Safari’s pop-up blocker is a powerful security feature, but sometimes it prevents legitimate pop-ups you actually need. Whether you’re trying to access online banking portals, educational platforms, or web applications, knowing how to allow pop ups on Safari is essential. This guide walks you through every method to enable pop-ups on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, plus troubleshooting tips for when things go wrong.

Tools & Materials Needed

• Mac, iPhone, or iPad running current Safari version
• Internet connection
• Administrator access (for Mac)
• Website URL requiring pop-up access
• 5-10 minutes of your time

Why Safari Blocks Pop-Ups by Default

Safari’s pop-up blocker exists to protect you from malicious advertisements, phishing scams, and unwanted content that can compromise your device’s security. By default, Safari blocks most pop-ups automatically—a feature that has become standard across all modern browsers. According to WikiHow, understanding your browser’s security settings is crucial for maintaining a safe online experience while still accessing legitimate content.

Pop-ups were once the internet’s most notorious nuisance, used primarily for spam and malware distribution. Apple implemented aggressive pop-up blocking to combat this problem. However, many legitimate websites—including banking platforms, appointment schedulers, and document viewers—rely on pop-ups for essential functionality. When you encounter a blocked pop-up on a trusted site, you’ll notice a small icon appearing in Safari’s address bar, indicating that content has been blocked.

The key to managing pop-ups effectively is learning to distinguish between harmful and legitimate pop-ups, then configuring Safari accordingly. This guide explains how to allow pop ups on Safari safely, giving you control over which sites can display pop-ups while maintaining protection against malicious content.

How to Allow Pop-Ups on Mac Safari

The most straightforward way to allow pop ups on Safari on your Mac is through the Security settings. This method disables pop-up blocking globally, meaning all websites can display pop-ups. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Open Safari on your Mac
2. Click “Safari” in the top menu bar
3. Select “Settings” (or “Preferences” on older macOS versions)
4. Navigate to the “Security” tab
5. Look for the checkbox labeled “Block pop-ups”
6. Uncheck the box to allow all pop-ups
7. Close the Settings window—changes save automatically

Once you’ve unchecked “Block pop-ups,” Safari will permit pop-ups from all websites immediately. This is the nuclear option—it provides maximum functionality but offers less protection. If you’re concerned about security, consider using the website-specific method instead, which we’ll cover in detail later. Instructables provides additional browser customization tutorials if you need more advanced configuration.

For users on macOS Monterey or earlier, the process is nearly identical, though the menu structure might vary slightly. If you can’t find the Security tab, try looking under “Privacy” instead. Remember that disabling pop-up blocking affects your entire browsing experience, not just one website.

How to Allow Pop-Ups on iPhone Safari

iPhone users need to access the Settings app rather than Safari’s built-in preferences. Here’s how to allow pop ups on Safari on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Scroll down and tap “Safari”
3. Look for “Block Pop-ups” in the list
4. Tap the toggle switch next to “Block Pop-ups” to turn it off (the switch will turn white/gray)
5. Exit Settings—the change takes effect immediately

On iPhone, the pop-up settings are more limited than on Mac. You either block all pop-ups or allow all pop-ups; there’s no granular website-specific control built into iOS Settings. However, you can still use Safari’s address bar method to allow pop-ups for individual sites, which provides a good middle ground between complete blocking and complete allowance.

If you’re running iOS 15 or later, you might notice additional privacy options in Safari settings. These don’t directly affect pop-ups but work alongside the pop-up blocker to enhance your browsing security. Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version for the best Safari performance and security features.

How to Allow Pop-Ups on iPad Safari

The iPad process mirrors the iPhone method since both devices run on Apple’s iOS operating system. To allow pop ups on Safari on your iPad:

1. Open Settings on your iPad
2. Scroll down and select “Safari”
3. Find the “Block Pop-ups” toggle
4. Switch it off to enable pop-ups
5. Return to Safari—pop-ups are now allowed

iPad users often work with productivity apps and web-based tools that require pop-up functionality, making this setting particularly important for tablet users. If you use your iPad for work or education, you might find that allowing pop-ups is essential for accessing certain platforms. The good news is that the process takes less than a minute, and you can toggle it back on at any time if you encounter too many unwanted pop-ups.

For iPad users who want more granular control, consider using the website-specific allowance method described in the next section. This approach lets you maintain pop-up blocking for most sites while enabling them only where needed. If you also use how to turn off iPad features for parental controls or device management, those settings won’t interfere with pop-up permissions.

