About pop-up ads and windows in Safari

Learn how to block pop-up windows and handle persistent ads on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.

Pop-ups can be ads, notices, offers, or alerts that open in your current browser window, in a new window, or in another tab. Some pop-ups are third-party ads that use phishing tactics—like warnings or prizes—to trick you into believing they’re from Apple or another trusted company, so you’ll share personal or financial information. Or they might claim to offer free downloads, software updates, or plugins, to try to trick you into installing unwanted software.

Unless you’re confident of an ad’s legitimacy, you should avoid interacting with pop-ups or webpages that seem to take over your screen. Here are additional tips that can help you manage pop-ups and other unwanted interruptions.

Check and update your software

Always make sure you install the latest software updates for all your Apple products. Many software releases have important security updates and may include improvements that help control pop-ups.

The safest place to download apps for your Mac is the App Store. If you need third-party software for your Mac, and it isn’t available in the App Store, get it directly from the developer or another reliable source, rather than through an ad or link.

Check Safari settings and security preferences

Make sure Safari security settings are turned on, particularly Block Pop-ups—for pop-up windows—and the Fraudulent Website Warning.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Safari and turn on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning.

On your Mac, you can find these options in Safari > Preferences. The Websites tab includes options to block some or all pop-up windows, and you can turn on fraudulent site warnings in the Security tab.

Pop-ups and ads in Safari

If you see an annoying pop-up ad in Safari, you can go to the Search field and enter a new URL or search term to browse to a new site. If you don’t see the Search field on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the top of the screen to make it appear.

Some pop-ups and ads have fake buttons that resemble the close button, so use caution if you try to close a pop-up or ad. If you’re unsure, avoid interacting with the pop-up or ad and close the Safari window or tab.

On your Mac, you can also update your settings to prevent windows from opening again after you close Safari, or just press and hold the Shift key when you open Safari.

If you might have installed adware or other unwanted software on your Mac

If you see pop-ups on your Mac that just won’t go away, you might have inadvertently downloaded and installed adware (advertising-supported software) or other unwanted software. Certain third-party download sites might include programs that you don’t want with the software that you install.

If you think that you might have malware or adware on your Mac, update to the latest version of macOS. If your Mac is already running the latest version, restart it. macOS includes a built-in tool that removes known malware when you restart your Mac.

Check your Applications folder to see if you have any apps that you didn’t expect and uninstall them. You can also check the Extensions tab in Safari preferences to check if you installed any unnecessary extensions that you’d prefer to turn off. If you continue to see advertising or other unwanted programs on your Mac, contact Apple.

Learn more

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

How to Block Pop-Up Ads in Your Web Browser

Block pop-ups in Chrome, Explorer, Edge, Safari, and more

What to Know

• Chrome: Go to Settings >Site Settings >Pop-ups and redirects. Toggle Blocked (recommended) to the On position.
• Safari: Go to Preferences >Security. Select the Block pop-up windows check box.
• Firefox: Go to Options/Preferences and choose Content (Windows) or Privacy and Security (macOS) >Block pop-up windows.

Most major web browsers include features that block unwanted pop-up ads. Here’s how to block pop-up ads in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, and Firefox using any Windows, Mac, Linux, or mobile device.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Google Chrome

The process for blocking pop-up ads in the Google Chrome web browser is similar on Chrome on a Mac, PC, iOS device, or Android device.

Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on a Mac or PC

Open Chrome on a Mac or PC.

Select More (the three vertical dots located in the upper-right corner), then select Settings.

Under Privacy and security, select Site Settings.

Select Pop-ups and redirects.

Turn on the Blocked (recommended) toggle switch.

Since some pop-ups are legitimate, under Allow, add any sites for which you want to accept pop-ups. If you only want to block pop-ups from specific sites, add those sites under Block.

Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on iOS Devices

Open the Chrome app, tap More (the three dots), then tap Settings.

Tap Content Settings > Block Pop-ups.

Turn off the Block Pop-ups option.

Block Pop-Ups in Chrome on Android Devices

Open the Chrome app on the Android device.

On the right of the address bar, tap More (the three dots), then tap Settings.

Tap Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects.

Turn off Pop-ups and redirects.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Microsoft Edge

These instructions apply only to the new Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser on Windows.

For Edge on a Mac, go to Settings, select Site Permissions > Pop-ups and redirects, then turn on the Block toggle.

Open Edge and go to Settings and more (the three dots).

Select Settings (the gear icon).

Go to Site Permissions.

Select Pop-ups and redirects.

Move the Block toggle to On.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Internet Explorer 11

These instructions apply only to Internet Explorer 11 in Windows.

