Helping millions of people navigate the world of technology.

How to Enable or Disable Safari Pop-up Blocker on Mac

Quick Tips
  • Safari comes equipped with a built-in pop-up blocker
  • Safari’s pop-up ad blocker on iPhone or Mac serves as a defense mechanism against intrusive and potential threats

Block or Unblock Pop-Ups in Safari for One Website

Step 1: Open Safari on your Mac and navigate to a website. Next, select Safari → Setting from the menu bar.

Go to Safari Settings

Step 2: Go to the Websites tab, scroll down, and select Pop-up Windows from the left sidebar.

Step 3: Click the drop-down menu for the website and select either of the following,

  • Allow – The Safari browser will allow all pop-ups from all websites)
  • Block and Notify – macOS Safari will block incoming pop-ups and inform you about the same
  • Block – Safari will simply block pop-ups without informing you. Suitable for focused work and reading

Alternatively, you can also allow Safari pop-ups for selected websites while surfing. When the website is active, right-click the website’s address from the address bar and select Settings for (website name).

Block or Unblock Pop Ups in Safari

Next, from the menu, click the drop-down menu next to the Pop-up Widows and select between Block and Notify, Block, or Allow.

Also Read: How to Turn Off AdBlock in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Completely Turn Off or On Pop-up Blocker on Mac

Step 1: Open Safari and select Setting from the top menu. Go to the Website tab and select Pop-up Windows from the left bar. Next click the drop-down menu from ‘When visiting other websites’ and select either of the following options:

  • Allow
  • Block and Notify
  • Block
go to website, pop-up windows

How to Enable Pop-Ups on Safari in Real-Time

Interestingly, even when using a trusted website you don’t really have to allow pop-ups in Safari. The wise plan is to choose Block and Notify, so you can choose whether to allow or block pop-ups on a case basis.

Now when you visit the said website and a pop-up comes up, you’ll get a block notification. If you want to show the pop-up, click the Show pop-up blocker from the address bar.

How to Enable Pop Ups on Safari in Real Time
Source: Apple

FAQs

1. Are Pop-Ups in Safari Dangerous for Your Mac?

While macOS security doesn’t easily allow viruses or bloatware to be installed, there are certainly risks involved. Moreover, hackers can use these to collect personal information. So, overall allowing all pop-ups is definitely not safe.

2. How do I know which pop-ups to block?

As a general rule, it’s a good practice to block all pop-ups by default. However, you can choose to Allow or Block and Notify them for trusted websites that require pop-ups for essential features.

3. Should I use a third-party app to prevent pop-ups?

Safari’s built-in pop-up blocker is generally sufficient for most users. However, if you frequently encounter pop-up issues or want more advanced features, third-party ad-blocker extensions can be used. Although, it is advised to use a blocker from reputable sources to avoid potential security risks.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Last updated on 04 September, 2024

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.