Allow Pop-Ups for Specific Websites Only

The safest approach to how to allow pop ups on Safari is enabling them for individual websites rather than globally. This method maintains protection against unwanted pop-ups while giving trusted sites access to pop-up functionality. Here’s how:

On Mac Safari:

1. Visit the website that needs pop-up access
2. Look for a small icon in the address bar (usually a circle with a line through it)
3. Click this pop-up blocker icon
4. Select “Allow Pop-ups for This Website”
5. Refresh the page to see the pop-ups

On iPhone or iPad Safari:

1. Navigate to the website requiring pop-ups
2. Tap the address bar at the top
3. Look for the pop-up blocker icon (appears as a blocked circle)
4. Tap it and select “Allow Pop-ups for This Website”
5. Refresh the page to load the pop-ups

This website-specific approach is ideal because it gives you fine-grained control. You’re not exposing yourself to pop-ups from random sites—only from the ones you explicitly trust. Safari remembers your choices, so you won’t need to repeat this process for the same website. If you later decide to block pop-ups from a site again, simply follow the same steps and select “Block Pop-ups for This Website.”

Troubleshooting Common Pop-Up Issues

Even after enabling pop-ups, you might encounter issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

Pop-ups Still Not Appearing? First, refresh the page using Command+R (Mac) or the refresh button. Some websites require a fresh page load to trigger pop-ups. If that doesn’t work, check whether you’ve actually allowed pop-ups for that specific website. You can verify this in Safari Settings under “Websites” > “Pop-ups,” where you’ll see a list of sites you’ve granted pop-up access.

Too Many Unwanted Pop-Ups? If you disabled global pop-up blocking and now regret it, simply re-enable it through Settings. Alternatively, block pop-ups for specific problematic sites while keeping them enabled globally. This selective approach lets you maintain functionality where you need it while protecting yourself from spam.

Pop-Ups Open in Background Tabs? Some websites deliberately open pop-ups in background tabs to avoid annoying users. This is normal behavior. Check your Safari tab bar to find these hidden pop-ups. If a website is abusing this behavior, you might want to block pop-ups for that site.

According to Lifehacker, browser settings should be adjusted regularly as websites evolve and your needs change. Don’t hesitate to revisit your pop-up settings if your browsing habits shift.

Pop-Ups Blocked Despite Allowing Them? Some websites use aggressive pop-up scripts that Safari blocks for security reasons, regardless of your settings. This is Safari’s way of protecting you from malicious content. If you trust the website completely, you can disable Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) for that site, though this is not recommended for untrusted sites.

Best Practices for Safe Pop-Up Management

Understanding how to allow pop ups on Safari is only half the battle—knowing when and how to do it safely is equally important. Follow these best practices to maintain security while enjoying full website functionality:

Only Allow Pop-Ups for Trusted Websites: Restrict pop-up access to sites you recognize and trust completely. Banks, educational institutions, and established companies are generally safe. Avoid allowing pop-ups for random websites or those with questionable reputations.

Keep Safari Updated: Apple regularly releases security updates that improve Safari’s ability to distinguish between legitimate and malicious pop-ups. Ensure your Mac, iPhone, or iPad runs the latest operating system version. You can check for updates in System Settings (Mac) or Settings (iOS/iPadOS).

Use Additional Security Tools: Consider enabling Safari’s other security features, such as fraudulent website warnings and privacy-preserving ad tracking blocking. These work alongside pop-up settings to create a comprehensive security posture. If you’re interested in broader device security, how to turn off Find My iPhone settings can help you understand Apple’s security ecosystem.

Monitor Your Pop-Up Exceptions List: Periodically review the websites you’ve allowed pop-ups for. If you no longer visit a site or no longer trust it, remove it from your exceptions. On Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-ups to see and manage this list.

Be Skeptical of Pop-Ups Themselves: Even from allowed sites, be cautious about what pop-ups ask you to do. Legitimate pop-ups typically request information for account verification or display important notifications. Suspicious pop-ups asking for passwords or credit card information should be closed immediately, even if they appear to come from trusted sites.

When to Keep Pop-Ups Blocked

While this guide focuses on enabling pop-ups, it’s equally important to know when keeping them blocked is the better choice. Most users benefit from maintaining Safari’s default pop-up blocking for the majority of their browsing.

Keep Pop-Ups Blocked For:

• Unknown or suspicious websites
• Sites offering free movies, music, or software downloads
• Websites with excessive advertising
• Social media platforms (rarely need pop-ups for legitimate functionality)
• News sites and blogs (pop-ups are usually ads, not essential features)
• Shopping sites that aren’t official retailers
• Any site requesting sensitive personal or financial information via pop-up

The default pop-up blocking in Safari exists for good reason. Malicious actors still use pop-ups to distribute malware, conduct phishing attacks, and redirect users to compromised sites. By keeping pop-ups blocked globally and only allowing them for specific trusted sites, you maintain maximum security while preserving functionality.

If you frequently encounter blocked pop-ups on legitimate sites, it might indicate that you’re visiting sites that aren’t optimized for modern browsers. In such cases, contact the website’s support team and ask them to update their pop-up implementation to comply with current web standards.