How to Allow a Pop-Up on a MacBook

By Editorial Team

Updated May 12, 2020

How to Allow a Pop-Up on a MacBook
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A pop-up is a Web page that opens in a browser window other than the one you’re currently using. Many users consider them undesirable because they tend to display unwanted advertisements and can cause the desktop to become cluttered with unused windows. You can control the way your MacBook handles pop-up windows through your Web browsing software. Note that if you want to enable pop-ups altogether you must do so on all Web browsers installed on your MacBook.

Safari

Open the Safari Web browser from the Applications folder.

Click the word Safari at the far left of the toolbar at the top of the screen. This displays a drop-down menu. Some versions of Safari provide an option reading “Block Pop-up Windows.” If there is a check mark to the left of this option, Safari is blocking pop-up windows. Click the option. This removes the check mark, indicating that pop-up windows are no longer blocked.

Select Preferences from the Safari drop-down menu, if the "Block Pop-up Windows" option does not appear in the main Safari menu. Select the option labeled "Websites" from the menu at the top of the toolbar. The option appears as a globe icon. Locate the option reading “Pop-up windows" from the left side column.

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Note whether "Block" is selected regarding Pop-up Windows. If so, click the the drop-down menu in the bottom right corner and select "Allow" instead. This will enable pop-ups on your computer. You can also allow pop-ups on certain websites you are currently browsing or block them, to your preference. Refer to the list of current websites you are on (above) and adjust accordingly.

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Mozilla Firefox

Click on the Firefox drop-down menu at the far left of the toolbar at the top of the screen. Choose "Preferences" from the menu. This opens a window with a list of options at the top.

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Select the "Privacy & Security" option in the left-side column. It is represented by a padlock icon. On the Privacy & Security page, scroll down to the section that says "Permissions." Check to see if "Block pop-up windows" has a checkmark next to it. If it does, uncheck the box. You can also click the "Exceptions" box to list websites that are an exception to this rule.

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