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Disable safari pop up blocker: Turn Off Pop-Up Blocking in Safari

Allow or block pop-ups in Safari on Mac

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Pop-up windows can be helpful or distracting. Some websites require you to allow pop-ups. For example, a bank website might show your monthly statements in pop-ups. Other websites might fill your screen with pop-up ads.

You can allow or block pop-ups on individual websites or all websites. If you’re not sure whether you want to block pop-ups on a website, you can choose to block and be notified when the site wants to display a pop-up, then decide if you want to show the pop-up.

Open Safari for me

Allow or block pop-ups on one website

  1. In the Safari app on your Mac, go to the website.

  2. Choose Safari > Settings, then click Websites.

  3. Click Pop-up Windows on the left.

    If you don’t see Pop-up Windows, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the list.

  4. In the pop-up menu for the website, choose one of the following:

    • Allow: Pop-ups for the website appear.

    • Block and Notify: Pop-ups for the website don’t appear, but when you visit a website with blocked pop-ups, you can choose to show them by clicking the Show button in the Smart Search field.

    • Block: Pop-ups for the website don’t appear.

Allow or block pop-ups on all websites

  1. In the Safari app on your Mac, choose , then click Websites.

  2. Click Pop-up Windows on the left.

    If you don’t see Pop-up Windows, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the list.

  3. If there are websites listed below Configured Websites, and you want to change the settings for these sites (for example, they’re set to Allow, but you want to change them to Block), select each website, then click Remove.

    If you don’t see Configured Websites, either you haven’t set pop-up blocking for any sites yet, or you’ve cleared the list.

  4. Click the “When visiting other websites” pop-up menu, then choose one of the following:

    • Allow: Pop-ups for the websites appear.

    • Block and Notify: Pop-ups for the website don’t appear, but when you visit a website with blocked pop-ups, you can choose to show them by clicking the Show button in the Smart Search field.

    • Block: Pop-ups for the websites don’t appear.

If you block pop-ups on a website, but you continue to see pop-ups on the website, you might have unwanted software on your Mac. See the Apple Support article Block pop-up ads and windows in Safari.

Note: Blocking pop-ups might also block some content you want to see.

See alsoHide ads and distractions in Safari on iPhoneHide ads and distractions in Safari on iPadHide ads when reading articles in Safari on Mac

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How to turn off pop-up blocker on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Pop-ups are distracting and annoying, to say the least. But sometimes, websites use pop-up windows to function, or you want to test the pop for something. Browsers generally block all these pop-ups to give you a peaceful browsing experience.

If you need to disable a pop-up blocker to interact with the site you’re browsing, you can easily change your browser’s settings on your device. Below, I’ll teach you how to unblock pop-ups on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac browser.

  • Should you disable your browser’s pop-up blockers?
  • How to allow pop-ups on an iPhone and iPad
    • In Safari
    • In Chrome
  • How to disable pop-up blockers on a Mac
    • In Safari
    • In Chrome

Should you disable browser pop-up blockers?

While pop-ups are one of the most hated features of the web, they are often helpful. They let you interact with the websites more seamlessly.

For example, if you’re trying to sign up for a new service and need to input your credit card information, a pop-up window can ensure that your data is entered into the form correctly. 

However, they can also be spammy and even dangerous. Some may lure you into downloading unwanted software or lead you to malicious websites.

It’s your prerogative, but I suggest you only enable pop-ups from trusted sites. The good thing is that browsers like Chrome give you control over which sites to allow pop-ups from and which ones to block.

How to allow pop-ups on an iPhone and iPad

Usually, pop-ups are blocked by default when browsing on your iPhone; here’s how to change it.

In Safari

Because Safari is the iPhone and iPad’s built-in browser, you’ll need to head to your device Settings to unblock pop-ups on Safari:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down and tap Safari. 
  3. Under General, toggle off Block Pop-ups.

