How-To

How to Disable the Firefox Pop-Up Blocker

By Brian Burgess

Updated November 16, 2023

Firefox blocks pop-up windows by default, but sometimes they’re necessary, and we’ll show you how to disable the Firefox pop-up blocker.

Firefox includes a built-in pop-up blocker that prevents distracting windows from appearing. However, it can stop a site from working correctly, and you need to disable the Firefox pop-up blocker.

While no one likes excessive pop-ups, sometimes they are essential to a site’s functionality. For example, a pop-up could be necessary to verify an account or access certain features.

Luckily, if a site isn’t working right, you can disable the blocker temporarily or keep it on and allow pop-ups for specific websites so they function correctly. This guide will show you how.

Disable Firefox Pop-Up Blocker on Desktop

You can disable Firefox’s pop-up blocker through its settings on a Mac, Windows, Linux, or Chromebook computer.

To turn off the pop-up blocker in Firefox:

1. Launch Firefox on your computer.
2. Click the menu button in the top right corner of the browser.
3. Select the Settings option from the menu that appears.
4. Select the Privacy & Security option in the left panel.
5. Scroll down to the Permissions section and uncheck the Block pop-up windows box.

Once you turn off the pop-up blocker, go to the site(s) where you experienced an issue and see if it’s functioning correctly.

Allow Pop-Ups for Specific Sites

When you turn off the pop-up blocker, any site can show pop-up windows when you visit them. So, instead of deactivating the feature entirely, you might want to allow pop-ups for specific websites instead.

This option allows the pop-up blocker to remain on for all sites but will allow them for specific sites you dial in.

To allow pop-ups for certain websites:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and ensure the Block pop-up windows box is checked.
2. Click the Exceptions button.
3. Type in the complete address of the website you want to allow pop-ups and click the Allow button.
4. When you’re done entering specific websites, click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

Once you enter the websites you need, pop-up windows will be allowed and continue to block the rest.

Disable Firefox Pop-Up Blocker on Your iPhone

In addition to turning off the pop-up blocker on the desktop, you can deactivate it on your iPhone or iPad.

To disable the pop-up blocker on your iPhone:

1. Launch the Firefox app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select the menu button in the iPhone’s lower right corner or the iPad’s top right.
3. Tap Settings from the menu that appears.
4. Scroll down the Settings menu and toggle off the Block Pop-up Windows switch.

Once it’s off, pop-ups will be allowed on all sites. Remember that, unlike the desktop version, the Firefox pop-up blocker is either on or off. You can’t set exceptions for specific sites.

So, if a site doesn’t work as it’s supposed to, you can temporarily turn off the pop-up blocking feature while using that website. Once done, you can return to Settings and reenable the pop-up blocker.

Another thing worth mentioning is that Firefox on Android doesn’t include a pop-up blocker. So, there isn’t a setting, since pop-ups are already allowed.

Disabling Mozilla’s Pop-Up Blocker

Mozilla’s Firefox blocks pop-ups by default. But if you need them enabled to conduct a transaction or verify an account, turning the blocker off is straightforward on the desktop, iPhone, or iPad.

No one likes excessive pop-up windows while browsing the web, but they’re sometimes necessary. And having the ability to turn off the blocker for all sites or only specific ones is helpful.