Firefox blocks most pop-ups by default, but you can allow them for sites you trust
Firefox comes with a built-in pop-up blocker that stops most new windows from opening without your action. This protects you from unwanted ads and malicious pop-ups, but some legitimate websites need pop-ups to work — banking sites, online forms, video players, and document viewers often rely on them. You can turn off blocking for individual websites while keeping protection on everywhere else.
The fastest way is to click the pop-up blocker notification that appears when Firefox stops a pop-up, then choose to allow pop-ups for that site. If you do not see a notification, you can add the site to Firefox's exceptions list manually through Settings. Either way takes less than a minute and applies only to the domain you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Firefox shows a notification bar when it blocks a pop-up, with a button to allow pop-ups for that specific site.
- You can also add sites to the pop-up exceptions list in Firefox Settings under Permissions, which takes effect when ready.
- Allowing pop-ups for one domain does not affect other sites — each site you trust must be added separately.
- If you turn off the pop-up blocker entirely, you lose protection on all websites, so adding exceptions for individual sites is safer.
Allow pop-ups using the Firefox notification bar
When Firefox blocks a pop-up, a gray notification bar appears at the top of the page. The bar says "Firefox blocked a pop-up window" and includes a button labeled "Show" or "Allow". Click that button to open the blocked pop-up, then choose whether to allow future pop-ups from that site.
After you click "Show", a small menu appears asking "Allow pop-ups for this site?" Select "Allow" to add the domain to your exceptions list. From that point forward, pop-ups from that website will open without being blocked. If you change your mind later, you can remove the site from the exceptions list using the same Settings menu described below.
Add a site to the pop-up exceptions list in Settings
Open Firefox and select the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Click "Settings", then choose "Privacy & Security" from the left sidebar. Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and find "Pop-ups".
Click the "Exceptions" button next to "Pop-ups". A window opens showing sites you have already allowed. To add a new site, type the web address (for example, www.example.com) in the text field labeled "Address of website", then click "Allow". The site is added to your list when ready. Close the window when you are finished, and the change takes effect right away — you do not need to restart Firefox.
Remove a site from the pop-up exceptions list
If you no longer want to allow pop-ups for a particular website, you can remove it from your exceptions. Open Firefox Settings, go to "Privacy & Security", scroll to "Permissions", and click "Exceptions" next to "Pop-ups".
Find the site you want to remove in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the "Remove" button. The site is deleted from your exceptions when ready. The next time you visit that website, Firefox will block its pop-ups again unless you allow them through the notification bar.
Turn off the pop-up blocker entirely (not recommended)
If you want Firefox to allow all pop-ups on all websites without blocking any, you can disable the pop-up blocker completely. Open Firefox Settings, go to "Privacy & Security", and scroll to "Permissions". Uncheck the box next to "Block pop-up windows".
Turning off the blocker entirely exposes you to unwanted pop-ups, ads, and potentially harmful content on any website you visit. Most users should leave the blocker on and add exceptions only for sites that genuinely need pop-ups. If you do turn it off, you can turn it back on at any time by checking the same box.
Troubleshoot pop-ups that still do not open
If you have allowed pop-ups for a site but they still do not appear, the problem may not be Firefox's blocker. Some websites use code that Firefox's security features block for other reasons, or the site itself may have a setting that controls pop-ups separately.
Try these steps: First, make sure you have actually added the site to your exceptions — go back to Settings and verify it appears in the "Pop-ups" exceptions list. Second, try disabling any browser extensions that might block pop-ups, such as ad blockers or privacy tools. Third, try opening the site in a private window (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows, Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) to see if an extension is interfering. If pop-ups work in private mode but not normal mode, an extension is the cause — check your extensions list and disable them one at a time to find which one is blocking them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will allowing pop-ups for one site affect other websites?
No. Each site you add to the exceptions list is treated separately. Allowing pop-ups for your bank does not affect pop-up blocking on any other website. You must add each domain individually if you want to allow pop-ups for multiple sites.
What if I accidentally allowed pop-ups for a site and now regret it?
Go to Firefox Settings, select "Privacy & Security", click "Exceptions" next to "Pop-ups", find the site in the list, select it, and click "Remove". Pop-ups from that site will be blocked again when ready.
Can I allow pop-ups only at certain times or for certain types of pop-ups?
Firefox's built-in blocker does not offer that level of control. Once you allow pop-ups for a site, all pop-ups from that domain will open. If you need more detailed control, you can use a browser extension designed for advanced pop-up management, though this is rarely necessary for most users.
Why does Firefox block pop-ups if they are sometimes useful?
Most pop-ups on the internet are advertisements or malicious content designed to trick you or slow your browsing. Firefox blocks them by default to protect you. Legitimate websites that need pop-ups (like banks or document viewers) are the exception, which is why Firefox lets you allow them on a case-by-case basis.