Where to find your pop-up blocker settings

Every major browser has a built-in pop-up blocker that you can turn off in the settings menu. The exact location and name differ slightly between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but the process takes less than a minute in any of them. You do not need to download anything or restart your browser.

Most people keep their pop-up blocker on because it stops unwanted ads and malicious windows. You might need to turn it off temporarily if a website you trust uses pop-ups for legitimate purposes — like opening a document, showing a login window, or displaying a form in a new tab. Once you disable it, you can turn it back on whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have built-in pop-up blockers you can disable in Settings or Preferences without restarting the browser.
  • You can turn off the blocker entirely or add specific websites to an exception list so only those sites can open pop-ups.
  • Adding a site to your exceptions list is safer than disabling the blocker completely, because it keeps protection on for other websites.
  • The pop-up blocker will remain off (or the exception will remain active) until you manually change the setting again.

Disable pop-ups in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left sidebar. Choose Site settings, then scroll down and select Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle the switch to Off.

If you want to keep the blocker on but allow pop-ups from one specific website, stay in the Pop-ups and redirects menu and scroll to the Allow section. Click Add and type the website address. Chrome will then let that site open pop-ups while blocking them everywhere else.

Disable pop-ups in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Permissions section and find Pop-ups. Uncheck the box next to "Block pop-up windows."

To add a single website to your exceptions instead, click the Exceptions button next to the pop-ups checkbox. Type the website address in the field and click Allow. Firefox will remember that site and let its pop-ups through while blocking pop-ups from other websites.

Disable pop-ups in Apple Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions), then click the Security tab. Look for the checkbox labeled "Block pop-up windows" and uncheck it.

Safari does not have a built-in exceptions list like Chrome and Firefox, so you cannot easily allow pop-ups from just one website while blocking others. If you need pop-ups from a specific site, you will need to turn off the blocker entirely, visit that site, then turn it back on when you are done.

Disable pop-ups in Microsoft Edge

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

To allow pop-ups from only one website, stay in the Pop-ups and redirects menu and scroll to the Allow section. Click Add and enter the website address. Edge will then permit that site to open pop-ups while continuing to block them on all other sites.

When to use exceptions instead of turning off the blocker

Adding a website to your exceptions list is safer than disabling the pop-up blocker entirely. When you turn off the blocker completely, every website can open pop-ups — including ones that use them to deliver ads or malware. When you add only one site to exceptions, that site can open pop-ups, but your blocker stays active everywhere else.

Use exceptions when you need pop-ups from a website you trust — for example, a banking site that opens account statements in new windows, or a work portal that displays forms in pop-up dialogs. Once you have finished using that site, you can remove it from the exceptions list if you want, or leave it there permanently.

Turning the pop-up blocker back on

To re-enable your pop-up blocker, follow the same steps you used to turn it off and toggle the setting back to On. In Chrome and Edge, click the toggle switch. In Firefox, check the box next to "Block pop-up windows." In Safari, check the box next to "Block pop-up windows."

If you added websites to an exceptions list and want to remove them, go back to the same menu, find the site in the Allow section, and click the trash icon or Remove button next to it. The website will no longer be exempt, and the blocker will treat it like any other site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling my pop-up blocker slow down my browser?

No. The pop-up blocker does not use significant processing power, so turning it off will not make your browser faster. However, you may notice more windows opening, which could make browsing feel slower or more cluttered.

Can I disable the pop-up blocker for just one browsing session?

Not directly. Once you turn off the blocker, it stays off until you manually turn it back on. Using the exceptions list is a better approach if you only need pop-ups from one site temporarily — you can remove the site from exceptions when you are done.

What if a website says my pop-up blocker is preventing something from working?

Add that website to your exceptions list first. If that does not work, turn off the blocker entirely, reload the page, and try again. If the site still does not work, the problem is likely something else — contact the website's support team for help.

Is it safe to disable my pop-up blocker?

It depends on where you browse. Disabling it completely exposes you to unwanted pop-ups and ads on any website. Using exceptions for trusted sites only is much safer. If you must disable it entirely, turn it back on as soon as you finish what you need to do.