Google Chrome on Android has a built-in switch that blocks misleading ads flagged by the Better Ads Standards. You'll find the Intrusive ads toggle in Site settings, under Content. It stops full-screen interstitials, auto-playing video ads, and sticky banners on flagged sites.
Pop-ups and redirects sit on the same page. Turn both on, and Chrome blocks the majority of misleading pop-up ads without extra extensions. Trusted sites can stay on an allow list.
In this guide, I have covered:
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Block Misleading Ads in Google Chrome on Android: What the Built-in Filter Does
When a site in Google Chrome on Android throws a full-screen overlay at you or starts a video ad with sound, Chrome has a quiet built-in response. The browser filters ads on sites that fail the Better Ads Standards. That list includes pop-ups that block the page, large sticky banners, auto-playing video with sound, and full-screen interstitials.
The filter does not block every ad on the web. Acceptable ads that follow the guidelines still load. One news site may look clean while a smaller blog still shows banners. If you want total coverage, you need a third-party ad blocker extension or a different browser, but the built-in option is the fastest way to stop the most misleading pop-up ads in Google Chrome on Android.
Turn on the built-in intrusive ad blocker in Chrome on Android
You won’t find this in the main Chrome menu. The setting lives under Site settings, not at the top level. On current Chrome for Android builds, the entry is called Intrusive ads and sits under the Content group. Google documents the path in its Chrome ad blocker help article for Android.
- Open the Chrome app on your Android phone.
- Tap the More
menu in the top-right corner and choose Settings. - Scroll down and tap Site settings.
- Under the Content section, tap Intrusive ads.
- Turn the Intrusive ads toggle on if it is off. Chrome blocks ads on sites that violate the Better Ads Standards as soon as the switch is on.
When the toggle is on, Chrome hides intrusive ads automatically. You will still see a small Ads blocked badge in the address bar when the filter removes something from the page. Tapping it shows which ads were hidden. Leave the toggle on for everyday browsing.
If you ever turned the switch off on purpose, for example to test a site, turn it back on here. The filter only protects you while the toggle is on.
Block pop-ups and redirects in the same place
Misleading pop-ups and tab redirects use a separate permission, but they usually travel with intrusive ads. Chrome’s pop-up and redirect help page explains that this setting controls whether a site can open new windows or send you to another URL without a tap.
- Open the Chrome app on your Android phone.
- Tap the More menu in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
- Scroll to Advanced and tap Site settings.
- Tap Pop-ups and redirects.
- Toggle Blocked off to let sites open pop-ups, or toggle it back on to block them.
With both Intrusive ads and Pop-ups and redirects set to block, Chrome handles the bulk of misleading pop-up ads without extra software. You’ll know it worked when a site tries to open a new tab and Chrome blocks it without a prompt, or when the address bar shows a blocked pop-up notice. For details on each toggle, see the
- Open the Chrome app on your Android phone.
- Tap the More menu in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
- Scroll to Advanced and tap Site settings.
- Tap Pop-ups and redirects.
- Toggle Blocked off to let sites open pop-ups, or toggle it back on to block them.
guide.
Allow ads on a site you trust
Some sites use the same patterns Chrome flags, such as sticky banners or interstitials, but you still want to support them. The 
icon to the left of the address bar is the fastest way to whitelist one site without disabling the global filter.
- Open the site you want to allow.
- Tap the icon next to the address bar. On older Chrome versions, tap the lock icon instead.
- Tap Permissions.
- Find Intrusive ads and switch it to Allow for that site only.
- Reload the page. Ads on the allowed site load normally while every other site stays filtered.
To check the full list of overrides, return to Settings → Site settings → Intrusive ads. Tap any entry to flip it back to Block when you no longer want the exception.
What to do when ads still slip through
The built-in filter only covers sites in Chrome’s ad review list. If a brand-new spam domain shows misleading pop-ups before Google flags it, work through these steps.
Start with the domain itself. Block the URL in Chrome on Android so it cannot reload. Open Settings → Site settings and add the page under the relevant content block, or use the icon to deny permissions for that domain.
Run Chrome’s built-in Safety Check next. Go to Settings → Safety Check and tap Check now. Safety Check can revoke notification permissions from sites you have not visited in a while, which is how a lot of “ad” pop-ups get delivered after you tap Allow by mistake.
Clear cookies and cache for the affected site. Stored site data can keep loading a malicious script even after you block the URL. Use Chrome’s cookie and site data controls, or go to Settings → Privacy and security → Delete browsing data → Advanced for a one-pass cleanup.
If a single page still refuses to behave, open it in an Incognito tab. Incognito uses default permissions, so any custom allow list or stored exception is ignored. You can launch one through the Incognito shortcut on Chrome for Android.
Built-in filter vs. an ad blocker extension
Chrome’s built-in filter targets a narrow list of patterns from the Better Ads Standards. A dedicated ad blocker extension can use custom rules, block tracking scripts, and hide banner ads on every site. The trade-off is memory use: extensions run in every tab, which is why the roundup of the best Chrome ad blocker extensions weighs each option against battery and RAM cost.
For most people, the built-in filter is enough to stop misleading pop-up ads. Reach for an extension only when you need custom rules, stricter tracking protection, or filtering on sites that pass the Better Ads review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Ads setting in Chrome on Android?
There is no plain Ads entry in current Chrome on Android. The setting you want is Intrusive ads, and it lives at Settings → Site settings under the Content group. Turn it on to block misleading pop-up ads flagged by the Better Ads Standards.
Does turning on the intrusive ads blocker stop every ad on every site?
No. Chrome’s built-in filter targets only the ad patterns listed in the Better Ads Standards, mainly the misleading pop-up and interstitial styles. Acceptable banner and video ads still load. Brand-new spam sites can appear before Google adds them to the list.
Why am I still seeing pop-ups after enabling the blocker?
Pop-ups and intrusive ads are two different settings. Make sure Pop-ups and redirects under the same Content group is set to Blocked. If a notification appears outside the browser, run Settings → Safety Check and revoke permissions from sites you do not recognize.
How do I allow ads on a specific site?
Open the site, tap the icon to the left of the address bar, tap Permissions, and set Intrusive ads to Allow. The override is per site. The global filter still protects every other page you open.
Should I use an ad blocker extension instead?
An extension gives you custom rules and stronger tracker blocking. That helps on sites Chrome’s filter does not cover. The built-in option is lighter on battery and memory, so it is a better default for everyday browsing on a phone.
