How to turn a pop-up blocker off in your web browser
We remember the days when web browsing was interrupted by pop-up ads – those small windows would suddenly appear in the foreground, distracting our attention. Because they can be so annoying, web browsers now automatically block pop-up windows. But blocking all pop-ups can also disable website features you need.
Why turn off pop-up blockers?
Blocking pop-ups can interfere with the functionality of a website – like banks or retail sites that use pop-ups to open customer service chats. So, although most web browsers block pop-up windows by default, it is possible to enable specific websites to use pop-ups while still blocking all others. There is also the option of allowing all pop-up windows. Here’s how you can turn off pop-up blockers and enjoy the browsing experience that suits you best.How to allow pop-ups on a Mac
Like other web browsers, the Safari browser on your Mac blocks pop-ups by default; however, you can adjust the settings to enable all pop-ups. Just open your Safari browser, go to the drop-down menu, click Preferences and follow these steps:- Select Websites
- Click Pop-up Windows in the left navigation pane
- Locate When visiting other websites in the lower right of the screen
- Click the drop-down menu and select from the following options:
- Allow: You will see all website pop-ups
- Block and Notify: Pop-ups will not appear automatically, but if there are pop-ups on a website you have the option of showing them
- Block: You will not see any website pop-ups
Bonus explainer: To unblock pop-ups in Safari on your iPhone or iPad, simply go to the Settings, scroll down to Safari and tap, and then toggle off the Block Pop-ups button (the color will change from green to gray).
Allow pop-ups in Chrome
Pop-ups are blocked by default in the Google Chrome browser. Whenever Chrome prevents a pop-up window from opening, “Pop-up blocked” will appear in the address bar. If you would like to turn pop-ups on, open the Chrome browser on your computer, open the browser menu by clicking the three dots in the upper right corner, and follow these steps:- Click Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings
- Scroll down to Pop-ups and redirects and click the arrow on the right to open the menu where you can set your preferences
- To allow all pop-ups, click the circle next to Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects to make this your default
- To allow pop-ups on specific websites, scroll to Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects, and click Add
- Enter the website name and save by clicking Add
How to disable pop-up blockers in other browsers
The process for disabling pop-up blockers is similar in most web browsers. For example, in the desktop version of Mozilla Firefox go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions and uncheck Block pop-up windows.Similarly, in Microsoft Edge go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Pop-ups and redirects and switch of Block.
Pro tip: Why do I keep getting pop-ups?
If you have not enabled pop-ups in your browser and they keep appearing anyway, this could have several different causes. It could be that you have subscribed to receive notifications from a specific website, for example. In other cases, an ad may be designed to look like a pop-up but is not actually one. However, sometimes unwanted pop-ups can be a sign that your device has been infected by malware. If you do not have antivirus software, install an antivirus program from a reputable provider. Run a virus scan and follow the instructions to quarantine or remove any malware that’s discovered.
If you have not enabled pop-ups in your browser and they keep appearing anyway, this could have several different causes. It could be that you have subscribed to receive notifications from a specific website, for example. In other cases, an ad may be designed to look like a pop-up but is not actually one. However, sometimes unwanted pop-ups can be a sign that your device has been infected by malware. If you do not have antivirus software, install an antivirus program from a reputable provider. Run a virus scan and follow the instructions to quarantine or remove any malware that’s discovered.
We hope this post helped you adjust your pop-up settings just the way you like! We look forward to your feedback!
Images: 1&1/GettyImages
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