Safari blocks most pop-ups by default, and you can turn that off in Settings

Safari's pop-up blocker is on by default. To turn it off, open Safari, go to the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari, then select Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions). Click the Security tab. Uncheck the box next to "Block pop-ups". That's it — pop-ups will now appear when you visit websites.

If you're on an iPhone or iPad, the process is slightly different. Go to Settings on your device, scroll down and tap Safari, then scroll to the Privacy & Security section and toggle off Block Pop-ups. The setting takes effect when ready.

Keep in mind that turning off the blocker means you'll see pop-ups from every website you visit, including ones designed to trick you or deliver unwanted content. Most people leave the blocker on and instead allow pop-ups only on specific sites they trust.

Key Takeaways

  • On Mac, disable pop-up blocking by opening Safari Settings, clicking Security, and unchecking "Block pop-ups".
  • On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security and toggle off "Block Pop-ups".
  • You can allow pop-ups on individual websites without disabling the blocker globally — right-click the site name in your address bar and choose "Allow Pop-ups for This Website".
  • Turning off the blocker entirely exposes you to unwanted pop-ups, so only disable it if you genuinely need pop-ups from a specific site.

Allow pop-ups for just one website instead of disabling the blocker entirely

If you only need pop-ups from one or two websites, you don't have to turn off the blocker for everything. Safari lets you create an exception for specific sites. Visit the website that needs to show you pop-ups, then click the address bar. You'll see a small icon or button — on newer versions, look for a pop-up icon or information icon. Click it and select Allow Pop-ups for This Website.

On older Safari versions, you may need to go to Safari > Settings > Security and look for a list of websites you've already allowed. You can add new sites there manually by typing the web address.

This approach is safer than disabling the blocker globally because you're only opening the door to pop-ups on sites you've chosen. The blocker stays active everywhere else.

Why Safari blocks pop-ups in the first place

Pop-ups became a problem in the early 2000s because advertisers and malicious websites used them to overwhelm users with ads, fake security warnings, and clickbait. A single website visit could spawn dozens of windows. Safari's blocker stops most of these automatically, which is why it's on by default.

Some legitimate websites still use pop-ups — usually for login windows, chat support, or forms that appear on top of the page. These are often called "modal windows" rather than traditional pop-ups, and Safari's blocker usually lets them through because they're triggered by your own action (clicking a button or submitting a form). The blocker mainly stops unsolicited pop-ups that open on their own when you land on a page.

What to do if a website says "pop-ups are blocked"

Some websites display a message saying pop-ups are blocked and ask you to allow them. Before you do, think about whether you actually need what that pop-up offers. If the site is asking you to allow pop-ups just to see ads or sign up for a mailing list, you probably don't need to.

If the pop-up is something you genuinely want — like a chat window, a login form, or a document read — then allowing it for that site makes sense. Use the per-site exception method described above rather than turning off the blocker entirely. That way you're only opening the door where you actually need it.

Pop-ups versus other types of unwanted content

Safari's pop-up blocker only stops pop-up windows. It doesn't block ads that appear within a webpage itself, auto-playing videos, or tracking scripts that follow you across the internet. If you're seeing ads or videos you don't want, the pop-up blocker won't help.

For broader protection against ads and tracking, you can use Safari's built-in Privacy settings (in Safari Settings > Privacy) or install a content blocker from the App Store. These are separate tools that work alongside the pop-up blocker. The pop-up blocker is specifically for those separate windows that open on top of the page you're visiting.

Troubleshooting: the blocker is off but pop-ups still aren't showing

If you've disabled the pop-up blocker and pop-ups still aren't appearing, a few other things might be blocking them. First, check that you've actually saved the change — close Safari completely and reopen it to make sure the setting stuck. On Mac, you can also check Safari > Settings > Websites to see if there's a specific rule for that website that's overriding your global setting.

Second, some websites use JavaScript to create pop-ups, and Safari's security settings might be blocking JavaScript on that site. Go to Safari > Settings > Security and make sure "Enable JavaScript" is checked. If it is, the website itself might be broken or using outdated code that Safari no longer supports.

Third, if the website is asking for permission to show notifications (which can look like pop-ups), that's a separate permission from pop-ups. You'll see a prompt asking "Allow notifications?" — that's not controlled by the pop-up blocker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off the pop-up blocker for just one tab instead of the whole browser?

No, Safari's pop-up blocker setting applies to the entire browser. However, you can allow pop-ups for individual websites, which is the closest option. Once you allow pop-ups for a site, they'll appear whenever you visit it in any tab.

Will turning off the pop-up blocker slow down Safari?

No, disabling the blocker won't make Safari slower. However, you may experience slower page loads if websites are now opening many pop-ups, since each pop-up is an additional window Safari has to render and display.

Is it safe to disable the pop-up blocker?

It's safer to leave it on and allow pop-ups only for specific websites you trust. If you disable it globally, you'll see pop-ups from every site, including ones designed to trick you into clicking malicious links or downloading unwanted software. Use the per-site exception feature instead.

Do I need to restart Safari after changing the pop-up blocker setting?

It's a good idea to fully close and reopen Safari to make sure the setting takes effect. On Mac, use Command+Q to quit Safari completely, then reopen it. On iPhone or iPad, swipe up from the bottom to close Safari in the app switcher, then tap Safari again.