You click a link and a second window jumps up on its own. Or a "Your Mac is infected!" box flashes over the page. The good news: Safari on the Mac blocks pop-up windows by default, and the handful that still get through are easy to shut down once you know where the setting lives. Here is how pop-up blocking works in Safari in 2026, how to allow the ones you actually want, and what to do about the ones that keep coming back.
The fast fix: Safari already blocks most pop-ups
Safari ships with pop-up blocking turned on. If pop-ups are getting through, the setting was probably changed for one site, or what you are seeing is not a true pop-up at all (more on that below). To check the master setting:
- Open Safari, then choose Safari > Settings from the menu bar (or press Command-Comma).
- Click the Websites tab.
- Select Pop-up Windows in the left sidebar.
- At the bottom, set "When visiting other websites" to Block and Notify.
Block and Notify is the sweet spot: Safari stops the pop-up, then shows a small icon in the address bar so you can open it yourself if it was something you actually wanted (like a bank login window). Choose plain Block if you never want to be asked.
Allow pop-ups for one trusted site only
Some legitimate sites (a payroll portal, a school login, a booking system) open a real pop-up window on purpose. You can let those through without opening the floodgates for everyone else:
- Visit the site you trust while it is open in a tab.
- Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows.
- Find the site in the Currently Open Websites list and set its menu to Allow.
That single site can now open pop-ups; every other site stays blocked. This is far safer than turning pop-up blocking off globally.
Why some "pop-ups" still appear
If you are still seeing windows and boxes after all this, they are usually not the kind of pop-up Safari blocks. Here is what is really happening:
- In-page ads and overlays. A box that appears inside the same tab (a newsletter signup, a cookie banner, a "subscribe" curtain) is part of the web page itself, not a separate window. Safari cannot block those; a content blocker extension can hide many of them.
- Redirect / scam pages. "Your Mac is infected," "You won a prize," or a fake Apple warning that fills the tab is a scam web page, not a virus. Do not call the number or click Download. Just close the tab. If it will not close, force-quit Safari (Command-Option-Esc), then reopen it while holding Shift so it does not reload the bad tab.
- Notification prompts. "Site wants to show notifications" is a permission request, not a pop-up. Turn these off under Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications by setting "Allow websites to ask" off.
- Real Mac malware (rare). If pop-ups follow you across different sites and even the desktop, you may have adware. See our guide on whether Macs get viruses for a safe cleanup.
Extra layers: content blockers and clean browsing
To cut ads and in-page overlays that the pop-up setting cannot touch, add a content blocker from the App Store, then enable it under Safari > Settings > Extensions. For a distraction-free read on a single article, Reader View strips ads, banners, and pop-ups instantly. And when you want a session that leaves nothing behind, Private Browsing starts fresh with no stored site data.
If pop-ups suddenly got worse, clearing stored site junk can help too — see how to clear the cache on a Mac.
Related Safari guides
If this was useful, these go well with it:
- How to Use Tab Groups in Safari on a Mac — organize dozens of tabs into tidy, syncable groups.
- How to Use Safari Profiles on a Mac — keep work and personal browsing completely separate.
- How to Use Private Browsing in Safari on a Mac — browse with no stored history or site data.
Every Mac we sell at LuxuriousComputers runs the latest Safari with pop-up blocking on out of the box. Have a question about your Mac? We are happy to help.
Frequently asked questions
Does Safari block pop-ups by default on a Mac?
Yes. Safari blocks pop-up windows out of the box. The recommended setting is Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows set to Block and Notify, which stops pop-ups but lets you open one on purpose if you need to.
How do I allow pop-ups for just one website?
Open that site, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop-up Windows, find the site in the list, and set it to Allow. Every other site stays blocked.
Why do I still get pop-ups even though blocking is on?
Most are not true pop-up windows: they are in-page ads, cookie or newsletter overlays, notification prompts, or scam redirect pages. Safari only blocks separate pop-up windows. Use a content blocker extension for in-page ads, and simply close the tab on any "your Mac is infected" scam page.
A pop-up says my Mac has a virus — is it real?
Almost never. Those are scam web pages designed to scare you into calling a number or downloading fake "cleaner" software. Do not click or call. Close the tab, and if it will not close, force-quit Safari with Command-Option-Esc, then reopen while holding Shift.
How do I stop website notification pop-ups in Safari?
Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications, remove any sites you do not want, and turn off "Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications."