ask” behavior—so the site will prompt you again on your next visit.

Can I allow notifications for a site but stop the sound?

Chrome doesn’t have a per-site sound toggle for notifications. The sound is controlled by your operating system’s notification settings. You can mute Chrome’s notifications entirely in your OS settings, but that affects all sites.

Why do I see a notification from a site I never allowed?

You might have clicked “Allow” accidentally when the prompt appeared. To check, go to Settings → Site settings → Notifications and look for the site in the “Allowed” list. If it’s there, block it.

Do notification settings sync across my devices?

Yes, if you’re signed into Chrome with the same Google account and have sync enabled, your notification permissions will sync across your devices. However, Android and desktop may behave slightly differently due to OS-level settings.

How do I completely disable all notification prompts in Chrome?

Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications, and toggle off “Sites can ask to send notifications.” This will block all prompts and prevent any site from asking. You can re-enable it later.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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