Why you might need to disable your pop-up blocker

Pop-up blockers stop most unwanted windows from opening, but they also block pop-ups that websites actually need to work. A login window, a payment form, a document viewer, or a customer service chat might all get blocked by mistake. If a website tells you to disable your pop-up blocker and nothing happens when you click a button, the blocker is probably the reason.

The steps to turn it off depend on which browser you use. Most browsers let you disable the blocker entirely, or you can allow pop-ups just for one website and keep the blocker on everywhere else. Allowing pop-ups for a single site is safer than turning off the blocker completely, because it protects you from ads and malware on other sites.

Key Takeaways

  • Most browsers have a built-in pop-up blocker that you can turn off in Settings, though the exact location varies by browser.
  • You can allow pop-ups for just one website instead of disabling the blocker entirely, which keeps you safer on other sites.
  • When a pop-up is blocked, your browser usually shows a notification bar or icon that lets you allow it with one click.
  • After you change the setting, you may need to reload the webpage for the pop-up to appear.

Disable pop-ups in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left side. Find Site settings and click it. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle the switch at the top to Off.

If you only want to allow pop-ups for one website, leave the blocker on and instead add that site to the Allow list. Click Add next to "Allow", type the website address, and click Add again. The next time you visit that site, pop-ups will work there.

Disable pop-ups in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the Permissions section. Find Pop-ups and uncheck the box next to "Block pop-up windows".

To allow pop-ups for just one site, keep the blocker on. When you visit a site and a pop-up is blocked, Firefox shows a notification bar at the top of the page. Click Show or the pop-up icon to allow that pop-up, or click Manage exceptions to add the site permanently.

Disable pop-ups in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Security tab. Uncheck the box next to "Block pop-up windows".

Safari does not have a simple way to allow pop-ups for just one site through Settings. If you need pop-ups on a specific website, you will need to disable the blocker entirely, visit the site, then turn the blocker back on when you are done.

Disable pop-ups in Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Scroll down to Site permissions and click Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle the switch to Off.

To allow pop-ups for one website only, leave the blocker on and click Add next to "Allow". Type the website address and click Add. Pop-ups will then work on that site while the blocker stays active everywhere else.

What to do when a pop-up is blocked

Most browsers show a notification when they block a pop-up. In Chrome and Edge, a small icon appears in the address bar. In Firefox, a bar slides down from the top. Click the notification to see your options — you can usually allow that one pop-up, or add the site to your allow list.

After you allow the pop-up, reload the webpage by pressing Ctrl+R on Windows or Command+R on Mac. The pop-up should appear now. If it does not, the website may have a problem unrelated to your blocker, and you should contact the website's support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling my pop-up blocker put my computer at risk?

Disabling it entirely exposes you to unwanted ads and potentially harmful pop-ups on many websites. A safer approach is to disable the blocker only for websites you trust, or to disable it temporarily and turn it back on when you are done. Allowing pop-ups for just one site is the safest option.

I allowed pop-ups for a site but they still do not appear. What should I do?

Reload the page by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). If pop-ups still do not show, the website itself may have an issue, or the pop-up may be blocked by a different security setting. Check your browser's notification bar again to see if another blocker is active.

Can I disable the pop-up blocker for just one tab instead of the whole browser?

No, pop-up blocker settings apply to the entire browser. However, you can add a single website to your allow list so pop-ups work only on that site, which gives you similar control without disabling the blocker everywhere.

How do I turn my pop-up blocker back on after I disable it?

Go back to the same Settings location where you turned it off and toggle the switch back to On. The steps are identical to disabling it — just reverse the final action. If you added a site to your allow list instead, you can remove it from that list to block pop-ups there again.