Note that you only have the option to enable all pop-ups in Safari on the iPhone and iPad. It’s not possible to selectively enable pop-ups from specific websites. A workaround is to allow all pop-ups and just download a third-party adblocker for your iPhone or iPad that you can customize.

You can always revert your settings and enable pop-up blockers on your iPhone and iPad.

In Chrome

Chrome on iOS and iPadOS also blocks all pop-ups by default and lets you allow pop-ups from specific sites. If you prefer this, you can always set Chrome as your default browser on your iPhone.

  1. Open Chrome on your iPhone.
  2. Tap More Options (…) icon.
  3. Select Settings from the overlay menu.
  4. Chrome settings will open. Scroll down and tap Content Settings.
  5. Tap Block Pop-ups → toggle it off.

Note that this enables pop-ups from all the websites you visit. If you want to block all pop-ups except those from certain sites, you can do the following:

  1. Open the website whose pop-ups you want to allow.
  2. If the browser blocks a pop-up, you’ll see a notification below your address bar. Tap Always show.

How to disable pop-up blockers on a Mac

Unlike on your iPhone, you have more liberty on your Mac to select the websites whose pop-ups you wish to enable, regardless of your browser. Below I’ll discuss the two most commonly used browsers on Mac – Safari, and Chrome.

In Safari

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Click Preferences → select the Websites tab.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the left-side pane and select Pop-up windows.
  4. Click the drop-down menu beside When visiting other websites. Choose Allow to enable all pop-ups.
    Alternatively, choose Block and Notify to keep blocking pop-ups but allow Safari to show them to you whenever you visit a website.

The websites listed under Configured Websites are sites where you’ve previously modified your pop-up blocking preferences. If you want to change them, just click on the website → Remove.

If you want to keep blocking all the pop-ups except certain websites, you can do so in Safari on Mac. Just do the following:

  1. Open Safari → go to the website.
  2. Click Safari → Preferences → select the Websites tab.
  3. On the left-side pane, scroll to the bottom and select Pop-up Windows. On the right, you’ll see all currently opened websites on Safari. Look for the website whose pop-ups you want to allow.
  4. On the drop-down menu, select Allow enabling all the site’s pop-ups to appear. You can also select Block and Notify if you still want Safari to block it but have the option to view it by clicking the Smart Search field.

In Chrome

  1. Open Chrome → Preferences.
  2. Choose Privacy and security → Site settings.
  3. Go to the bottom and click Pop-ups and redirects.

  4. Under Default behavior, tick Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects.

If you only want to unblock pop-ups from select sites, do the following:

  1. Launch Chrome → open the site that you want to allow pop-ups.
  2. Click the lock icon at the left-side corner of the address bar.
  3. If you see Pop-ups and redirects, toggle it on. Some sites do not reveal this option. If you do not see Pop-ups and redirects in the drop-down menu, click Site Settings instead.

  4. Under Permissions, go to Pop-ups and redirects and click the drop-down arrow beside it. Select Allow.

Wrapping up…

If you want to unblock all pop-ups, that’s also an option too. However, just be careful which sites you visit and which buttons you click. What’s your relationship with pop-ups? Do you enable all pop-ups or just allow those from websites you trust? Share them below!

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Author Profile

Rachel

Rachel loves anything Apple —from iPhones, to Apple Watches, to MacBooks. She is also a medical writer and a ghostwriter for various publications.

About pop-ups and ads in Safari

Learn how to block pop-ups and deal with intrusive ads on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Pop-ups can be advertisements, notifications, offers, or alerts that open in the current browser window, in a new window, or on another tab. Some pop-ups are third-party ads that use phishing tactics, such as warnings or prize-winning messages purporting to be from Apple or another trusted company, to trick you into sharing personal or financial information. These windows may also offer free downloads, software updates, or plug-ins to encourage you to install unwanted software.

The following are tips for managing pop-ups and other interference.

