Safari blocks pop-ups by default, and you can turn that off for all websites or just the ones you trust

Safari's pop-up blocker stops most unsolicited windows from opening, but sometimes a website you use legitimately needs to open a new window — to show you a receipt, display a form, or play a video. When that happens, you have two choices: disable the blocker entirely, or tell Safari to allow pop-ups from that specific site. The second option is safer because it keeps protection on everywhere else.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on Mac, iPhone, or iPad, but the setting lives in the same place: Safari's preferences.

Key Takeaways

  • Safari's pop-up blocker is on by default; you can turn it off in Safari Settings or Preferences under the Security tab.
  • Disabling the blocker entirely removes protection from all websites, so consider allowing pop-ups only for sites you trust.
  • On Mac, you can also right-click a blocked pop-up notification and choose to allow pop-ups from that site without changing your global setting.
  • On iPhone and iPad, you must change the setting in Settings > Safari > Block Pop-ups, not within the Safari app itself.
  • Some websites detect the pop-up blocker and show a message telling you to disable it; follow the site's instructions to allow pop-ups.

Disable pop-up blocker on Mac Safari

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

You will see a checkbox labeled Block pop-ups. Uncheck it to turn off the blocker for all websites. If you want to keep the blocker on but allow pop-ups from a specific site, leave this box checked and instead visit the site, wait for a pop-up to be blocked, then look for a notification bar at the top of the page. Click the notification and select Allow Pop-ups for This Website.

Close the Settings window when you're done. The change takes effect immediately.

Disable pop-up blocker on iPhone or iPad Safari

The pop-up blocker setting on iPhone and iPad is not in the Safari app itself — it's in the system Settings. Open the Settings app on your device. Scroll down and tap Safari.

Look for the toggle labeled Block Pop-ups and tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray when it's disabled. You can now return to Safari and reload any page that was blocked before.

Unlike Mac Safari, iPhone and iPad do not offer a per-site exception. If you turn off the blocker, it stays off until you turn it back on.

Allow pop-ups from one site without disabling the blocker everywhere

If you want to keep the pop-up blocker on for security but allow it for a specific website, the easiest route on Mac is to let Safari block the pop-up first, then grant permission. Visit the website, and when a pop-up is blocked, Safari shows a notification bar below the address bar. Click that notification and choose Allow Pop-ups for This Website.

Safari remembers this choice and will allow pop-ups from that domain going forward, even though the blocker remains on for everywhere else. If you change your mind later, return to Safari Settings, click the Security tab, and click Manage Website Settings next to the Block Pop-ups checkbox. Find the site in the list and change its setting back to Block.

On iPhone and iPad, you cannot set exceptions per site. You must either turn the blocker off entirely or leave it on.

Why a website says the blocker is on when it isn't

Some websites check whether your browser allows pop-ups and show a message telling you to disable the blocker, even if you already have. This usually means the site is trying to open a pop-up and Safari blocked it before the site's own check could run.

Reload the page after you've allowed pop-ups from that site (or disabled the blocker globally). The site's script will run again and should detect that pop-ups are now permitted. If the message persists, the website may have a technical issue, or it may be checking for pop-ups in a way that Safari's setting doesn't affect.

When to turn the blocker back on

Once you've finished with the site that needed pop-ups, consider re-enabling the blocker if you disabled it globally. Pop-ups are often used to deliver ads, malware, or phishing pages, so keeping the blocker on protects you from unwanted windows opening without your knowledge.

If you allowed pop-ups for a specific site using the per-site exception on Mac, you don't need to do anything — the blocker stays on everywhere else. If you want to remove that exception later, go back to Safari Settings, click Manage Website Settings under Block Pop-ups, find the site, and set it to Block.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling the pop-up blocker make my Mac less secure?

It removes one layer of protection, but it does not make your Mac vulnerable on its own. Malware and phishing attacks rely on many vectors, not just pop-ups. If you disable the blocker, stay alert for unexpected windows and close them immediately. Re-enabling it when you're done is the safest approach.

Can I allow pop-ups for one site on iPhone without turning off the blocker everywhere?

No. iOS Safari does not offer per-site exceptions for the pop-up blocker. You must either disable it globally or leave it on. If a site requires pop-ups, you can turn the blocker off, use the site, then turn it back on when you're finished.

What if I allowed pop-ups for a site but want to block them again?

On Mac, open Safari Settings, click Security, then click Manage Website Settings next to Block Pop-ups. Find the site in the list, select it, and change the dropdown from Allow to Block. On iPhone and iPad, you can only toggle the blocker on or off globally.

Does Safari's pop-up blocker block all pop-ups?

No. It blocks most unsolicited pop-ups, but some websites use techniques that bypass it. If a pop-up still appears after the blocker is on, the site may be using a method Safari does not detect, or the pop-up may be triggered by your own action (like clicking a link), which Safari allows.