How to Block Trackers, Pop-ups and Notification Prompts in Your Browser

Three settings do most of the work: tracker protection, the pop-up blocker and notification permissions. Here's where each one lives in the six biggest browsers, and how to make an exception when a site needs one.

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This guide is for anyone tired of ads that follow them around, windows that open on their own, and sites that ask "Show notifications?" before the page has even loaded. Each browser section covers three things: trackers (what's built in and how to turn it up), pop-ups (the blocker and how to allow one site), and notifications (how to stop the prompts and remove sites that already have permission).

Two caveats. Every browser here already blocks pop-ups by default, so if you still see them, the culprit is usually a site you once allowed to send notifications, or unwanted software. And the strictest tracker settings can break logins, videos and payment pages; the last section explains how to make a per-site exception.

Google Chrome

Chrome has the least to offer on trackers. Google dropped its plan to phase out third-party cookies, retired most of its Privacy Sandbox replacements in October 2025, and began removing the leftover Ad privacy page in Chrome 150. Third-party cookies are still allowed by default outside Incognito, so blocking them is the one real tracker setting left.

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Trackers: go to Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies (chrome://settings/cookies) and select Block third-party cookies. Add sites that need them under Sites allowed to use third-party cookies.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects (chrome://settings/content/popups). Blocking is the default. To allow one site, click Pop-up blocked in its address bar and choose Always allow pop-ups and redirects from that site.
3. Notifications: Site settings > Notifications (chrome://settings/content/notifications). Choose Don't allow sites to send notifications to stop all prompts, or keep asking on and select Use quieter messaging, which swaps the pop-up for a bell icon in the address bar. To revoke a site, find it under Allowed to send notifications, open the three-dot menu and choose Block or Remove.

On Android

1. Trackers: Settings > Site settings > Third-party cookies > Block third-party cookies.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects, switched off. On a page where one was blocked, tap Always show to allow that site.
3. Notifications: Settings > Site settings > Notifications. Turn the switch off, or tap Use quieter messaging. To revoke one site, open it, tap the page info icon to the left of the address bar, then Permissions.

On iPhone and iPad

Chrome on iOS has no third-party cookie setting. For pop-ups, go to Settings > Content Settings > Block Pop-ups; on a page where one was blocked, tap Always show to allow that site. When a site asks with Get notifications?, tap Settings > Don't allow.

Chrome also removes notification permission from sites you haven't visited in a while; check Safety Check to review them.

Microsoft Edge

Edge has a built-in tracker blocker with three levels, something Chrome doesn't offer.

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Trackers: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Tracking prevention. Make sure it's on, then pick Basic, Balanced (the default) or Strict. Strict blocks most cross-site trackers but, as Microsoft warns, can stop videos playing or logins working.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > Pop-ups and redirects, with Blocked (recommended) on. To allow one site, select Add site next to Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects.
3. Notifications: Site permissions > Notifications (edge://settings/content/notifications). Turn off Ask before sending to stop all prompts, or turn on Quiet notification requests. To revoke a site, go to Site permissions > All sites, pick the site and set Notifications to Block, or click View site information in the address bar while you're on it.

On Android, iPhone and iPad

Open ⋯ > Settings > Privacy and security and pick a level under Tracking prevention. Pop-up blocking lives in the same area (under Site permissions on Android, as a Block pop-ups switch on iPhone); the exact layout varies by app version.

Apple Safari

Safari leans on tracking protection that's mostly on by default. The one thing to check is whether its fingerprinting protection covers all your browsing or only private windows.

On Mac

1. Trackers: Safari > Settings > Privacy, and make sure Prevent cross-site tracking is ticked. Then open the Advanced tab and set Use advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection to in all browsing. Apple's help still says it's on by default only in Private Browsing; reporting on Safari 26 says it now covers all browsing by default, so check.
2. Pop-ups: Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows. Set When visiting other websites to Block and Notify or Block. To allow one site, open it first, then choose Allow next to its name.
3. Notifications: Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications, and untick Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications. To revoke a site, change it to Deny in the same list.

On iPhone and iPad

1. Trackers: Settings > Apps > Safari, and make sure Prevent Cross-Site Tracking is on. Under Advanced, set Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection to All Browsing.
2. Pop-ups: turn on Block Pop-ups in the same Safari settings. There's no per-site exception: to let one site through, turn it off briefly.
3. Notifications: websites can't ask for notifications in an ordinary Safari tab on iPhone; only web apps you've added to your Home Screen can. Revoke those in Settings > Notifications.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox redesigned its settings in version 152 (June 2026), and some options moved. If a path below doesn't match, type the setting's name into Find in Settings.

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Trackers: Settings > Privacy and security > Enhanced Tracking Protection (about:preferences#privacy), then click Advanced settings and choose Standard, Strict or Custom. Standard already blocks social-media trackers and known fingerprinters; Strict adds tracking content in all windows, not just private ones, and blocks all cross-site cookies.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Permissions and data, and make sure Block pop-ups and third-party redirects is ticked. To allow one site, click Manage exceptions under it, add the address, then Allow and Save Changes. You can also use the bar that appears when Firefox blocks a pop-up.
3. Notifications: Settings > Permissions and data > Notifications (about:preferences#permissionsData). Tick Block new requests asking to allow notifications. To revoke a site, set it to Block or select Remove Website, then Save Changes. Older versions keep both settings under Privacy & Security > Permissions.

On Android

1. Trackers: ⋮ > Settings > Enhanced Tracking Protection > Standard, Strict or Custom.
2. Pop-ups: Firefox for Android has no pop-up setting.
3. Notifications: Settings > Site settings > Notification, set to blocked. Revoke a site from its permissions panel next to the address bar.

On iPhone and iPad

Settings > Tracking Protection offers Standard and Strict. Block Pop-up Windows is under Settings > Browsing, again with no per-site exception.

Brave

Brave blocks trackers and ads out of the box through Shields. You can make them stricter.

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Trackers: Settings > Shields (brave://settings/shields) and set Trackers & ads blocking to Aggressive. To change one site, click the Shields (lion) icon in the address bar.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects (brave://settings/content/popups). To allow one site, select Add under the allowed list.
3. Notifications: Site and Shields Settings > Notifications (brave://settings/content/notifications). Choose Don't allow sites to send notifications, or Use quieter messaging. Revoke a site from the Allowed list with the three-dot menu.

On Android

Settings > Brave Shields & privacy > Block trackers & ads > Aggressive. Pop-ups and notifications are under Settings > Site settings, as in Chrome.

On iPhone and iPad

Settings > Shields & Privacy > Trackers & Ad Blocking > Aggressive.

Opera

Opera has an ad blocker and a separate tracker blocker, both off until you turn them on.

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Trackers: go to Settings (Alt+P) > Privacy protection and turn on Block trackers, and Block ads too if you like. For one site, click the shield badge in the address bar and select Turn off for this site, or use Manage exceptions.
2. Pop-ups: Settings > Advanced > Privacy & security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects (opera://settings/content/popups). Click Add to allow a site.
3. Notifications: Site settings > Notifications (opera://settings/content/notifications). Switch off asking to stop prompts. Remove or block sites that already have permission in the same list.

On Android

Open your Profile > Settings and turn on Ad blocking and Tracker blocking. Ad Blocking Mode offers Balanced, Enhanced and Custom. Site permissions such as notifications are under Settings > Site settings.

On iPhone and iPad

Opera's ad blocker is under Settings > Ad Block. Opera doesn't document a separate tracker blocker for iOS.

When a site breaks

Strict settings will eventually break something: a video that won't play, a "Sign in with Google" window that never opens, a checkout that hangs. Before you loosen protection everywhere, make an exception for that one site:

• Chrome: click the third-party cookies icon in the address bar to allow them for that site. In normal browsing this lasts 90 days.
• Edge: View site information > turn off Tracking prevention for this site.
• Safari (Mac): View > Reload Reducing Privacy Protections.
• Firefox: click the shield icon in the address bar and turn Enhanced Tracking Protection off for that site.
• Brave: click the Shields icon and lower blocking, or turn Shields off for that site.
• Opera: click the shield badge > Turn off for this site.

If a sign-in or payment window still won't open, allow pop-ups for that site too. And if alerts keep appearing in the corner of your screen after you've blocked pop-ups, they're notifications from a site you once allowed: remove it using the steps above.