Safari blocks most pop-ups automatically, but you can turn that off in Settings
Safari's pop-up blocker is on by default. It stops most new windows from opening when you visit a website. If a site you trust needs pop-ups to work — like a login window, a document viewer, or a tool that opens in a new tab — you can turn the blocker off entirely, or allow pop-ups just for that one site.
The fastest route depends on whether you want to disable the blocker everywhere or just for one website. Both take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Safari's pop-up blocker lives in Settings under Websites, and you can turn it off completely or site by site.
- To disable it for one website, visit that site, then go to Settings > Websites > Pop-ups and change the dropdown for that domain to "Allow".
- To disable it everywhere, go to Settings > Websites > Pop-ups and change the default dropdown from "Block" to "Allow".
- If you turn off the blocker entirely, you will see more unwanted pop-ups from ad networks and scam sites, so allowing pop-ups only for sites you trust is usually the better choice.
How to allow pop-ups for one website only
This is the safest option if only one or two sites need pop-ups to work. Visit the website first, then open Safari's settings.
On Mac: Click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences. Click the Websites tab. On the left side, click Pop-ups. Find the website you just visited in the list — it will show the domain name, like "example.com". Click the dropdown next to it and change it from "Block" to "Allow".
On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings (the gray gear icon on your home screen, not Safari's settings). Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Websites. Tap Pop-ups. Find the website in the list and tap it, then tap "Allow".
The next time you visit that site, pop-ups will open. If the site still does not work, refresh the page or close Safari completely and open it again — sometimes the change takes a moment to take effect.
How to turn off the pop-up blocker everywhere
If you want to disable the blocker for all websites at once, the steps are similar but you change the default setting instead of a single site.
On Mac: Click Safari > Preferences > Websites > Pop-ups. At the bottom of the window, you will see a dropdown that says "When visiting other websites". Change it from "Block" to "Allow".
On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings > Safari > Websites > Pop-ups. Tap the dropdown at the bottom that says "When visiting other websites" and change it to "Allow".
Once you do this, all websites can open pop-ups. You will likely see more unwanted windows from ad networks and sites trying to get you to click on things. If you change your mind, you can always turn the blocker back on by reversing these steps.
Why Safari blocks pop-ups in the first place
Pop-ups were originally a way for websites to show you information you asked for — a login window, a larger image, a calculator tool. But advertisers and scam sites learned to use them too, flooding your screen with ads and fake warnings.
Safari's blocker stops most of these automatically. It allows pop-ups that the website code explicitly asks for (called "user-initiated" pop-ups, which happen when you click a button), but blocks ones that try to open on their own when you land on the page.
This is why some legitimate sites still work fine even with the blocker on — they only use pop-ups when you actually click something. If a site is broken with the blocker enabled, it usually means the site's code is opening pop-ups without waiting for you to click, which is the behavior the blocker is designed to stop.
What to do if allowing pop-ups does not fix the problem
Sometimes a website does not work even after you allow pop-ups. This usually means the problem is something else — a browser setting, a plugin, or the site itself.
Try these steps in order: First, refresh the page by pressing Command-R on Mac or pulling down on the page on iPhone. Second, close Safari completely and open it again. Third, check if the site works in a different browser like Chrome or Firefox — if it does, the problem is Safari-specific and you may need to contact the website's support team.
If the site works in another browser, you can also try clearing Safari's cache. On Mac, click Safari > Clear History, then choose "all history" and click Clear History. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Then try the site again.
How to block pop-ups again if you changed your mind
If you turned off the blocker and now want to turn it back on, the process is the same as turning it off — you just change the setting back.
On Mac: Safari > Preferences > Websites > Pop-ups > change the "When visiting other websites" dropdown back to "Block".
On iPhone or iPad: Settings > Safari > Websites > Pop-ups > change the "When visiting other websites" dropdown back to "Block".
If you allowed pop-ups for a single site and want to block them again, find that site in the same list and change its dropdown back to "Block".
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a website say pop-ups are blocked when I have the blocker turned off?
Some websites check whether pop-ups are allowed and show a message even if the blocker is off. This usually means the site's code is trying to open a pop-up without you clicking anything, which Safari is still blocking even with the setting changed. Try clicking a button on the site that says "Open" or "View" — if that works, the site needs you to click something first.
Can I block pop-ups from one website while allowing them everywhere else?
Yes. Leave the default setting on "Block", then find any sites you want to allow in the Pop-ups list and change only those to "Allow". This way, most sites are blocked but your trusted sites can still open pop-ups.
Does disabling the pop-up blocker make Safari less find?
It makes you more vulnerable to scam pop-ups and ads, but it does not affect Safari's other security features like blocking malicious websites or protecting your passwords. If you only allow pop-ups for sites you trust, the risk is small.
What is the difference between a pop-up and a pop-under?
A pop-up opens on top of the page you are viewing. A pop-under opens behind it, so you do not see it until you close Safari or minimize your window. Safari's blocker stops both, and both are controlled by the same setting.