Safari blocks popups by default, and you turn that off in Settings
Safari's popup blocker stops most windows that open without you clicking a link. To disable it, open Safari, go to the menu bar and click Safari, 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.
On iPhone or iPad, the process is different because Safari settings live in the main Settings app, not in Safari itself. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Safari, then scroll to the General section and toggle off Block Pop-ups.
Once you disable the blocker, popups will appear on any website you visit. If you only want to allow popups on one specific site, you can set that in the same Settings window — just select the site from the list and choose Allow for that domain only.
Key Takeaways
- On Mac, disable popups through Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups, then change the setting from Block to Allow.
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > General and toggle off Block Pop-ups.
- You can allow popups for all websites or just one specific site by choosing which domains get permission.
- Disabling the blocker means popups will appear on every website, so only turn it off if you need popups from a particular site.
Why websites ask you to disable the blocker
Some websites use popups for legitimate reasons — to show you a login window, display a form you need to fill out, or open a document in a new tab. When Safari blocks these, the website may not work the way it's supposed to. The site might tell you "please disable your popup blocker" because it genuinely needs that popup to function.
The blocker can't tell the difference between a popup you want and one designed to show you ads or trick you into clicking something. It blocks all of them equally. That's why the setting exists: sometimes you need to let popups through for a specific website to work.
The security trade-off of turning off the blocker
Popup blockers exist because popups are often used for malicious purposes — to deliver malware, trick you into downloading something unsafe, or redirect you to a phishing site that looks like a real bank or email service. When you disable the blocker, you lose that layer of protection.
The safest approach is to keep the blocker on and only disable it for websites you trust. If a site asks you to turn off the blocker but you're not sure whether you trust it, you can test it by allowing popups just for that one domain instead of turning off the blocker entirely. This way, other websites still have the protection.
How to allow popups for just one website
If you only need popups from a specific site, you don't have to disable the blocker globally. On Mac, open Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups. In the list on the left, find the website you want to allow popups from. If it's not there, visit that website first, then return to Settings — Safari will add it to the list. Click the site name and change the dropdown to Allow.
This way, that one site can show you popups, but every other website still has the blocker active. It's a middle ground between full protection and no protection at all.
What to do if a popup blocker setting doesn't stick
Sometimes you change the setting and it doesn't seem to work. First, make sure you've actually saved the change — click outside the dropdown or close the Settings window to confirm. Then reload the website in Safari by pressing Command-R (or Ctrl-R on Windows).
If popups still don't appear, the website might be using a different method to open windows that Safari's blocker doesn't control. Some sites use JavaScript to open new tabs, and Safari may block those separately. You can also try clearing your Safari cache — go to Safari > Settings > Privacy and click Manage Website Data, find the site, and click Remove. Then reload the page.
Turning the blocker back on when you're done
Once you've finished with the website that needed popups, you can turn the blocker back on. Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups and change the setting back to Block for that site, or switch the global setting back to Block if you disabled it for all websites.
If you allowed popups for a single site and want to remove that permission, select the site in the Pop-ups list and change it back to Block. The next time you visit that site, the blocker will be active again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling the popup blocker slow down Safari?
No, disabling the blocker won't make Safari slower. It may feel slower because more windows are opening on screen, but the browser itself runs at the same speed. The blocker is a filter, not a performance tool.
Can I disable the blocker for just one tab instead of the whole browser?
No, Safari's popup blocker setting applies to all tabs and windows. You can only control it by website or turn it on and off globally. If you need popups from one site, allow them for that domain specifically rather than disabling the blocker for everything.
What's the difference between a popup and a pop-under?
A popup opens on top of the website you're viewing. A pop-under opens behind your current window, so you don't see it until you close Safari or switch windows. Safari's blocker stops both types.
If I allow popups on a website, will I get ads?
You may see more ads or unwanted windows, yes. Some websites use popups for legitimate features, but others use them to show advertisements. Allowing popups means you're accepting both the useful windows and the ad windows that site chooses to send.