To block ads in Chrome, use built-in site controls, enable intrusive ad filtering, and add a reputable content blocker for stronger protection.
Hate cluttered pages and noisy banners? You can reduce them to a minimum on Google’s browser with a few smart moves. This guide shows fast wins, deeper tweaks, and safe practices that keep pages quick and calm—on desktop and phone.
Fast Answer: What Works Right Now
Here’s the playbook that works for most people today. Start at the top and go as far as you need.
- Turn on Chrome’s pop-up and redirect blocking.
- Switch the built-in “intrusive ads” control to block where needed.
- Install a trusted content blocker and enable strong filter lists.
- Tighten tracking and ad personalisation settings on your Google account.
- Clean up sites that still misbehave using per-site permissions.
- On phones, repeat the same ideas in the mobile menus; add a DNS-level blocker if needed.
Methods Compared: What Each Option Does
| Method | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-Up And Redirect Blocker | Stops new windows/tabs and forced jumps. | Spammy pop-ups and fake “system alerts.” |
| “Intrusive Ads” Setting | Limits ad formats tested as annoying. | Cleaner layouts with light effort. |
| Content Blocker Extension | Filters ad/track domains and page elements. | Broad blocking across most sites. |
| Ad Personalisation Controls | Reduces interest-based targeting. | Fewer tailored ads across Google surfaces. |
| Per-Site Permissions | Overrides settings for one domain. | Fixing a stubborn site without changing global rules. |
| DNS-Level Filtering | Blocks ad hosts before the page loads. | Whole-device blocking, including mobile apps. |
Blocking Ads On Chrome: Built-In Settings That Matter
Google’s browser ships with a few switches that cut a big slice of noise. They live in the privacy and site menus. They’re fast, light, and safe to try first.
Stop Pop-Ups And Redirects
Desktop: three clicks. Open Settings → Privacy & security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Set it to Blocked. When a site needs a pop-up for a legit task—bank login, file picker—Chrome shows a small icon in the address bar so you can allow it once.
Block Intrusive Formats
Chrome can reduce ad types that research has flagged as distracting—things like auto-play audio or sticky units that hog the screen. Head to Settings → Privacy & security → Site settings → Additional content settings → Intrusive ads, and set it to block for the sites that cross the line. You can also adjust this per site from the lock icon in the address bar.
Use Per-Site Controls When A Page Misbehaves
Click the lock icon next to the URL, open Site settings, and set Pop-ups and Ads to Block for that domain. This leaves your global setup alone and fixes the one offender.
Add A Trusted Content Blocker
Extensions filter requests and hide ad elements that the base browser misses. Pick a well-maintained blocker, enable strong lists, and keep it lean so pages stay fast.
Choose The Right Build
The extension world has two styles on this browser today: full rules engines built for older specs, and newer builds that fit the current extension model. If the full engine gets disabled on your install, use its lighter sibling that’s designed for the current rules. It runs with fewer hooks but still helps on most sites.
Enable Quality Filter Lists
Once installed, open the blocker’s dashboard. Turn on the core lists for display ads and trackers, and add regional lists if you read sites in other languages. Keep the count sensible; tons of overlapping lists don’t always help and can slow things down.
Troubleshoot A Broken Page
- Hit refresh first; some pages rebuild after the first pass.
- Temporarily disable cosmetic filters on that tab to test layout issues.
- Use the picker to hide one element instead of turning the blocker off for the entire site.
Tighten Tracking And Ad Personalisation
You’ll still see ads on many sites. You can blunt the targeting that follows you around the web by adjusting your account settings. Visit your Google ad privacy controls and switch off topics you don’t want, limit data sources, or turn off ad personalisation entirely. You’ll still see ads, but they’ll match your browsing less.
Open this page in a new tab: Ad controls and personalisation. Make changes while signed in so they stick across devices.
Clean Up Malicious Pop-Ups And Redirects
Some pop-ups come from a shady extension or a hijacked setting. If you see new tabs or fake alerts every session, scan the browser and reset the sketchy parts.
Run Through A Quick Health Check
- Incognito test: open a private window and visit the same site. If the junk stops, an extension is likely the cause.
- Disable extensions in batches: turn off half, test, then narrow down the culprit.
- Reset site permissions: Settings → Privacy & security → Site settings → Clear permissions for the noisy site.
- Restore defaults if needed: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults.
Use Chrome’s Built-In Cleanup Path
There’s a help flow that walks through removing adware, turning off pop-ups, and locking down site settings. You can work through it and confirm the toggles without extra tools.
