This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent pop-ups from appearing in web browsers on your computer or mobile device. You can block pop-ups through the settings in Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari browsers. Apart from that, and you can also download an app to install on your Android device or iPhone to block almost all pop-up ads. If you've enabled a pop-up blocker in your browser, but don't think it's enough, install an ad blocker extension on your browser. Keep in mind that not all pop-ups are dangerous, and there are some that you can't block.
Step
Method 1 of 11: Using Chrome on a Desktop Computer
Step 1. Run Chrome
The icon is a yellow, green, red, and blue ball.
Step 2. Click in the upper right corner
A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click Settings
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Scroll down the screen, then click Advanced
This option is at the bottom of the page. By clicking Advanced, the Settings page will expand and show more options.
Step 5. Scroll down the screen, then click Content Settings…
This option is located under "Privacy and security".
Step 6. Scroll down the screen, then click Popups
The button is located at the bottom of the menu.
Step 7. Click the blue "Allowed" button
which is at the top of the menu.
The button will turn gray
. From now on, Google Chrome will block almost all pop-up ads on web pages.
- If the button is gray, it means that the pop-up blocking feature in Google Chrome has been enabled.
- You can block pop-ups on certain sites by clicking Add which is under the " Blocked " section of the menu. Next, enter the URL of the website whose content you want to block.
- If you want to allow pop-ups on a specific site, click Allow and type in the URL of the website that is still allowed to show pop-ups.
Method 2 of 11: Using Chrome on Mobile
Step 1. Run Chrome
Tap the yellow, green, red, and blue ball-shaped Chrome icon.
Step 2. Tap in the top right corner
A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Tap Settings located at the bottom of the drop-down menu
Step 4. Tap on Content Settings located in the middle of the Settings page
Tap Site Settings if you are using Android.
Step 5. Tap on Block Pop-ups present at the top of the screen
If you are using Android, tap Pop-ups located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 6. Tap on the white “Block Pop-ups” button present at the top of the screen
The button will turn blue, indicating that Chrome will block pop-ups.
-
On Android, tap the colored "Pop-up" button
. If the button is gray, it means that the pop-up blocking feature is active.
Method 3 of 11: Using Firefox on a Desktop Computer
Step 1. Start Firefox
The icon is an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Step 2. Click in the upper right corner
This will bring up a menu.
Step 3. Click Options in the middle of the menu
On a Mac computer, click Preferences.
Step 4. Click the Privacy & Security tab
This option is on the left side of the window.
Step 5. Scroll down the screen to the " Permissions " section
This section is at the bottom of the page.
Step 6. Click the “Block pop-up windows” checkbox located at the bottom of “Permissions“
- If the box is checked, it means that the Firefox browser has blocked pop-ups.
- Add an exception to this rule by clicking Exceptions… which is to the right of the checkbox. Next, enter the desired site address and click Allow.
Method 4 of 11: Using Firefox on iPhone
Step 1. Start Firefox
The icon is an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Step 2. Click in the lower right corner
This will bring up a menu.
Step 3. Tap Settings at the bottom of the menu
Step 4. Tap the white “Block Windows Pop-up” button
The button will turn blue, indicating that Firefox will block almost all pop-up ads.
Method 5 of 11: Using Firefox on Android Device
Step 1. Start Firefox
Tap the Firefox icon, which looks like an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Step 2. Tap the search field at the top of the screen
Step 3. Open the configuration page
Type about:config, then tap Return or Search on the keyboard (keyboard).
If there is text in the search field, delete the text before you type about:config
Step 4. Tap the “Search” text field located below the search field at the top of the screen
Step 5. Look for a pop-up blocker
Type dom.disable_open_during_load and wait for the options to appear dom.disable_open_during_load.
Step 6. Select the pop-up blocker
Tap dom.disable_open_during_load to expand it. The status of the pop-up blocker (which reads "true") will be displayed on the left side of the screen.
If the status reads "false", it means that Firefox has blocked the pop-up
Step 7. Tap on Toggle which is in the lower right corner of the pop-up blocker section
The pop-up blocker status will be changed from " true " to " false ", indicating that the pop-up blocker has been activated.
Not all pop-ups will be blocked even if you have enabled a pop-up blocker
Method 6 of 11: Using Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Run Edge
The icon is an "e" in white or blue.
