Pop-ups are blocked by default on every Mac browser, but you can allow them for specific websites
Your Mac browser blocks most pop-ups automatically to protect you from ads and malware. When a site you trust needs to show you a pop-up — a new window with a form, a document, or a tool — your browser silently stops it. You can tell the browser to allow pop-ups from that one site without opening yourself to every pop-up on the internet.
The steps differ slightly between Safari, Chrome, and Firefox, but the idea is the same: you visit the site, the browser blocks the pop-up, and you tell it to allow pop-ups from that domain going forward. The setting sticks, so you only have to do it once per site.
Key Takeaways
- Safari, Chrome, and Firefox all block pop-ups by default and show you a notification when they do.
- You allow pop-ups per website, not globally, so blocking stays on for sites you do not trust.
- In Safari, click the pop-up blocker icon in the address bar and choose to allow pop-ups for that site.
- In Chrome and Firefox, click the blocked pop-up notification and select the option to allow pop-ups from that domain.
- Once you allow pop-ups for a site, the browser remembers the setting and stops blocking them there automatically.
How to allow pop-ups in Safari
When Safari blocks a pop-up, a small icon appears in the address bar on the right side — it looks like a hand with a finger pointing at a circle. Click that icon and you will see a menu with the option "Allow Pop-ups for [website name]". Click that option and Safari will stop blocking pop-ups from that site.
If you want to check which sites you have already allowed, open Safari's menu and go to Preferences (or Settings on newer Macs). Click the Websites tab, then select Pop-ups from the list on the left. You will see every site you have permitted, and you can remove any of them by selecting the site and clicking Remove.
To turn off pop-up blocking entirely — which is not recommended — go to the same Websites tab, select Pop-ups, and change the default setting from "Block" to "Allow". This opens you to unwanted pop-ups from every site, so most people leave this alone and just allow pop-ups site by site.
How to allow pop-ups in Chrome
Chrome shows a notification when it blocks a pop-up. Look for a small icon on the right side of the address bar that looks like a window with a slash through it. Click that icon and you will see "Always allow pop-ups and redirects from [website name]". Click that option and Chrome will permit pop-ups from that domain.
If you do not see the notification, the pop-up may have been blocked before you could interact with the page. In that case, open Chrome's menu (three horizontal lines in the top right), go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Scroll down to Pop-ups and redirects and click it. You will see a list of sites you have allowed and sites you have blocked. Click the plus sign to add a new site, or click an existing site to change its setting.
To block pop-ups from a site you previously allowed, go back to the same Pop-ups and redirects page, find the site in the "Allow" section, and click the X next to it.
How to allow pop-ups in Firefox
Firefox displays a notification bar at the top of the page when it blocks a pop-up. The bar says "Firefox blocked a pop-up window" and includes a button labeled "Show". Click Show and Firefox will open the blocked pop-up. If you want Firefox to stop blocking pop-ups from that site, click the menu button (three horizontal lines in the top right), go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Permissions.
Under Permissions, find the Pop-ups section. Click the Exceptions button next to it. In the window that opens, type the website address in the "Address of website" field and click Allow, then Save Changes. Firefox will now permit pop-ups from that site.
To remove a site from your exceptions list, go back to the same Pop-ups Exceptions window, find the site in the list, select it, and click Remove Site.
Why a site might need pop-ups
Most pop-ups are advertisements, and blocking them makes browsing faster and cleaner. But some legitimate tools and services use pop-ups for real functions. A bank might open a pop-up for a find login window. A document editor might use a pop-up to show you formatting options. A video player might open a pop-up for full-screen playback or captions.
If a site tells you to allow pop-ups and nothing happens when you do, the site may have a technical problem, or your browser settings may have an additional restriction. Try refreshing the page after you allow pop-ups. If the pop-up still does not appear, contact the site's support team — they can tell you whether the feature works on Mac or whether there is a workaround.
Allowing pop-ups does not mean allowing all ads
Turning on pop-ups for one site does not change your ad blocker, tracker blocker, or any other browser protection. You are only telling the browser to stop blocking new windows from that specific domain. Ads that load within the page itself are still subject to your other settings.
If you notice that allowing pop-ups from a site brings in a flood of unwanted advertisements, you can remove that site from your exceptions and look for an alternative service. Some sites use pop-ups responsibly; others use them to show you ads. You control which sites get that permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I allow pop-ups for a site and then change my mind?
You can remove the site from your exceptions at any time. In Safari, go to Preferences > Websites > Pop-ups and click Remove next to the site. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects and click the X next to the site. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Pop-ups > Exceptions, select the site, and click Remove Site.
Can I allow pop-ups only for a specific page, not the whole website?
No. When you allow pop-ups, you allow them for the entire domain. If you allow pop-ups for example.com, the browser will allow them from example.com/page1, example.com/page2, and any other page on that domain. You cannot narrow it down further.
Why does a site say pop-ups are allowed but I still do not see them?
The site may have a bug, or your browser may have blocked the pop-up for a different reason — such as a redirect blocker or a security setting. Try refreshing the page. If the pop-up still does not appear, check whether your browser has other blocking features turned on, or contact the site to ask whether the feature works on Mac.
Is it safe to allow pop-ups from any website?
Only allow pop-ups from sites you trust. Allowing pop-ups from a suspicious site can expose you to malware or scams. If you are unsure whether a site is legitimate, do not allow pop-ups from it. You can always allow them later if you decide the site is safe.