Website notifications can be useful for messages and updates, but unwanted notifications can quickly become distracting.
Open Chrome notification settings
Chrome lets you control which websites can request or send notifications.
Open Chrome’s Settings and find the privacy or site settings section, then locate Notifications.
The exact wording can change between Chrome versions.
Block unwanted sites
Review sites that have notification permission.
Remove or block permissions for websites you no longer want to hear from.
You can also change the default behavior so websites cannot freely send notifications without your permission.
Do not confuse notifications with pop-ups
Browser notifications are different from pop-up windows.
If a site opens new windows or tabs, check Chrome’s pop-up and redirect settings separately.
Be careful with suspicious permission requests
A website asking you to allow notifications is not automatically trustworthy.
Be especially cautious when the site uses urgent messages or misleading buttons to persuade you to click Allow.
Keep useful notifications
You do not need to disable every website notification.
Keep permissions for services that genuinely provide useful updates, and remove everything else.
Check extensions too
Some unwanted browser behavior can come from extensions rather than website notification permissions.
Review installed extensions and remove ones you no longer recognize or need.
For more ways to declutter your browsing experience, see how to make Google Chrome use less RAM and how to turn off autoplay videos in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop Chrome notifications?
Open Chrome’s site notification settings and block or remove permission for unwanted websites.
Will blocking notifications stop a website from working?
Usually, blocking notifications only prevents that site’s push alerts. The website itself can still be visited normally.
Why do random websites send notifications?
At some point, permission may have been granted to a site. Review Chrome’s notification permissions to revoke it.
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