Open Internet Explorer 11, select Tools (the gear icon), then select Internet Options.

On the Privacy tab, under Pop-up Blocker, select the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box, then select OK.

Select Settings.

In the Pop-up Blocker settings dialog box, under Blocking level, set the blocking level to High: Block all pop-ups (Ctrl + Alt to override).

Select Close, then select OK.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Safari

For Macs with OS X El Capitan and higher OS X and macOS versions:

For Safari on iOS devices, tap Settings, then select Safari. Under General, turn on Block Pop-ups.

Go to the Safari menu, then select Preferences.

Select Security at the top of the window.

Select the Block pop—up windows check box to enable this feature.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Opera

These instructions apply to the Opera web browser.

In Opera, press Alt+P to open Settings.

Turn on Block Ads.

Alternatively, select the shield icon at the right side of the Opera address bar and turn on Block ads.

Block Pop-Up Ads in Mozilla Firefox

These instructions apply to Firefox on Macs or PCs.

For Firefox on an iOS device, tap the Firefox menu button and select the Settings icon. You may have to swipe left to locate this option. Turn on the Block Pop-up Windows option.

Open Firefox and select the Firefox button near the upper-left corner of the window.

Select Options (Windows) or Preferences (macOS).

In Windows, select Content in the left sidebar. In macOS, select Privacy and Security.

Scroll down and select the Block pop-up windows check box.

How to Block Pop-Up Windows in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and IE

Pop-up ads are annoying. No matter how well it is designed, it never fails to annoy the users. If you are one of those who hate pop-up ads, here is the method to block pop-up windows in the various browsers.

Note: By blocking pop-up windows, you could be potentially lowering/stopping a developer’s income, which could lead to said developers stopping his/her services. We’d recommend keeping wary of what you click rather than simply blocking pop-up windows, but in the end, it’s up to you.

By default, most web browsers will have the “Block Pop-Up Windows” feature activated, but if that’s not true in your case, here’s how to block them:

Google Chrome

Windows/Mac/Linux

1. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner of your browser, and select “Settings.”

2. Scroll down and click on “Show Advanced Settings.”

3. In the Privacy section, click “Content Settings.”

4. Here, select the option “Do not allow any site to show pop-ups.”

Tip: Use the “Manage Exceptions” option to add websites, on which you want pop-ups to be shown.

iOS/Android

1. Open the Settings window in your device’s Google Chrome browser, and click on Settings.

2. Click on “Content Settings.”

3. Click “Block Pop Ups” and enable the option to “Block Pop-Ups.”

Mozilla Firefox

Windows/Linux

1. Open Firefox and click on the Settings icon in the top-right corner, then click on “Options” (or “Preferences”).

2. In the Content tab, enable the option to “Block Pop Up Windows.”

Mac

1. Open up Firefox and select “Preferences” from the Firefox menu in the top-left hand side of your screen.

2. In the Content tab, select the option to “Block Pop-Up Windows.”

Opera

Mac

1. Click on Preferences in the Opera menu from the top-left corner.

2. In the Websites tab, select the option “Do Not Allow Any Site To Show Pop-Ups.”

Windows/Linux

1. Open the Opera menu by clicking on the “Opera” logo in the top-left corner, and click on “Settings”.

2. In the “Websites” tab, select the option to “Do Not Allow Any Site To Show Pop-Ups.”

iOS

1. Click on the Opera logo in the bottom middle of the screen, and select Settings.

2. Enable the option to “Block Pop-Ups.”

Safari

Windows

1. Click on the Settings logo in the top-left corner, and enable the option to “Block Pop-Up Windows.” Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl+Shift+K” to enable the option.

Mac

1. Click on Preferences in the Safari menu in the top-left corner.

2. In the Security tab, enable the option to “Block Pop-Up Windows.”

iOS

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone/iPad.

2. Click on “Safari.”

3. Enable the option to “Block Pop-Ups.”

Internet Explorer

1. Click on “Internet Options” from the Settings icon in the top-right corner.

2. In the Privacy tab, enable the option to “Turn On Pop-Up Blocker.”

Conclusion

Pop-up windows can be a real issue for many people. While these may be beneficial to the people behind them, many pop-ups contain malware, and can infect your computer with viruses leading to data loss. If you too are annoyed with pop ups, then you can easily use the methods detailed above to block pop-ups windows in your respective browser, according to your operating system.

Shujaa Imran is MakeTechEasier’s resident Mac tutorial writer. He’s currently training to follow his other passion become a commercial pilot. You can check his content out on Youtube