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You are here: Home / Tutorials / How to Allow Certain Pop Ups With Google Chrome

How to Allow Certain Pop Ups With Google Chrome

Last Updated on 26-Mar-2018 by Anne Hennegar

Many of us have been conditioned to block pop-ups in our web browsers. I do this because most of them are intrusive and hinder me from reading. The problem is sometimes you need pop-ups as they are part of the site. This happened to me when I was going through an online course. Fortunately, Google has a way to selectively allow pop-ups in these cases.

The problem started when I went to take an online test on javascript. This course has both a written component and an online test area. Sure enough, when I went to the test area, I saw the error below.

blocked pop-up warning

Warning about pop-ups being disabled

Since I don’t use pop-up blockers, I figured there were two possibilities for this alert.

  • The Ghostery extension blocked the popups.
  • It was my Google Chrome settings.

I quickly ruled out Ghostery, which left my Chrome settings. As it turns out, blocking pop-ups is a recommended setting in Chrome.

How to Check Your Google Chrome Content Settings

  1. Type chrome://settings/content in Chrome’s address bar. This flag is a shortcut.
  2. The Content settings dialog will open.
  3. Scroll down till you see Pop-ups.
Chrome radio button settings for popups

Chrome’s Content Settings section

As you can see, the initial selections are either Allow or Do not allow. While I could change my option to the other radio button, I wanted something in-between. I wanted to allow popups for the lesson site – asmarterwaytolearn.com. That’s where Manage exceptions comes into play.

Method 1: Managing the Exceptions with Browser Icon

There are actually 2 ways to manage the exceptions, but one is a subtle hint. If I had looked over to the far right on my address bar, I would’ve seen my screen briefly flash a message. It also left a clue. Notice the new icon next to my star Bookmark icon.

blocked pop-up icon

Browser hint for blocked pop-up

If I click this icon, I get another dialog with 3 options.

Chrome Pop-up options

Quick Pop-up options for domain

  • I can click to allow this domain
  • I can keep my default option
  • I can Manage pop-up blocking.

Clicking option 1 would’ve allowed me to continue with my online course. Interestingly, Chrome is smart enough to know that I was using an Incognito session. This option will only apply when I use that option. Chrome also applied :80 to the end which I’m guessing represents the port number.

Incognito pop-up settings

Chrome separates out Incognito sessions

Method 2: Creating Pop-up Exceptions

  1. In your browser type chrome://settings/contentExceptions#popups
  2. You should see the Pop-up exceptions panel that looks similar to the following.
  3. Adding a domain

    Adding a domain and behavior

  4. Note the [*.] before the example domain. This wildcard pattern would allow any subdomain on the site to also work. I tend to include it.
  5. Click within the Hostname pattern text box (A) and type the domain you want to allow. The [*.]example.com will disappear. You can also type an IP address.
  6. Entering the exception

    Entering the exception

  7. Set your Behavior (B) to Allow.
  8. Click the Done button at the bottom.
  9. Open a new browser tab and test the domain you entered.

Once an item is entered, you can either remove it by clicking the X next to the entry or changing the Behavior from Allow to Block.

Filed Under: Google, Tutorials




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