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

Safari's pop-up blocker is on automatically. To turn it off, open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Websites tab, then find Pop-ups in the left sidebar. Change the dropdown from Block to Allow. This turns off blocking for all websites.

You can also block pop-ups on specific websites only, rather than everywhere. In that same Pop-ups section, you can add individual website addresses to a list that either always allows or always blocks them. This gives you more control — you can keep blocking on most sites but allow them where you actually need them.

If you only want to allow pop-ups temporarily while you're on one website, you don't have to change your settings. Just visit the site, and Safari will show a notification at the top of the page saying pop-ups were blocked. Click Allow on that notification, and Safari will let pop-ups through for that visit only.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Safari Settings, click Websites, find Pop-ups in the sidebar, and change the dropdown from Block to Allow to disable blocking everywhere.
  • You can allow pop-ups on only certain websites by adding them to a list in the same Pop-ups section, rather than turning off blocking entirely.
  • Safari shows a notification at the top of the page when it blocks pop-ups, and you can click Allow to let them through just for that visit.
  • Turning off pop-up blocking makes your browsing less safe, because malicious pop-ups can install unwanted software or trick you into giving away personal information.

Why Safari blocks pop-ups in the first place

Pop-ups are windows that open on top of the webpage you're looking at, usually without you clicking anything to make them appear. Most of them are advertisements, but some are malicious — they can try to get you to read software, trick you into entering passwords or payment information, or redirect you to a fake website that looks real.

Safari's blocker stops most pop-ups from opening at all. This protects you from accidentally clicking on something dangerous and keeps your screen less cluttered. The trade-off is that some legitimate websites use pop-ups for things you might actually want — like a chat window to talk to customer service, or a form to sign up for a newsletter.

When you actually need to turn off pop-up blocking

Most websites work fine with pop-ups blocked. But some older websites, banking portals, or specialized tools do use pop-ups for important functions. If a website tells you to disable your pop-up blocker and you trust that website, you can turn blocking off just for that site.

Before you disable blocking, ask yourself: Did I go looking for this website, or did it find me? Did I click a link from somewhere I trust, or did I search for it myself? Websites you actively chose to visit are much safer than ones that appeared in an ad or an email. If you're unsure whether a website is real, keep the blocker on and look for another way to do what you need.

The difference between blocking all pop-ups and blocking them per-site

Turning off blocking entirely in Settings means Safari will allow pop-ups on every website you visit. This is the least safe option, because you lose protection on sites where you don't need pop-ups at all.

The safer approach is to add specific websites to Safari's allow list. Go to Settings, click Websites, click Pop-ups, and you'll see two sections: Allow and Block. Type the website address into the Allow section, and Safari will let pop-ups through only on that site. You keep blocking turned on everywhere else. This way, you get the function you need without lowering your guard on other websites.

What to watch for after you disable blocking

Once you turn off pop-up blocking, you may see windows you didn't expect. Some are harmless ads, but others might ask you to read something, update your browser, or enter personal information. Do not click on anything that appears in a pop-up unless you opened that website specifically to use that pop-up.

If a pop-up says your device has a virus, your software is out of date, or you've won a prize, it is almost certainly a scam. Close it by clicking the X button in the corner, not by clicking any button inside the pop-up itself. If closing it is difficult, force-quit Safari by pressing Command+Q or by right-clicking the Safari icon in the dock and selecting Quit.

How to turn pop-up blocking back on

If you turned off blocking and want to turn it back on, go to Safari Settings, click Websites, click Pop-ups, and change the dropdown back to Block. If you only added a few websites to your allow list and want to keep blocking on most sites, you can delete individual websites from that list instead. Click the minus sign next to any website address to remove it.

Turning blocking back on takes the same number of steps as turning it off, and you can do it anytime. There's no penalty for switching back and forth — Safari remembers your choices, so if you add a website to the allow list today and remove it tomorrow, the setting changes when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off pop-up blocking slow down Safari?

No. Blocking or allowing pop-ups does not affect how fast Safari loads pages or runs. The only difference you'll notice is whether pop-up windows appear on your screen.

Can I block pop-ups on some websites but allow them on others?

Yes. In Safari Settings under Websites, the Pop-ups section has separate Allow and Block lists. Add websites to the Allow list if you want pop-ups there, and they'll stay blocked everywhere else.

What if a website says I need to disable pop-up blocking but I don't trust it?

You don't have to disable blocking. Look for another way to do what you need — call customer service instead of using a chat pop-up, or find a different website that offers the same service. If the website is legitimate, it will have other ways to help you.

Is it safe to turn off pop-up blocking?

It's less safe than keeping it on. You lose protection against malicious pop-ups that can trick you or install unwanted software. Only turn it off for websites you trust, and turn it back on when you're done.