Pop-: How to Stop Pop Ups on a Mac

This updated guide examines Pop-: How to Stop Pop Ups on a Mac and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 3:

Using Safari

1. Open the Safari internet browser on your Mac. The Safari icon looks like a blue compass in your Applications folder.
2. Click theSafarimenu. It's located on your menu bar in the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
   • If you see a different app's name in the upper-left corner, click on the Safari icon again.
3. ClickPreferenceson the drop-down menu. This will open your Safari browser settings in a new window.
   • Alternatively, press?+,on your keyboard. When you press the Command and comma buttons at the same time, it will open Preferences.
4. Click theSecuritytab. It looks like a lock icon at the top of the Preferences window.
5. Check the box next toBlock pop-up windows. Safari will now block all pop-up windows that appear when you open or close a web page. You can change it anytime by unchecking this box from Preferences.

Method 2of 3:

Using Google Chrome

1. Open the Google Chrome internet browser on your Mac. The Chrome icon looks like a small blue circle with yellow, green, and red components wrapped around it. You can find it in your Applications folder.
2. Click theChromemenu. It's located on your menu bar in the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
   • If you see a different app's name in the upper-left corner, click on the Chrome icon again.
3. ClickPreferenceson the drop-down menu. This will open your Chrome browser settings in a new tab.
   • Alternatively, typechrome://settingsin Chrome's address bar, and hit?Enteron your keyboard. It will open the same page.
   • You can also use the?+,keyboard shortcut to open the Settings tab.
4. Scroll down and clickShow advanced settings. This option is written in blue letters at the bottom of the Settings tab.
5. Click theContent settingsbutton under Privacy. It will open your content options in a new pop-up window.
6. Scroll down to the Pop-ups section. This section is between Flash and Location.
7. SelectDo not allow any site to show pop-ups. Chrome will now block all pop-up windows that appear when you open or close a web page.
8. ClickManage exceptionsunder Pop-ups. This option will open a new window with a list of all your pop-up exceptions. Chrome will not block pop-ups from websites saved in your pop-up exceptions list.
9. Click theXbutton next to a website on the list. An "X" button will appear on the right-hand side of the exceptions box when you hover over a website on the list. Click on it to delete this website from your pop-up exceptions.
10. ClickDone. This will save your new exceptions settings, and close the pop-up window.
11. ClickDoneagain in the Content settings window. This will save your new pop-up preferences.

Method 3of 3:

Using Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Mozilla Firefox internet browser on your Mac. The Firefox app looks like a blue world icon with a red fox wrapped around it. You can find it in your Applications folder.
2. Click theFirefoxmenu. It's located on your menu bar in the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
   • If you see a different app's name in the upper-left corner, click on the Firefox icon again.
3. ClickPreferenceson the drop-down menu. This will open your Firefox browser settings in a new tab.
   • Alternatively, typeabout:preferencesin Firefox's address bar, and hit?Enteron your keyboard. It will open the same page.
   • You can also use the?+,keyboard shortcut for Preferences.
4. ClickContenton the left panel. Firefox lets you navigate to different menus via a navigation panel on the left-hand side of the Preferences screen. The Content option is listed next to a page icon on the left panel.
5. Check the box next toBlock pop-up windows. It's under the Pop-ups heading in the Content menu. Firefox will now block all pop-up windows that appear when you open or close a web page.
6. ClickExceptions. This button is located next to the Pop-ups heading. It will open a new window with a list of all your pop-up exceptions. Firefox will not block pop-ups from websites saved in your pop-up exceptions list.
7. ClickRemove All Sites. This button is located in the lower-left corner of the pop-up exceptions list. It will remove all items on the exceptions list.
8. ClickSave Changes. It's in the lower-right corner of the Pop-ups window. Firefox will now have no pop-up exceptions, and block all pop-up windows from all web pages.