How to Disable JavaScript in Chrome

Introduction

Disabling JavaScript in Chrome can be useful for various reasons, such as increasing page load speed, enhancing privacy, or testing web development projects. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to disable JavaScript globally, per-site, and through Chrome DevTools across different platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Additionally, we’ll cover how to re-enable JavaScript when needed.

Quick Fixes to Try First

• Ensure Chrome is up-to-date by navigating to Settings > About Chrome to check for updates.
• Restart Chrome to clear any temporary glitches.
• Try disabling JavaScript in an Incognito window to see if it achieves the desired effect.

Disable JavaScript Globally in Chrome

Windows, macOS, and Linux

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
3. Navigate to Privacy and Security > Site Settings.
4. Under Content, click on JavaScript.
5. Select Don’t allow sites to use JavaScript.

You can also directly visit chrome://settings/content/javascript to access JavaScript settings quickly.

Android

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Settings.
3. Go to Site settings > JavaScript.
4. Toggle the switch to Off.

iOS

Currently, Chrome for iOS does not have a built-in option to disable JavaScript globally due to Apple’s restrictions on browser engines.

Disable JavaScript Per-Site

Windows, macOS, and Linux

1. Open Chrome and visit the website you want to block JavaScript on.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Select Site settings.
4. Under JavaScript, choose Block.

Android

1. Visit the website in Chrome.
2. Tap the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Tap Site settings, then JavaScript.
4. Tap Block.

Disable JavaScript Using Chrome DevTools

For developers who need to test their sites with JavaScript disabled, Chrome DevTools provides an easy solution.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac) to open DevTools.
2. Go to the Command Menu by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac).
3. Type Disable JavaScript and press Enter.

Why Disable JavaScript?

• Privacy and Security: Disabling JavaScript can help protect against certain types of online tracking and vulnerabilities.
• Performance: Reducing the amount of JavaScript executed can significantly speed up browsing on some sites.
• Development: Developers may need to test how their site behaves without JavaScript.

Re-enable JavaScript in Chrome

To revert changes and turn JavaScript back on, follow the same steps as above and select Allow all sites to run JavaScript in the global settings or Allow in per-site settings.

Conclusion

Disabling JavaScript in Chrome is a straightforward process, whether you’re doing it globally, per-site, or for development testing. While turning off JavaScript can enhance privacy and speed, it may also limit functionality on certain websites. Remember to re-enable JavaScript when needed to ensure full access to web features. For further assistance, refer to Google Chrome Help.