Avoid interacting with pop-ups

If you are unsure if this is a legitimate advertisement, avoid interacting with pop-ups or web pages that may block your screen.

  • When you see annoying pop-up ads in Safari, you can go to the search field and enter a new URL or search term to go to another site. If the search box isn’t showing on your iPhone or iPad, open it by tapping at the top of the screen.
  • Some pop-ups and ads have fake close buttons, so be careful when trying to close a pop-up or ad. When in doubt, avoid interacting with the ad and close your Safari window or tab.
  • On a Mac, you can exit Safari and then press and hold the Shift key while opening Safari. This will prevent any previously open windows or tabs from automatically reopening.

Software Update

Always install the latest software updates for all Apple products. Many software releases contain important security updates and may include improvements to help control pop-ups.

The safest way to download Mac apps is from the App Store. If you need software that’s not available on the App Store, get it directly from the developer or another trusted source, not through an ad or link.

Check your Safari settings

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari.

  • Turn on Pop-up Blocker.
  • Enable the Site Spoofing Warning option.

On a Mac, open Safari and choose Safari > Preferences from the menu bar.

  • The Websites tab allows you to configure settings to allow or block some or all pop-ups.
  • On the Security tab, enable site spoofing warning.

If you have adware or other unwanted software installed on your Mac

When pop-up windows appear on your Mac that can’t be cleared, you may have accidentally downloaded and installed adware (supported by ads) or other unwanted software. Some third party download sites may include unwanted applications with the software you are interested in.

If you think your Mac may have malware or adware, follow these steps.

  • Update macOS to the latest version. If your Mac is already using the latest version, restart it. macOS includes a built-in tool that removes known malware on restart.
  • Check your Applications folder to see if you have any unexpected applications. You can delete them.
  • Check the Extensions tab in Safari preferences to see if any unnecessary extensions are installed. You can disable extensions.

If your Mac continues to display ads and other unwanted programs, contact Apple.

Additional Information

Information about non-Apple products or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple is not intended to be endorsement or recommendation. Apple is not responsible for the selection, functionality, or use of third party websites or products. Apple is also not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of information posted on third party websites. Contact the supplier for more information.

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Allow or block pop-up windows in Safari on Mac

Search this guide

Pop-ups can be helpful, but they can also be distracting. Some websites require you to allow pop-ups. For example, on a bank website, a bank statement may be displayed in a pop-up window. Other websites fill the entire screen with pop-up ads.

You can allow or block pop-ups for some or all websites. If you’re not sure if you want to see pop-ups, you can block pop-ups for a website, but set it to notify you when a website tries to open a pop-up that you can choose to allow.

Open Safari

Allow or block pop-up windows for a single website

  1. In Safari on Mac, navigate to a website.

  2. Choose Safari menu > Preferences, then click Websites.

  3. Click “Pop-ups” on the left.

    If you don’t see Pop-ups, scroll to the bottom of the list.

  4. Select one of the options from the pop-up menu for the website.

    • Allow. Pop-up windows on the website will open.

    • Block and alert. Pop-up windows on the website will not open, but when you visit this website, you can open blocked windows by clicking the “Show” button in the smart search field.

    • Block. Pop-up windows on the website will not open.

Allow or block pop-up windows for all websites

  1. In the Safari app on your Mac, select then click Websites.

  2. Click “Pop-ups” on the left.

    If you don’t see Pop-ups, scroll to the bottom of the list.

  3. If there are websites in the Configured Websites section whose settings you want to change (for example, if you select Allow and you want to change it to Block), select the website, then click Remove.

    If the Configured Websites list is empty, you have not yet configured pop-up windows for websites or cleared the list.

  4. Click the When visiting other websites pop-up menu, then choose one of the options.

    • Allow. Pop-up windows on websites will open.

    • Block and alert. Pop-up windows on the website will not open, but when you open this website, you can open blocked windows by clicking the “Show” button in the smart search field.