TabBlock

Name: TabBlock
Rating: 4.2926829268292686 (123 reviews)
Author: xconvic

Prevents from opening new tabs.

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TabBlock is a simple yet powerful Chrome extension designed to prevent undesired new tab pop-up ads while browsing. When enabled (red icon), it blocks all attempts by websites to open new tabs, saving you from annoying pop-ups and interruptions. When disabled (green icon), you can browse normally with new tabs opening freely.

Unlike other blockers, TabBlock does not interfere with normal ads that appear inline on pages. It specifically targets and stops new tabs from opening, without blocking ad redirects in the same tab. This enables flexibility by preventing inconvenient pop-ups while not affecting normal browsing experience.

With Manifest v3 updates, the extension filters requests to open new tabs instantly, ensuring that blocked tabs don’t even start loading, improving browser performance during blocking. TabBlock is perfect for users looking to quickly control and manage unwanted new tab behavior without heavy resource use.

Extension Privacy & Security Productivity Utilities

By:

xconvic

Users:

20,000

Rating:

4.29

(123)

Version:

2.0.0 Last updated: 2025-03-12

Creation date:

2019-09-23

Risk:

Permissions:

storage
declarativeNetRequest

Size:

14.38K

Email:

xc*****@gmail.com

Full description:

Source:

Chrome Web Store

Updated:

13 hours ago

User reviews

TabBlock is praised for effectively blocking unwanted new tabs and popups, improving browsing safety and control. Users appreciate its simplicity and usefulness in preventing intrusive ads or harmful tabs. However, many find the icon color confusing regarding activation status, requiring manual toggling. The extension indiscriminately blocks all new tabs, including legitimate ones, preventing normal tab opening via usual shortcuts, and lacks options for site-specific customization. Despite these issues, it is considered functional and helpful but may have design flaws affecting user experience.

Pros

Effectively blocks unwanted new tabs or popups as intended.
Simple and straightforward without unnecessary features.
Helps prevent opening of tabs with ads or potentially harmful content.
Provides visual indicator (icon color) to show if blocking is active.
Useful for controlling undesirable behaviors on websites, like unwanted tab openings.

Cons

Icon color scheme is confusing; users often mistake default icon color as active or inactive status.
Must manually activate and deactivate the extension; not enabled by default which can confuse users.
Blocks all new tabs indiscriminately, including legitimate new tabs or windows, leading to loss of normal browsing functionality.
No option to whitelist or blacklist specific sites to customize blocking behavior.
Extension may interfere with opening new tabs using normal commands (Ctrl+T), which is inconvenient for users.

Recent reviews

Works perfectly as intended

Ja*****, 2025-05-31

Works like a freaking charm, only complaint I have is that the icon color can be confusing, you think it's enabled by default as it is green, indicating ON except it's not, you have to click the green to actually turn it on (then it becomes red). It's either the opposite color or current color, every developer does it differently. +++++ 5/5

Jo*****, 2025-05-23

so good i hope its can be active based on active tab/ url ! if u uppdate that features its definitely perfect 5star

En*****, 2025-05-22

View all user reviews ›

Extension safety

Risk impact

TabBlock does not require any sensitive permissions.

Risk impact analysis details

Risk likelihood

TabBlock has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

Risk likelihood analysis details

High This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.
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