Where your Mac's pop-up blocker lives and how to turn it off
Your Mac's pop-up blocker is built into Safari, the web browser that comes with every Mac. It blocks most pop-up windows automatically — but sometimes a website you trust needs to open a pop-up to work properly, like a login window or a document preview. To let pop-ups through, you turn off the blocker in Safari's settings, either for all websites or just the one you're visiting.
The exact steps depend on whether you want to disable the blocker permanently or just for one site. Both take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Safari's pop-up blocker is on by default and blocks most new windows from opening without your click.
- To turn it off for all websites, go to Safari menu > Settings > Security and uncheck "Block pop-ups".
- To allow pop-ups only on one website, visit that site, then go to Safari menu > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups and change that site's setting to "Allow".
- If you use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, the pop-up blocker is in a different menu — Chrome uses Settings > Privacy and Security, Firefox uses Settings > Privacy.
Turning off the pop-up blocker for all websites
Open Safari and click the Safari menu at the top left of your screen. Click Settings (or Preferences if you have an older Mac). A window will open with several tabs across the top.
Click the Security tab. You will see a checkbox that says Block pop-ups. If it has a checkmark, the blocker is on. Click the checkbox to remove the checkmark and turn the blocker off. Close the Settings window — the change saves automatically.
Now pop-ups will open on all websites. If you change your mind later, go back to the same place and check the box again.
Allowing pop-ups on just one website
If you want to keep the blocker on for most sites but allow it on one specific website, you can set an exception. Visit the website that needs to open pop-ups. Then click Safari menu > Settings > Websites tab.
On the left side of the Websites window, click Pop-ups. You will see a list of websites. Find the one you just visited — it should appear at the top or bottom of the list. Click on it, and a dropdown menu will appear on the right side showing three options: Block, Allow, and Ask. Click Allow.
Close the Settings window. The next time you visit that website, pop-ups will open without being blocked. Other websites will still have the blocker on.
What to do if a website says pop-ups are blocked
Some websites show a message like "Pop-ups were blocked" with a button to allow them. This is the website itself telling you that it tried to open a pop-up and Safari stopped it. Click the button the website offers, or click the small icon that appears in Safari's address bar (usually a circle with a line through it). Safari will ask if you want to allow pop-ups on that site — click Allow Once to let just that one pop-up through, or Allow to allow all future pop-ups on that site.
This method is faster than going into Settings if you only need pop-ups to work once or twice.
Pop-up blockers in Chrome and Firefox
If you use Google Chrome instead of Safari, the pop-up blocker is in a different place. Click the three vertical dots (menu button) in the top right corner, then Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. You can turn the blocker off entirely or add specific websites to an allow list.
In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down to Permissions and find Pop-ups. You can turn the blocker off or add exceptions there.
Why websites need pop-ups and why blockers exist
Pop-ups were originally a way for websites to show you important information or open a login window. But advertisers started using them to show ads you did not ask for, so browsers added blockers to stop them. The blocker cannot tell the difference between a pop-up the website needs and a pop-up trying to sell you something, so it blocks them all by default.
Most modern websites have stopped using pop-ups for important functions and use other methods instead. If a website is asking you to turn off the blocker, it usually means the site is older or poorly designed — but sometimes it is legitimate. If you do not recognize the website or it feels suspicious, keep the blocker on and find a different site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off the pop-up blocker let ads through?
Yes. Turning off the blocker means any website can open pop-ups, including ads. If you only want to allow pop-ups on one trusted website, use the per-site exception method instead of turning off the blocker entirely.
Can I block pop-ups on some websites but not others?
Yes. Keep the blocker on in Settings, then go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups and set individual websites to "Allow". This way, most sites stay blocked but the ones you trust can open pop-ups.
What if I turned off the blocker and now I am getting too many pop-ups?
Go back to Safari > Settings > Security and check the "Block pop-ups" box again. The blocker will turn back on when ready. If you want to keep it on but allow pop-ups on one site, use the per-site exception method instead.
Is there a difference between pop-ups and notifications?
Yes. Pop-ups are new windows that open on top of the page. Notifications are messages that appear in the corner of your screen. The pop-up blocker only controls pop-ups, not notifications. Notifications have their own setting in Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications.