While pop-ups and redirects are popular tools used by websites to facilitate transactions, and share information, those are also used by malicious actors to infect internet users. It’s important to learn how you can allow or block pop-ups. Here’s some help.
Updated October 2026. We updated the Mac steps to Safari’s current Settings menu, added the per-website options and the current iPhone and iPad path from Apple Support, and removed dated claims.
Pop-ups are small windows that literally pop up on an existing window to show some additional information or to prompt an action. They are used by a lot of websites for marketing, sharing information about discounts and offers, and in some cases to complete a financial transaction such as a payment or sign-in. So, it is an important tool used by legitimate websites. However, if a website is infected or if you land on an unsecured website by chance, pop-ups can be dangerous.
- A pop-up can direct you to a malicious website
- It can be used for click-jacking
- It can be used to steal data
- Cryptominers can use pop-ups
Moreover, pop-ups can hinder your browsing experience and consume computational resources.
How to block pop-ups in Safari for MacOS
Safari is a secure browser that protects you against malicious sites but it cannot recognize authentic pop-ups from fake or malicious ones. It is something you have to do manually. Usually, when a website needs pop-ups to function properly it lets you know. So, you can block pop-ups in general and unblock them while using a website for which pop-ups are essential. Follow the steps.
- Launch Safari
- Click Safari in the menu bar
- Select Settings (called Preferences in older versions of macOS)
- Go to the Websites tab
- Select Pop-up Windows from the bottom of the sidebar (scroll down if you don’t see it)
- Open the menu labeled “When visiting other websites” and choose Block, or Block and Notify.
This will block pop-ups on the websites you visit. If any sites are listed under Configured Websites with a different setting, select them and click Remove so the general setting applies to them too. With Block and Notify, Safari hides pop-ups but lets you show them by clicking the Show button in the Smart Search field. What if you need to allow pop-ups? Simply repeat the steps and choose Allow.
Launch Safari > Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows > Allow.
To allow pop-ups for just one website, open that website in Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows, and choose Allow in the menu next to that site. Apple notes that if a site still shows pop-ups after you block them, your Mac may have unwanted software installed.
This will allow pop-ups and let you enjoy the full functionalities of websites that need pop-ups. At other times, it’s better to keep the pop-ups blocked. You do not want to click on an adware program.
Also Read – How to Block Sites on Safari for iPhone and iPad
How to block pop-ups on your iPhone or iPad?
Safari is just as widely used on iOS devices as on MacOS. So, if you are an iPhone or iPad user, here’s how you can block those pop-ups.
Open the Settings app > Apps > Safari > turn on Block Pop-ups.
To allow pop-ups again, repeat the steps and turn Block Pop-ups off. On the same screen you can also turn on Fraudulent Website Warning, which warns you before you visit a suspected phishing site. On a Mac, the matching option is in the Security tab of Safari’s settings.
Wrapping up
Many cyberattacks rely on tricking unsuspecting users into clicking on malicious links, and pop-ups are one way they do it. It’s better to be careful where you click. For your own safety, keep pop-ups blocked and allow them only on websites you trust that need them.
