Google Chrome scans websites for your security and warns you if the connection is not secure. However, this feature can sometimes restrict access to websites you want to visit, regardless of security status. If you're wondering how to add a website to the list of trusted sites, we're here to help.
In this guide, we'll explain how to add trusted sites in Google Chrome – on Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, and with GPO. Plus, we'll answer some of the most common questions related to trusted sites in Chrome.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome
Let's go: To add a trusted website in Google Chrome, follow the steps below:
- In Chrome, open the website you want to mark as trusted.
- On the left of the website input box, click the lock, info, or warning icon.
- Now select Site Settings from the menu.
- Choose security settings – to mark a website as trusted, click the lock icon. Changes are saved automatically.
You can also manage security settings for multiple sites at once. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- In Chrome, click the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of your screen.
- Select Parameters in the drop-down menu.
- Now navigate to Confidentialité et sécurité heading and select Site Settings.
- You will see a list of websites you have visited. Manage the permissions of websites you want to mark as trusted, changes will be saved automatically.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome on a Mac
To manage website security settings on Mac, follow these steps:
- In Chrome, open the website you want to mark as trusted.
- On the left of the website input box, click the lock, info, or warning icon.
- Select Site Settings from the menu.
- Choose security settings – to mark a website as trusted, click the lock icon. Changes are saved automatically.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome on Windows
Changing website security settings on Windows is not much different than changing them on Mac. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- In Chrome, open the website you want to mark as trusted.
- On the left of the website input box, click the lock, info, or warning icon.
- Select Site Settings from the menu.
- Choose security settings – to mark a website as trusted, click the lock icon. Changes are saved automatically.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome with GPO
If you're using Group Policy, managing website security settings in Chrome is slightly more complicated than without a domain controller. You will need to set the settings through your GPO rather than Chrome. To mark a website as trusted, follow the instructions below:
- Open the Google Chrome GPO folder on your PC.
- Under the Administrative Templates section, go to HTTP authentication policies.
- Double click on the Authentication server whitelist setting.
- Check the box next to Enabled.
- Type the website address in the text input box under the Authentication server whitelist.
- Validate by clicking Okay.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome on Android Device
The instructions for changing website security settings in the Google Chrome Android app are slightly different than on PCs. To mark a website as trusted, follow these steps:
- In Chrome, open the website you want to mark as trusted.
- Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner of your screen.
- From the drop-down menu, select Site Settings.
- Aller vers Permissions and select a lock icon to mark the website as trusted, the changes will be saved automatically.
To manage permissions for multiple websites on Android at once, follow the instructions below:
- In the Chrome app, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of your screen.
- Scroll to Advanced section, then select Site Settings.
- Manage the permissions you want to update.
How to Add Trusted Sites in Google Chrome on an iPhone
You can change website security settings in Chrome for iPhone or iPad by following the steps below:
- In the Chrome app, tap the three-dot icon in the lower right corner of your screen.
- Select Parameters in the drop-down menu.
- Select Content settings.
- Manage security permissions for websites you want to mark as trusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know how to add trusted websites in Google Chrome, you may want to get more detailed information about the browser's website security settings. Read this section for answers to some of the most common questions.
How do I set trusted sites in Edge?
To change site security settings in Microsoft Edge, you must use the Windows Control Panel.
1. Open the Start menu, type “Control Panel“, then click on the application. 
2. Next, navigate to internet options, you may need to change the Seen by Possibility of Small icons. 
3. Now select the Safety tab at the top of the menu. 
4. Click on Trusted sites, then double-click the Sites button. 
5. Type the website address in the field Add this website to the zone text box, click Add, and validate by clicking Okay. 
How to authorize a website on Chrome?
If Google Chrome identifies a website as unsafe, you can mark it as trusted through Site Settings. To do this, open the desired website in Chrome. Next, click the information or warning icon next to the site address input box. Select Site Settings, then change the information or warning icon to the lock icon. Changes will be saved automatically.
As an option, you can manage the security settings of several websites at once – to do this, open the browser and click on the three dots icon in the upper right corner of your screen. Select Settings from the drop-down menu. Go to Privacy & Security, then Site Settings. You will see a list of all the websites you have visited. Manage security permissions for websites you want to mark as trusted.
How can I check trusted sites?
Checking the security status of a website in Google Chrome is very easy. Open a website in your browser and find the appropriate icon to the left of the site address input box. A lock icon means the connection is secure. The information passing through the site is not visible to third parties but is private.
An information icon indicates that there is not enough information or that the site is not secure. This means that the information on the website is not private. However, this can be changed by visiting the https:// version instead of an http:// version of the website. Just retype the website address with https:// at the beginning.
If you see a red warning icon, the website is not secure or unsafe. Information from these websites is very likely to be accessible to third parties. We strongly advise against such websites to avoid disclosing your information, particularly if you plan to make a payment through the site.
How do I add a site to my trusted sites in the registry?
If you're running a managed Chrome account and using Windows, you can mark a website as trusted only through the Chrome GPO. To do this, open the Chrome GPO folder and navigate to HTTP Authentication Policies. Next, select On and enter the address of the website you want to mark as trusted. You can manage browser policies that aren't available in GPO through the Windows Registry.
For example, you can manage extension installation blocklists, enable safe browsing, or enable reporting of usage and crash data. First, download this zip file. Run the file and navigate to Setup, then select Samples. Find the chrome.reg file and copy it. Open this file with any text editor, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, and edit the text in the file. You can find templates for specific settings here.
Why does a website look insecure in Chrome?
A red warning sign or information icon next to a website address indicates that information shared through the site is not private. More often than not, Chrome marks websites with http:// in front as unsafe. HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTPS, on the other hand, is a secure hypertext transfer protocol.
Some websites have two versions, which means you can change the site address from http:// to https://. Chrome will then recognize the site as safe. Do not share your payment information and other highly private information through HTTP websites.
How to fix "Your connection is not private" error in Chrome?
Sometimes Chrome displays a "Your connection is not private" message and disables access to a website. This often happens when you try to use a public Wi-Fi network, for example at the airport. In this case, try connecting to any http:// page. If that doesn't work, try logging into the same page in incognito mode. If the connection fails, the problem is probably with the Chrome extension and you need to disable it. You can also try updating your operating system or disabling your antivirus.
Be aware of managing security settings
Hopefully, with the help of our guide, you can easily manage site security settings in Google Chrome. Be aware, however, that Chrome often has a valid reason to mark a website as insecure. Do not share personal information through websites that do not use encryption. If a website you visit often uses the HTTP protocol, consider asking them to switch to the HTTPS version to minimize risk.
Which browser do you prefer and why? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
