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How to Turn Off Pop-up Blockers for Specific Work Websites
Estimated Time to Fix: 2 minutesApplies to: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-20
Summary
Pop-up blockers are essential for security and sanity on the internet. However, many internal company portals, HR websites, and training platforms still rely on pop-ups to open important documents or forms. This guide explains how to tell your browser to block annoying ads globally, but allow pop-ups only on trusted work websites.
Prerequisites
- None required.
Instructions
1. The Quick Fix (While the Website is Open)
If you clicked a link and nothing happened, your browser likely blocked the pop-up silently.
- Look at the far right side of your browser's address bar (where you type the URL).
- You will see a small icon with a red X on it (in Chrome and Edge).
- Click the icon.
- Select the option that says Always allow pop-ups and redirects from [website name].
- Click Done.
- Refresh the page or click the link again. The pop-up will now open.
2. Add a Website Manually (Google Chrome)
If you know the website address and want to add it ahead of time:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three dots (
⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings. - In the left sidebar, click Privacy and security.
- Click Site settings, then scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects.
- Scroll down to the "Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects" section.
- Click the Add button.
- Type the website address (e.g.,
https://hrportal.company.com) and click Add.
3. Add a Website Manually (Microsoft Edge)
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots (
...) in the top right corner and select Settings. - In the left sidebar, click Cookies and site permissions.
- Scroll down and click on Pop-ups and redirects.
- Under the "Allow" section, click the Add button.
- Type the website address and click Add.
4. Allow Pop-ups in Safari (Mac)
Safari handles pop-ups slightly differently.
- Open the Safari app and navigate to the website you want to allow.
- In the top menu bar, click Safari > Settings (or Preferences).
- Click the Websites tab at the top.
- In the left sidebar, select Pop-up Windows.
- Find the currently open website in the list on the right.
- Click the dropdown menu next to it and change it from "Block and Notify" to Allow.
Troubleshooting
WARNING
Never choose the "Allow all pop-ups" option in your global browser settings. Always use the "Exceptions" or "Allow" list to add specific, trusted websites one by one.
| Symptom / Error | Potential Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| I clicked "Allow", but the pop-up still didn't open | Second blocker | You may have an ad-blocker extension (like uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus) installed. You will need to pause the ad-blocker for that specific site as well. |
| The "Allow" option is grayed out | IT Policy | Your IT department may be managing your browser settings centrally. If a company site is blocked, submit an IT ticket. |