Step 2. Click located at the top right of the window
This will bring up a menu.
Step 3. Click Settings at the bottom of the menu
Step 4. Scroll down the screen, then click View advanced settings
This option is at the bottom of the menu.
Step 5. Click the white "Block pop-up" button
The button will turn blue
which indicates that Edge will now block almost all internet pop-ups.
Method 7 of 11: Using Internet Explorer
Step 1. Start Internet Explorer
The icon is a light blue "e" wrapped in a yellow ribbon.
Step 2. Click Settings
It's the gear icon in the top right corner. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click Internet options at the top of the drop-down menu
Step 4. Click Privacy
This tab is located at the top of the Internet Options window.
Step 5. Check the "Turn on Pop-up Blocker" box in the "Pop-up Blocker" section of the Internet Options window
If the box is checked, it means that this browser has blocked pop-ups
Step 6. Click OK
Now, almost all pop-ups you encounter in Internet Explorer will be blocked.
You can block pop-ups on certain sites by clicking Settings located to the right of the checkbox, type the address of the desired site, then click Add.
Method 8 of 11: Using Safari on a Desktop Computer
Step 1. Start Safari
The icon is a blue compass.
Step 2. Click Safari in the top-left corner of the menu bar (menu bar)
A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click the Preferences… option located at the top of the drop-down menu
Step 4. Click Security at the top of the " Preferences " window
Step 5. Check the box "Block pop-up windows"
This checkbox is in the "Web content" section. Now, almost all pop-ups you come across in Safari will be blocked.
In the Safari browser, you cannot block pop-ups on certain sites
Method 9 of 11: Using Safari on Mobile
Step 1. Open Settings
on iPhone.
Tap the Settings icon, which is a gray box with a gear in it.
Step 2. Scroll down the screen, then tap Safari
This option is in the middle of the Settings page.
Step 3. Scroll down the screen to the " GENERAL " section
This section is located in the middle of the Safari page.
Step 4. Tap the white “Block Pop-ups” button
in the "GENERAL" section.
The button will turn green
which indicates that from now on the Safari browser on iPhone will block pop-ups.
If the button is green, it means that the pop-up blocker feature in Safari is enabled
Method 10 of 11: Using Adblock Mobile on iPhone
Step 1. Download Adblock Mobile
open App Store
on iPhone, then do the following:
- Tap Search.
- Tap the search field.
- Type adblock, then tap Search.
- Tap GET it's to the right of the "Adblock Mobile" heading.
- Enter your Apple ID or Touch ID password when prompted.
Step 2. Run Adblock Mobile
Tap OPEN in the App Store, or tap the Adblock Mobile icon in the form of a red prohibition sign.
Step 3. Tap Get Started which is at the bottom of the screen
Step 4. Complete the program introduction session
Tap Next three times, then tap Awesome!
at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Tap Enable Adblock
It's a white button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 6. Tap Allow when prompted
By tapping on it, Adblock Mobile will be allowed to create a virtual private network or VPN (virtual private network) configuration on the iPhone.
This configuration will prevent ads and pop-ups from appearing
Step 7. Enter your Apple ID or Touch ID password
When prompted, scan your fingerprint or type in the password used to log into your Apple ID account.
Step 8. Wait for the VPN to connect
If a small icon that says "VPN" appears at the top left of the iPhone screen (to the right of the Wi-Fi indicator), you can continue.
Step 9. Browse the internet without pop-ups
The VPN created by Adblock Mobile will block almost all ads in most apps (including mobile browsers) which will prevent unnecessary pop-ups from appearing.
VPN can be disabled by opening Settings on your iPhone and tap the green "VPN" button at the bottom of the screen.
Method 11 of 11: Using Brave on Android Device
Step 1. Download the Brave Browser program
By default, this program can block almost all ads (including pop-ups), although you'll need to use it as a browser. open Google Play Store
then do the following:
- Tap the search field.
- Tik brave
- Tap Brave Browser: Fast Adblocker
- Tap INSTALL
- Tap ACCEPT when requested.
Step 2. Run Brave
Do this by tapping OPEN in the Google Play Store, or tap the Brave icon which is an orange and white lion.
Step 3. Browse the internet without pop-ups
You can use Brave like any other browser. By default, Brave will block ads, including pop-ups.
