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I Finally Fixed Pop-Ups on My Mac—Here’s What Worked

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By Oliver

How To Allow Pop-Ups On Mac

I remember trying to pay a bill online and nothing happened when I clicked the button. No error, no message—just silence. I didn’t realize a pop-up was blocked. It kept happening on different sites. I got frustrated. I didn’t want to turn off every setting just to make one thing work. But I also didn’t want to miss something important.

So I decided to fix it. I wanted a simple way to allow pop-ups only when I needed them. I started with Chrome, since I use it most. Here’s exactly what I did, step by step. It worked for me.

I Fixed Chrome First: How to Allow Pop-Ups on My Mac

Chrome gave me trouble with blocked pop-ups. So I fixed that first.
It took just a few clicks, and now it works every time.

If you’re using a MacBook, Mac mini, or iMac, and Chrome is your go-to browser, here’s how I allowed pop-ups without messing with too many settings.

Here’s what I did:

  • Opened Google Chrome
  • Clicked the three dots in the top-right corner
  • Selected Settings
  • Scrolled down to Privacy and Security
  • Clicked Site Settings
  • Under Content, chose Pop-ups and redirects
  • Switched the setting to Allowed, or added a trusted site manually
  • Went back to the site and refreshed it

That’s it. Now pop-ups work where I want them to. I don’t get stuck on forms or sign-ins anymore.

Safari Was Tricky—But I Learned How to Allow Pop-Ups on It

Safari took a little more digging. But I figured it out.
Now I can open important windows without any issues.

If you’re on a Mac using Safari, here’s exactly how I changed my settings to allow pop-ups only when needed.

What I did on Safari:

  • Opened Safari
  • Clicked Safari in the top menu bar
  • Chose Settings (or Preferences depending on your version)
  • Went to the Websites tab
  • Scrolled down to Pop-up Windows
  • Found the site I wanted and chose Allow from the dropdown
  • To apply it to all sites, I changed the setting at the bottom to Allow under “When visiting other websites”

Now Safari only shows pop-ups when I want it to. No extra clutter. No blocked messages.

I Use Both—So I Made Pop-Up Rules Easier Across Browsers

I switch between Chrome and Safari a lot. I didn’t want to fix this twice.
So I made one rule for both and saved time later.

Here’s how I keep it simple:

  • I bookmark trusted sites and allow pop-ups only on those
  • Both Chrome and Safari remember my choices, so I don’t repeat the steps
  • I never allow pop-ups from random sites to avoid spam or ads

That’s how I keep my Mac clean while letting the right pop-ups through.

Quick Fixes I Use When Pop-Ups Still Don’t Show

Sometimes pop-ups stay blocked, even after I allow them.
Here’s what I do when that happens.

These quick checks save me time and fix most of the problems:

  • I turn off ad blockers or extensions that might be blocking windows
  • I go to System Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions
  • I clear my browser cache if pages still don’t load right
  • I always make sure macOS is updated to the latest version

This usually solves the issue when a pop-up window is blocked on Mac.

My iPhone Blocked Them Too—So I Allowed Pop-Ups on Safari iOS

I use my phone a lot, and pop-ups were missing there too.
It was an easy fix once I found the setting.

Here’s what I did:

  • Opened the Settings app
  • Scrolled down and tapped Safari
  • Switched off Block Pop-ups
  • Reopened Safari and tested the site again

Now my iPhone lets the right pop-ups through when I need them.

Bonus Tip: When I Turn Pop-Ups Off Again

I don’t keep pop-ups on all the time. I only allow them when needed.
If I’m done with a task, I turn them off again for safety.

What I do:

  • In Safari, I go to Settings → Websites → Pop-up Windows
  • I switch the permission from Allow back to Block

I also double-check site names before changing anything. If it looks odd, I skip it.

Author

  • Oliver

    Hi, I am Oliver. As the author of Home Tech Nerves, I’m passionate about exploring innovative home technology solutions that simplify everyday living. My goal is to help readers make informed decisions by offering insightful reviews, practical tips, and the latest industry trends.

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