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:

1. Select?Websites
2. Click?Pop-up Windows?in the left navigation pane
3. Locate?When visiting other websites?in the lower right of the screen
4. 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

You can also set your Safari browser to allow pop-ups from specific websites only. Make sure you are on the website for which you would like to allow pop-ups, and then go to Preferences > Websites > Pop-up Windows as described above. Now the website you are visiting will appear on a list of Currently Open Websites. Click on the drop-down menu and select?Allow?to enable pop-ups on that website.

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:

1. Click?Settings?>?Privacy and security?>?Site settings
2. Scroll down to?Pop-ups and redirects?and click the arrow on the right to open the menu where you can set your preferences
3. To allow all pop-ups, click the circle next to?Sites can send pop-ups and use redirects?to make this your default
4. To allow pop-ups on specific websites, scroll to?Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects,?and click?Add
5. Enter the website name and save by clicking?Add

Bonus explainer: If you use the Chrome app on an Android phone or tablet and would like to allow pop-ups, open the app and tap?Settings?>?Permissions?>?Pop-ups and redirects, then toggle off?Pop-ups and redirects. On an iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome app and tap?More?>?Settings?>?Content Settings?>?Block Pop-ups.

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.

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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.

We hope this post helped you adjust your pop-up settings just the way you like! We look forward to your feedback!

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