See the official steps here: Remove unwanted ads and pop-ups. Open it in a new tab, keep this guide side-by-side, and apply the fixes that match your symptoms.
Balance Blocking With Sites You Like
Many publishers rely on display revenue. If a site loads fast, keeps layouts tidy, and respects privacy, you can allow ads for that one domain while keeping strict rules for the rest.
Whitelist A Site You Trust
- Click your blocker’s icon.
- Toggle “pause on this site” or add the domain to the allow list.
- Reload to let the page rebuild.
Still seeing a flood of interrupts? Keep the block on. The Better Ads Standards were built to define ad formats that people accept; if a site ignores them, it’s fine to protect your screen.
Make Pages Faster While You’re At It
Blocking reduces network noise, which can shave seconds off loads, especially on heavy pages. Pair that with a few browser tweaks and you’ll feel the speed bump.
Speed Tips That Pair Well With Blocking
- Remove deadweight: ditch old extensions that you don’t use.
- Use Reader-style views where offered: many sites ship a clean reading mode.
- Try DNS filtering on the router or device: services like NextDNS or AdGuard DNS can filter ad hosts before the page even loads.
- Use hardware acceleration: keep it on unless your GPU driver is buggy.
Common Problems And Quick Fixes
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| New tabs open by themselves | Rogue extension or site permission | Incognito test → disable extensions → reset site permissions |
| Video player won’t start | Over-blocking a needed script | Temporarily disable cosmetic rules or allow the player domain |
| “Allow notifications” nags on every visit | Site asks for permission each time | Block notifications in site settings for that domain |
| Layout looks broken | Hidden ad slot collapses a container | Use element picker to hide only the wrapper; reload |
| Blocking stopped on a few sites | Extension change or ruleset gap | Update lists or switch to a maintained build that matches this browser |
| Phone still shows lots of promos | App-level ads and in-app browsers | Use DNS filtering and open links in the main browser |
Private Browsing And Cookie Rules
Private windows cut stored data, which lowers the chance of sticky banners that target your past visits. Pair that with tougher cookie rules—block third-party cookies where your sites still work—and you’ll see fewer retargeting units and fewer sticky trackers across tabs.
Mobile Setup: Android And iPhone
Android Steps
- Open Settings in the mobile browser.
- Tap Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects → set to Blocked.
- Tap Ads (or Intrusive ads) and block for sites that go overboard.
- Use a lightweight blocker that supports the mobile engine, or add a DNS-level filter for the whole device.
iPhone Tips
Mobile Chrome on iOS uses the system web engine. You can still cut a lot of noise by pairing it with a DNS-level filter on the phone or network. If a page breaks, add that domain to your allow list, reload, and keep the filter on for the rest of the web.
When To Use Allow Lists, And When Not To
Allow a site when it keeps pages light, respects your time, and makes ads easy to close. Don’t allow when banners block the content, autoplay shouts over your audio, or pages inject pop-unders. Your screen is not a billboard. Keep your rules firm.
Good Citizenship: Support The Open Web Without The Clutter
People don’t hate the concept of advertising; they hate clutter, bait-and-switch design, and pages that feel like mazes. Clean formats fund writers while letting readers breathe. If you run a site yourself, build to widely accepted standards and keep layouts clean. That earns trust—and fewer users reach for a blocker.
Step-By-Step: A Clean Setup You Can Finish In Ten Minutes
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Site settings → Pop-ups and redirects → set to Blocked.
- Go to Additional content settings → Intrusive ads → set offending sites to block.
- Install a respected blocker that’s maintained for this browser release, then enable core lists for ads and trackers.
- Visit your Google ad privacy page and switch off topics you don’t want, or turn off personalisation.
- Pick two or three sites you value and put them on your allow list.
What About “Acceptable Ads” Programs?
Some tools run with allow lists that let through certain formats. That can be fine if the rules are strict and transparent. If you see too many banners sneaking through, disable the program in the extension panel and rely on your own allow list instead. You stay in control.
How To Stay Sane When Sites Change
Rules evolve. An extension may update to match a new browser spec, or a list may change. Keep a simple routine: update your blocker monthly, refresh lists weekly, and check the options panel if you notice a sudden spike in banners. If a tool gets retired on this browser, install the build made for the current spec.
A Note On Standards And Respectful Formats
The ad industry publishes research on formats that people accept and formats that push them away. Sites that follow those standards usually feel calmer. If you run into a page that ignores them—auto-play audio, fake close buttons—feel free to block hard. Your attention is yours.
Helpful references used while writing this guide: official Google help on removing unwanted ads and pop-ups and Google’s ad controls and personalisation. Both open in a new tab.