The default option in the Safari browser on iPhone and Mac is to block pop-up windows; which is helpful in preventing websites from bothering you with annoying pop-ups. However, this can sometimes prevent you from accessing certain portions of legitimate websites; which require pop-up windows to be allowed.
For example, certain school, college, university and governmental websites can prevent you from downloading forms, submitting assignments and taking online tests; unless the Safari browser on your Mac is setup to allow pop-up windows.
Allow and Block Pop-ups in Safari Browser
You can find below the steps to Allow and Block pop-ups in the Safari browser on Mac and also the steps to Allow or Block pop-ups for websites on iPhone.
1. Allow or Block Pop-ups for All Websites in Safari on Mac
You can follow the steps below to Allow or Block pop-ups for all websites in the default Safari browser on your MacBook.
1. Open Safari Browser on your Mac.
2. Click on the Safari tab in the top-menu bar and select Preferences in the drop-down menu.
3. On the Preferences screen, switch to the Websites tab and select Pop-up Windows tab in the left-sidebar menu.
In the right-pane, you can use the drop-down arrow next to “When visiting other websites” entry to Allow or Block Pop-ups by selecting any of the following options.
- Block: Blocks pop-ups on all websites
- Allow: Allows Pop-ups on all websites
- Block and Notify: Blocks Pop-ups and you can allow pop-ups by clicking on the two-windows icon in the address bar.
2. Allow Pop-ups for Specific Websites in Safari browser on Mac
The Safari browser on Mac provides the option to Allow pop-ups for certain selected or specific websites; while blocking pop-ups for all other websites.
1. Open the Safari Browser on your Mac and visit the website that requires pop-up windows to be allowed in the web browser.
2. Click on the Safari tab in top-menu bar and select Preferences in the drop-down menu.
3. On the Preferences screen, switch to Websites tab and select Pop-up Windows tab in the left-sidebar menu.
In the right-pane, you can Allow pop-ups for this particular website by switching from Block to Allow option or selecting the Block and Notify option; which provides the option to allow pop-ups by clicking on the two-windows icon in the address bar.
3. Allow or Block Pop-ups in Safari on iPhone and iPad
You can follow the steps below to Allow or Block Pop-ups in the Safari browser on your iPhone.
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. From the Settings screen, go to Apps > scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. On the Safari screen, scroll down to General section and block pop-ups by moving the slider to Block Pop-ups to ON position.
If an educational or governament website requires you to allow pop-ups, you can allow pop-ups by moving the slider to OFF (white) position.
Note: The Safari browser on iPhone does not yet provide the option to Allow or Block Pop-ups for specific websites.