- Allow pop-ups in Safari on iPhone and iPad
- Allow pop-ups for one website on a Mac
- The three settings and what they mean
- Allow pop-ups on every website on a Mac
- Review the sites you've already allowed
- Pop-ups are not the same as website notifications
- Still blocked after you allow it?
- How to spot a pop-up you shouldn't trust
- Stop Safari reopening a page full of pop-ups
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To allow pop-ups on Safari on an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Safari and turn off Block Pop-ups. On a Mac, open the website, choose Safari, then Settings, click Websites, then Pop-up Windows, and set that site to Allow.
Safari blocks pop-ups by default, which is mostly a good thing. The trouble starts when a site you trust needs one: a bank showing a statement, a booking form, a login window for a school or work system. The trick is to let that one site through and keep the blocker on for everything else, and on a Mac you can do exactly that.
Allow pop-ups in Safari on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then Safari.
- Turn off Block Pop-ups.
- Go back to Safari and reload the page.
On the iPhone it's all or nothing. There's no list of allowed sites, so once you've finished with the site that needed a pop-up, go back and turn Block Pop-ups on again. It takes ten seconds and saves you from a flood of ads later.
Allow pop-ups for one website on a Mac
- Open Safari and go to the website that needs pop-ups.
- Choose Safari in the menu bar, then Settings.
- Click the Websites tab.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list on the left and click Pop-up Windows.
- Find the site under Currently Open Websites and set it to Allow.
Because you opened the site first, it shows at the top of the list, which saves hunting for it. The setting sticks, so you won't have to do this again for that site.
The three settings and what they mean
| Setting | What you see on the site |
|---|---|
| Allow | Pop-ups open normally |
| Block and Notify | Pop-ups are held back, with an icon in the address field to show them if you want |
| Block | Pop-ups never appear |
Block and Notify is the one I'd use for sites you're unsure about. Nothing pops up uninvited, but if a page seems broken, you can click the icon in the Smart Search field and let that one pop-up through.
Allow pop-ups on every website on a Mac
In the same Pop-up Windows panel, look at the bottom right for When visiting other websites and set it to Allow. I wouldn't leave it like that. Apple warns that some pop-ups are third-party ads using fake warnings or prizes to trick people into handing over personal or financial details, and that's far more likely when every site can open windows.
Review the sites you've already allowed
Over time the list under Configured Websites in the Pop-up Windows panel can grow without you noticing. Open it every so often and look down the right-hand column. Anything set to Allow that you don't recognise, or don't use any more, can go back to Block or Block and Notify. To clear a site completely, select it and click Remove at the bottom of the list, and Safari falls back to your default setting for it.
Pop-ups are not the same as website notifications
Safari has a separate permission for notifications, the banners that slide in at the top right of a Mac or appear on an iPhone lock screen. A site only gets these if you clicked Allow when it asked. If banners keep appearing, it's that permission, not the pop-up setting. On a Mac, check the Notifications section in the same Websites tab and set the site to Deny.
Still blocked after you allow it?
- Reload the page after changing the setting, because Safari only applies it to new page loads.
- Check content blockers or ad-block extensions in Safari's Extensions settings, which can stop pop-ups on their own.
- On a Mac, make sure you changed the right site: a login page sometimes lives on a different web address from the main site.
- On a work or school device, a management profile may lock the setting.
How to spot a pop-up you shouldn't trust
A real site's pop-up shows you something you asked for, such as a document or sign-in box. Be wary of anything claiming your device is infected, that you've won something or that you must call a number. Apple notes some pop-ups even carry fake close buttons, so if you're not sure, don't click inside it; close the tab or the whole window instead.
If pop-ups keep appearing on your Mac with the blocker on, that's a sign of adware. Apple's advice is to update macOS and restart, since macOS removes known malware on restart, then check your Applications folder and Safari's Extensions tab for anything you didn't install. My review of whether Malwarebytes is safe covers a second opinion scan if you want one.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Stop Safari reopening a page full of pop-ups
If a page has taken over your Mac's screen, quit Safari, then hold Shift as you open it again. Safari won't reopen the windows and tabs you had before, so the problem page stays closed. On an iPhone, type a new address in the search field to leave the page.
My verdict
On a Mac, allow pop-ups only for the site that needs them and leave every other website on Block or Block and Notify. On an iPhone, switch Block Pop-ups off, finish what you're doing and switch it straight back on. And treat any pop-up that warns, threatens or congratulates you as an ad until proven otherwise. Before trying a new app to clean things up, read my take on CleanMyMac.
Frequently asked questions
How do I allow pop-ups on Safari on my iPhone?
Open Settings, tap Apps, then Safari, and turn off Block Pop-ups.
How do I allow pop-ups for one site in Safari on a Mac?
Open the site, choose Safari, Settings, Websites, then Pop-up Windows, and set the site to Allow.
Can I allow pop-ups for just one website on an iPhone?
No. On iPhone the Block Pop-ups setting applies to every site, so turn it back on afterwards.
What does Block and Notify mean in Safari?
Pop-ups are hidden, but an icon in the address field lets you show them if you want.
Why are pop-ups still blocked after I allowed them?
Reload the page and check content blocker extensions, which can block pop-ups separately.
Are pop-ups safe to allow?
Only from sites you trust. Some pop-ups are fake warnings or prize ads designed to get your details.
