SoundCloud needs pop-ups enabled to show player controls and notifications
SoundCloud blocks some of its own features when your browser has pop-ups disabled. The most common issue is that the play button, volume slider, or track information won't appear, or notifications about new uploads from artists you follow won't show. Enabling pop-ups for SoundCloud restores these features without opening unwanted advertisements — you are telling your browser to trust SoundCloud specifically, not all websites.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, but the principle is the same: you add SoundCloud to your browser's pop-up whitelist. This takes about one minute and requires no extensions or settings changes outside your browser's built-in controls.
Key Takeaways
- SoundCloud's player and notifications rely on pop-ups, so disabling them site-wide blocks core features.
- You whitelist SoundCloud in your browser's settings rather than disabling pop-up blocking entirely.
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have slightly different menus, but the process takes under a minute in each.
- If pop-ups remain blocked after whitelisting, clear your browser cache or check whether an extension is overriding your settings.
How to enable pop-ups for SoundCloud in Chrome
Open SoundCloud in a new tab. If pop-ups are blocked, you will see a small icon in the address bar — usually a circle with a slash through it, or a pop-up symbol. Click that icon.
A dropdown menu appears. Click Always allow pop-ups and redirects from soundcloud.com. Chrome will remember this choice and stop blocking SoundCloud's pop-ups from that moment forward. Refresh the SoundCloud page and the player controls should appear.
If you do not see the blocked pop-up icon, go to Chrome's main menu (three horizontal lines in the top right), select Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings. Scroll down to Pop-ups and redirects, click it, and add soundcloud.com to the Allow list by typing the URL and clicking Add.
How to enable pop-ups for SoundCloud in Firefox
Open SoundCloud and look for a notification bar at the top of the page. If pop-ups are blocked, Firefox shows a message saying "Pop-ups are blocked on this page." Click the Manage or Preferences button next to that message.
A small menu opens. Select Allow pop-ups for this site. Firefox will whitelist soundcloud.com immediately. Refresh the page to see the player controls.
If the notification bar does not appear, open Firefox's main menu (three horizontal lines in the top right), go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll to Permissions. Find Pop-ups and click Exceptions. Type soundcloud.com in the address field and click Allow, then Save Changes.
How to enable pop-ups for SoundCloud in Safari
Open SoundCloud. If pop-ups are blocked, Safari does not show a visible notification like Chrome or Firefox — the player simply will not load. Go to Safari's menu bar and click Safari, then Settings (or Preferences on older versions).
Click the Websites tab at the top. In the left sidebar, select Pop-ups. You will see three columns: Current Website Settings, Allow, and Block. Make sure soundcloud.com appears in the Allow column. If it is in the Block column, click it and move it to Allow. Close the settings window and refresh SoundCloud.
How to enable pop-ups for SoundCloud in Edge
Open SoundCloud. If pop-ups are blocked, you will see an icon in the address bar similar to Chrome's — a circle with a slash or a pop-up symbol. Click it.
A dropdown appears. Click Always allow pop-ups and redirects from this site. Edge will whitelist soundcloud.com and refresh the page automatically. The player should now be visible.
If you do not see the icon, open Edge's main menu (three horizontal dots in the top right), select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to Site permissions and click Pop-ups and redirects. Click Add under the Allow section, type soundcloud.com, and click Add.
What to do if pop-ups are still blocked after whitelisting
If SoundCloud's player still does not appear after you have whitelisted the site, clear your browser's cache. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac). Select All time and check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data. Refresh SoundCloud.
If clearing the cache does not work, check whether a browser extension is blocking pop-ups. Open your extensions menu and temporarily disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions, then refresh SoundCloud. If the player appears, the extension was interfering. You can then add SoundCloud to that extension's whitelist in its own settings, or keep the extension disabled for SoundCloud only.
On Safari, pop-up blocking is less common, but if you have enabled Prevent cross-site tracking in Settings, it can interfere with SoundCloud's features. Try temporarily disabling it to test whether that is the cause.
Why SoundCloud uses pop-ups
SoundCloud's player, notifications, and some sharing features rely on pop-up windows to function. This is not the same as the pop-up advertisements that browsers block by default. When you whitelist SoundCloud, you are telling your browser that pop-ups from that specific domain are safe and intentional, not spam.
Most modern websites have moved away from pop-ups, but SoundCloud's architecture still depends on them for certain features. Whitelisting the site does not expose you to ads or malware — it simply restores the features SoundCloud needs to work properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will whitelisting SoundCloud allow ads to pop up?
No. Whitelisting a site for pop-ups does not change your ad-blocking settings. You are only allowing SoundCloud to open pop-ups that are part of its own interface, not third-party advertisements. If SoundCloud shows ads in your feed or player, that is separate from pop-up blocking.
Do I have to whitelist SoundCloud on every device?
Yes. Pop-up settings are stored locally on each device and browser. If you use SoundCloud on your phone, tablet, and computer, you will need to whitelist it separately on each one. The setting does not sync across devices.
What if I only want to allow pop-ups sometimes?
Most browsers do not offer a per-session whitelist — once you allow pop-ups for a site, they stay allowed until you remove it. If you want to block pop-ups again later, go back to the same menu where you whitelisted SoundCloud and remove it from the allow list.
Can I whitelist SoundCloud without disabling my ad blocker?
Yes. Pop-up blocking and ad blocking are separate features. You can whitelist SoundCloud for pop-ups while keeping your ad blocker active. However, if your ad blocker is also blocking SoundCloud's player, you may need to whitelist SoundCloud in the ad blocker's settings as well.