TL;DR
To disable pop-ups on Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings.
- Go to the Websites tab in the Settings window.
- Click Pop-up Windows on the left sidebar.
- Select Block from the drop-down menu next to When visiting other websites.
- Close the Settings window.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Pop-ups can be really annoying when you’re browsing online. In this post, I’ll guide you through easy steps to stop pop-ups on Safari and other browsers so you can enjoy a smoother browsing experience.
Some websites rely on pop-ups for essential functions or features. In such cases, you may need to selectively allow pop-ups from trusted websites to ensure proper functionality.
How to Disable Pop-Ups on Safari
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Below, I’ve shared some tried and tested methods to disable pop-ups on Safari:
Blocking all pop-ups can sometimes prevent legitimate website features, like payment gateways or chat windows, from functioning correctly. Be sure to allow pop-ups on trusted sites when necessary.
1. Enable Safari’s Pop-Up Blocker
Activate Safari’s built-in pop-up blocker to stop intrusive pop-ups and enjoy smoother browsing. Follow these steps to enable Safari’s pop-up blocker:
- Open Safari on your Mac, click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the Settings window, navigate to the Websites tab.
- Look for the Pop-up Windows option on the left sidebar and click it.
- In the main window, click the drop-down menu next to When visiting other websites and select Block.
- Once you have made the desired changes, close the Settings window, and the next time when you use Safari, it will disable pop-ups.
- If you want to allow pop-ups, click the drop-down menu next to When visiting other websites and select Allow.
Safari’s pop-up blocker is not just for ads—it also helps protect your device from phishing attacks and malware disguised as pop-ups.
2. Block Pop-Ups for Specific Sites on Safari
Customize your Safari experience by blocking pop-ups on specific sites while allowing them on others. Below, I’ve shared the steps to block pop-ups for specific sites on Safari for Mac:
- Open Safari on your Mac, select Safari in the menu bar, and click Settings.
- In the Settings window, click the Websites tab.
- In the left sidebar, find and click Pop-up Windows.
- Find the website you want to block pop-ups for in the list.
- Click the dropdown menu next to the website’s name, and select Block to prevent pop-ups from appearing on that particular site.
- You have successfully configured Safari to block pop-ups for a specific website, tailoring your browsing experience to your preferences. Now, when you open this particular website, Safari will block pop-ups.
3. Disable Pop-Ups for an Active Website on Safari
Quickly block pop-ups for an active website directly from your Safari browser. Here are the steps to disable pop-ups for an active website on Safari:
- Open Safari and go to the website you want to block pop-ups from.
- Right-click the website URL in the middle of the Safari address bar and select Settings for [website name].
- Here, you’ll see Allow next to Pop-up Windows.
- Click the drop-down menu button and select Block.
- Close the dialog box by clicking anywhere outside of it on the webpage.
- Now, Safari will block pop-ups for this active website.
4. Block Pop-Ups Using Third Party
You can also use third-party apps with ad-blocking features to effectively block stubborn pop-ups and ads for a safer browsing experience. Here is how to use the StopAd feature of MacKeeper to block pop-ups:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- Launch MacKeeper on your Mac and click StopAd in the left sidebar.
- Click Open.
- Enable the StopAd feature by clicking the Enable button next to the Safari extension.
- Next, click Open Safari Preferences.
- Check the little boxes next to MacKeeper StopAd permissions.
Now, you can enjoy a safer and faster browsing experience as StopAd effectively removes the annoying pop-ups.
If you notice pop-ups still slipping through after blocking them in Safari, try clearing your cookies and cache. Sometimes old data can let ads sneak in
How to Block Pop-Ups on Other Browsers on Mac
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to block pop-ups on popular browsers on Mac, including Google Chrome and Firefox:
1. Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome on your Mac.
- Click the three dots at the top right corner of the screen and select Settings.
- On the next window, click Privacy and security in the left pane and select Site settings on the right.
- In Site Settings, click Pop-ups and redirects. You may have to scroll down.
- Under Default behaviour, select Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects.
- Now, Google Chrome will disable pop-ups.
2. Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox on your Mac.
- Click the three lines at the top right corner of the screen and select Settings.
- Select the Privacy & Security tab on the left.
- Scroll down to the Permissions section and check Block pop-up windows.
- Now, Firefox will block pop-ups on all websites.
Don’t Let Safari Pop-Ups Distract You
Disabling pop-ups on Safari empowers you to take control of your browsing experience. You can effectively disable pop-ups on Safari by following the simple steps outlined in this guide.
To further enhance your browsing experience, follow these tips:
- Block ads on Mac to minimize distractions and stay focused.
- Remove corrupt browser extensions to prevent Safari crashes and boost productivity.
- Regularly clear your browser cache to improve performance and browsing experience.
