Safari blocks most pop-ups by default, and you can turn that off in Settings
Safari's pop-up blocker stops most new windows from opening without your action. If a website you trust needs to open pop-ups — for a login window, a document viewer, or a form — you can disable the blocker entirely, or allow pop-ups only on that one site. The setting lives in Safari Preferences, and the change takes effect when ready.
You have two choices: turn off the blocker for all websites, or add a single website to an exceptions list so pop-ups work there but stay blocked everywhere else. The second option is safer if you only need pop-ups on one or two sites.
Key Takeaways
- Open Safari Preferences by pressing Command+Comma, then click the Security tab to find the pop-up blocker setting.
- Uncheck "Block pop-ups" to allow pop-ups on all websites, or leave it checked and add exceptions for specific sites.
- To add a website to the exceptions list, visit the site, click Safari in the menu bar, then choose "Add This Website to Pop-Up Exceptions".
- The change takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart Safari or reload the page.
- If you turn the blocker back on later, all exceptions you created will remain saved.
How to turn off the pop-up blocker for all websites
Open Safari and press Command+Comma (or click Safari in the menu bar, then select Preferences). The Preferences window opens.
Click the Security tab at the top. You will see a checkbox that says "Block pop-ups". If it has a checkmark, pop-ups are currently blocked. Click the checkbox to uncheck it. The blocker is now off, and websites can open pop-ups without restriction.
Close the Preferences window. The change takes effect right away — you do not need to reload any pages or restart Safari.
How to allow pop-ups only on one website
If you want pop-ups to work on one site but stay blocked everywhere else, you can add that site to an exceptions list. This is safer than turning off the blocker entirely, because it keeps you protected on other websites.
Visit the website that needs to open pop-ups. Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Look for an option that says "Add This Website to Pop-Up Exceptions" or "Allow Pop-ups on [Website Name]". Click it. The site is now added to your exceptions list.
The next time you visit that website, pop-ups will open normally. The blocker stays on for every other site. If you change your mind later, you can remove the site from the exceptions list by going back to Safari Preferences, clicking Security, then clicking the "Edit List" button next to the pop-up blocker setting.
Why websites need pop-ups to work
Most pop-ups are ads, and Safari blocks them by default to protect your browsing. But some legitimate websites use pop-ups for important functions — a second window to log in, a document viewer, a calculator, or a form that needs to stay separate from the main page.
If a website tells you to disable your pop-up blocker and you trust the site, adding it to exceptions is usually the right move. You keep the blocker on for sites you do not know, and you let trusted sites work the way they need to.
What to do if the "Add to Exceptions" option does not appear
Some websites do not trigger the pop-up blocker at all — they may use a different method to open windows, or they may ask you to click a button that opens the pop-up. In those cases, you will not see the "Add to Exceptions" option because Safari did not block anything.
If a pop-up is not opening and you do not see the exception option, try turning off the blocker entirely for a moment to test whether Safari is the problem. If pop-ups still do not open, the website may need a different setting, or the pop-up feature may not work in Safari at all. Contact the website's support team to ask what browser they recommend.
How to check which websites are on your exceptions list
Open Safari Preferences (Command+Comma) and click the Security tab. Next to "Block pop-ups", click the "Edit List" button. A window appears showing every website you have added to the exceptions list.
You can remove any site by clicking it and pressing Delete, or by clicking the minus button below the list. The change takes effect when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off the pop-up blocker slow down Safari?
No. The pop-up blocker does not affect Safari's speed — it only stops certain windows from opening. Turning it off will not make Safari faster or slower.
If I add a website to exceptions, will it remember that choice?
Yes. Once you add a site to the exceptions list, it stays there until you remove it. The list is saved in Safari Preferences and will be there the next time you open the browser.
Can I turn the pop-up blocker back on after I turn it off?
Yes. Go back to Safari Preferences, click Security, and check the "Block pop-ups" box again. Any exceptions you created will stay saved, so you can turn the blocker back on without losing your list.
What if a website keeps opening unwanted pop-ups even though I added it to exceptions?
The website may be opening pop-ups through a method Safari does not recognize as a pop-up, or the pop-ups may be coming from ads on the page rather than the website itself. Try using Safari's content blocker or ask the website why pop-ups keep appearing.