Managing Browser Notifications (macOS, Windows)

This document explains how to remove or block unwanted website notification prompts in the most commonly used web browsers at UW–Madison (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari).

About Web Browser Notifications

Web browser notifications are alerts sent by websites to your desktop or device. They’re often enabled when you click Allow on a pop‑up; sometimes accidentally or while trying to access content. Because of this, it’s easy to give notification permission without realizing it, which can lead to unwanted or distracting alerts.

Example: macOS


Example: Windows

macOS - Removing Unwanted Browser Notifications

Google Chrome

Step 1. Open Chrome Settings

  • Open Google Chrome.
  • Click the ⋮ (More) menu in the upper‑right corner.
  • Select Settings.

Step 2. Open Notification Controls

  • Select Privacy and security from the left menu.
  • Click Site settings.
  • Choose Notifications.

Step 3. Remove or Block Sites

Chrome lists permissions under:

  • Allowed to send notifications

  • Not allowed to send notifications

To adjust permissions:

  • Click the ⋮ (More) icon next to a site and select the Allow or Remove option.
  • Change permission from Allow to Block to prevent future notifications.

Step 4. Disable Notification Requests Entirely (Optional)

  • Select the Don't allow sites to send notifications option.
    NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

Mozilla Firefox

Step 1. Open Firefox Settings

  • Open Firefox.
  • Click the ≡ (Menu) button in the upper‑right.
  • Select Settings.

Step 2. Open Privacy Settings

  • Choose Privacy & Security from the left panel.

Step 3. Manage Notification Permissions

  • Scroll to the Permissions section.
  • Select the Notifications settings.

Step 4. Remove or Block Sites

  • Select the site listed and click Remove Website.
  • Click Remove All Websites to clear all sites in the list.
  • Check Block new requests asking to allow notifications to stop prompts entirely. (Optional)
  • NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

Apple Safari

Step 1. Open Safari Settings

  • Open Safari.
  • In the menu bar, choose Safari > Settings… (or Preferences… on older macOS).

Step 2. Open Website Notification Settings

  • Select the Websites tab.
  • Choose Notifications from the sidebar.

Step 3. Remove or Block Sites

  • Change permission for each site listed to Deny to stop notifications.
  • Highlight a site and press Delete to remove it from the list.

Step 4. Stop All Notification Requests (Optional)

  • Uncheck Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications
    NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

Windows - Removing Unwanted Browser Notifications

Google Chrome

Step 1: Open Chrome Settings

  • In the upper‑right corner of Chrome, click ⋮ (More).
  • Select Settings.

Step 2: Open Site Settings

  • In the left sidebar, select Privacy and security.
  • Click Site settings.

Step 3: Manage Notification Permissions

  • Select Notifications.
  • Review the list under:
    • Allowed to send notifications
    • Not allowed to send notifications

Step 4: Remove or Block Sites

  • Click the ⋮ (More) icon next to a site and select the Allow or Remove option.
  • Change permission from Allow to Block to prevent future notifications.

Optional: Completely Disable Notification Prompts

  • Select Don't allow sites to send notifications to stop all future requests. 
    NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

Mozilla Firefox

Step 1: Open Firefox Settings

  • Click the ≡ (Menu) button in the upper‑right corner.
  • Select Settings.

Step 2: Open Privacy Settings

  • In the left sidebar, choose Privacy & Security.

Step 3: Manage Notification Permissions

  • Scroll to the Permissions section.
  • Next to Notifications, click Settings…

Step 4: Remove or Block Sites

  • Select any site(s) you want to remove, then click Remove Website or Remove All Websites.
  • To block future prompts, check Block new requests asking to allow notifications.
    NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

Microsoft Edge

Step 1: Open Edge Settings

  • Click the ⋯ (Settings and more) button in the upper‑right corner.
  • Select Settings.

Step 2: Open Cookies and Site Permissions

  • In the sidebar, choose Cookies and site permissions.
  • Scroll and select Notifications.

Step 3: Manage Notification Permissions

Edge lists sites under:

  • Allow

  • Block

Step 4: Remove or Block Sites

  • To remove a site: click the trash can icon next to it.
  • To block a site: add it to Block, or toggle its permission from Allow to Block.

Optional: Disable All Notification Prompts

  • Turn Ask before sending (recommended) to Off to prevent all future prompts.
    NOTE: Be aware that this will block all notification requests from any website.

 


Keywords:
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, macOS, Windows, scam, popup, pop-up, banner 
Doc ID:
160165
Owned by:
Dave P. in MERIT
Created:
2026-03-24
Updated:
2026-03-24
Sites:
MERIT, School of Education, WCER