Why you might need to disable Edge's pop-up blocker
Microsoft Edge blocks most pop-ups by default, which stops annoying ads but also blocks legitimate pop-ups from websites you trust. A banking site might open account details in a new window, a ticket vendor might show your confirmation in a pop-up, or a web process you use for work might need a pop-up to function. When a site you need stops working because Edge is blocking its pop-ups, you have three choices: turn off the blocker entirely, allow pop-ups only from that specific site, or temporarily disable the blocker while you use that site.
The fastest route is usually to allow pop-ups from one site only, rather than lowering your guard everywhere. This keeps you protected from random pop-up ads while unblocking the specific tool or service that needs it.
Key Takeaways
- Edge shows a notification when it blocks a pop-up, with a button to allow pop-ups from that site just once or permanently.
- Allowing pop-ups from a single site takes one click and does not affect your protection on other websites.
- You can turn off pop-up blocking entirely in Edge settings, but this leaves you exposed to unwanted ads on every site.
- If you disable the blocker by mistake, the same settings menu lets you turn it back on in seconds.
Allow pop-ups from one site without changing your settings
When Edge blocks a pop-up, a small notification appears in the address bar — a box with a pop-up icon and the text "Pop-ups blocked." Click that notification to see your options. Edge will show you a dropdown menu with the name of the site that tried to open the pop-up.
Click "Allow" next to the site name. Edge will then permit pop-ups from that site going forward, but will continue blocking pop-ups everywhere else. This is the safest approach because you keep protection on sites you do not use regularly, while unblocking only the specific service you need right now.
If you want to allow the pop-up just this one time without changing your permanent settings, click "Allow once" instead. The next time you visit that site, Edge will block pop-ups again unless you click "Allow" a second time.
Permanently allow pop-ups from a specific website
To add a site to Edge's permanent allow list without waiting for a blocked pop-up notification, open Edge and select the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Click "Settings," then choose "Privacy, search, and services" from the left sidebar.
Scroll down to the "Tracking prevention" section and look for "Pop-ups and redirects." Click the toggle to turn it off if you want to disable blocking entirely, or click "Add" under the "Allow" list to add specific sites. Type the web address of the site where you want to allow pop-ups — for example, https://yourbank.com — and click "Add." Edge will now permit pop-ups from that address.
You can add as many sites as you need to this allow list. Each site you add will have pop-ups unblocked, while all other sites remain protected.
Turn off pop-up blocking for all websites
If you want Edge to stop blocking pop-ups everywhere, return to Settings and navigate to "Privacy, search, and services." Find the "Pop-ups and redirects" toggle under "Tracking prevention" and click it to turn blocking off. Edge will now allow all pop-ups from every website.
Disabling the blocker entirely exposes you to unwanted advertising and potentially malicious pop-ups, so this approach is not recommended unless you have a specific reason to do it. Most websites that need pop-ups to function will work fine if you allow them only from that one site instead.
Turn pop-up blocking back on
If you disabled pop-up blocking and want to restore it, go back to Settings, select "Privacy, search, and services," and find the "Pop-ups and redirects" toggle under "Tracking prevention." Click it to turn blocking back on. Edge will when ready start blocking pop-ups again on all sites except those on your allow list.
If you added sites to the allow list and want to remove one, click the three-dot menu next to that site's address in the allow list and select "Remove." That site will then be subject to pop-up blocking again.
What to do if a site still does not work after allowing pop-ups
Sometimes a website needs pop-ups to function, but allowing pop-ups alone does not fix the problem. The site might also need you to disable other protections, such as tracking prevention or script blocking. Try allowing the site in Edge's tracking prevention settings as well: go to Settings, select "Privacy, search, and services," scroll to "Tracking prevention," and set it to "Balanced" instead of "Strict."
If the site still does not work, the problem may not be Edge's blocker at all. The site might be outdated, incompatible with Edge, or broken on its own. Try opening it in a different browser to see whether the issue is specific to Edge or whether the site itself is not functioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does allowing pop-ups from one site affect other websites?
No. When you allow pop-ups from a specific site, Edge only unblocks pop-ups from that address. All other websites remain protected by the pop-up blocker. You can add multiple sites to the allow list without affecting your protection anywhere else.
Can I remove a site from the allow list?
Yes. Go to Settings, select "Privacy, search, and services," find "Pop-ups and redirects" under "Tracking prevention," and look at the allow list. Click the three-dot menu next to the site you want to remove and select "Remove." That site will then be subject to pop-up blocking again.
What is the difference between "Allow" and "Allow once"?
Clicking "Allow" adds the site to your permanent allow list, so Edge will unblock its pop-ups every time you visit. Clicking "Allow once" permits only the current pop-up; the next time you visit that site, Edge will block pop-ups again unless you click "Allow once" a second time.
Will turning off pop-up blocking protect me from malicious pop-ups?
No. Disabling the blocker removes one layer of protection against unwanted and potentially harmful pop-ups. If you disable it, you rely on your judgment to close suspicious windows. Allowing pop-ups only from sites you trust is safer than disabling the blocker entirely.