Where to find the pop-up blocker setting on your Mac

Every major browser on Mac has a pop-up blocker turned on by default. The setting lives in a different place depending on which browser you use — Safari keeps it under Privacy, Chrome and Edge hide it in Site Settings, and Firefox calls it Permissions. You do not need an extension or a restart; turning it off takes one or two clicks and takes effect immediately.

The reason you might need to disable it: some websites you trust use pop-ups for login windows, file downloads, or payment forms. The blocker stops those windows from opening, which can make the site unusable. Turning it off for one site does not turn it off everywhere — you can allow pop-ups only on the domains you choose.

Key Takeaways

  • Safari's pop-up blocker is in Preferences under the Privacy tab, with a checkbox labeled "Block pop-ups".
  • Chrome and Edge use Site Settings to manage pop-ups per website, letting you allow them only where you need them.
  • Firefox groups pop-up control under Permissions in Settings, and also lets you create a list of allowed sites.
  • You can disable the blocker globally or for a single website — most browsers prompt you to allow pop-ups the first time one is blocked.

Disabling pop-ups in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab.

You will see a checkbox that says Block pop-ups. Uncheck it to turn off the blocker entirely. If you want to keep the blocker on but allow pop-ups from a specific site, visit that site first, then go back to Safari > Settings > Privacy and click Manage Website Settings under the pop-ups section. Find the site in the list and change its setting from Block to Allow.

Disabling pop-ups in Chrome and Edge

Open Chrome or Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy and security on the left sidebar, then Site Settings.

Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects. At the top, toggle the switch to Off to disable the blocker globally. To allow pop-ups only on certain sites, scroll down to the Allow section and click Add. Type the website address (for example, example.com) and click Add. Pop-ups from that site will now open, while the blocker remains active everywhere else.

Disabling pop-ups in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left sidebar.

Scroll down to the Permissions section. You will see a checkbox labeled Block pop-up windows. Uncheck it to turn off the blocker. To allow pop-ups only on specific sites, leave the blocker on and click Exceptions next to the checkbox. Type the website address and click Allow. That site can now open pop-ups while the blocker protects you on other sites.

Allowing pop-ups for a single website without changing settings

Most browsers show a notification when they block a pop-up. Look for a message at the top or bottom of the page that says something like "Pop-up blocked" or "This site tried to open a pop-up window." Click the notification and select an option like Always allow pop-ups on this site or Allow.

This method is faster than opening settings if you only need pop-ups from one or two websites. The browser remembers your choice and allows future pop-ups from that site without asking again. If you change your mind later, you can remove the site from the allow list by going back to the pop-up settings and deleting it.

What to do if pop-ups still do not appear after disabling the blocker

If you have turned off the pop-up blocker and pop-ups still are not showing, the problem may be elsewhere. Check whether you have an extension installed that also blocks pop-ups — extensions like uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus can override the browser's own blocker. Open your browser's extension menu and look for anything related to blocking or ad filtering, then disable it temporarily to test.

Another possibility is that the website itself is broken or the pop-up code is outdated. Try the site in a different browser to see if the pop-up appears there. If it does, the issue is specific to your first browser and may require clearing your browser cache or reinstalling the browser. If the pop-up does not appear in any browser, the website may need to be updated by its owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I allow pop-ups on one website but keep the blocker on everywhere else?

Yes. Every browser lets you create an allow list. Visit the pop-up settings (Privacy in Safari, Site Settings in Chrome and Edge, Permissions in Firefox), find the allow or exceptions section, and add the website address. Pop-ups from that site will open while the blocker protects you on all other sites.

Will disabling the pop-up blocker expose me to malware?

Disabling it globally does increase your exposure to unwanted pop-ups and potentially malicious ones. A safer approach is to keep the blocker on and allow pop-ups only on websites you trust. If you must disable it entirely, do so only while you need it, then turn it back on when you are done.

What is the difference between a pop-up blocker and an ad blocker?

A pop-up blocker stops new windows from opening. An ad blocker hides ads on the page itself. They work independently — you can have one on and the other off. If ads are appearing but pop-ups are not, you may need an ad blocker instead of (or in addition to) disabling the pop-up blocker.

Do I need to restart my browser after changing the pop-up blocker setting?

No. The change takes effect immediately. If you are already on a website that was blocked by the pop-up blocker, refresh the page to see if the pop-up now appears.