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The Pop-up Blocker in Internet Explorer keeps most sites from opening pop-ups while you browse the internet. This is great for keeping advertising at bay, but it can cause problems with sites that rely on pop-ups to use. Turning off the Pop-up Blocker or lowering its blocking level can help you start using these websites again.

  1. If you're using a Surface or Windows tablet, tap "Desktop" on the Start screen or in the All Apps list, and then tap the Internet Explorer icon in the taskbar.[1]
    • Depending on your version of Explorer, the icon probably looks like a little hamburger with 3 lines on it.
  2. If you don't see either, press the Alt key and then click the Tools menu.
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  3. This will open the Internet Options window.
  4. Privacy tab.
  5. Click or tap Apply to save the changes.
  6. Click or tap the Settings button to open the Pop-up Blocker settings. Use the drop-down menu at the bottom of the window to change the settings to "Low". This should allow most pop-ups from legitimate sites while still blocking suspicious pop-ups. You can also add sites to the exceptions list so that they are always allowed to use pop-ups.
    • Completely disabling the Pop-up Blocker can leave you vulnerable to malicious software and intrusive ads. It's recommended that you add sites you want to allow to your exceptions list and keep Pop-up Blocker enabled.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I turn off the popup blocker for iPhone?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    1. Open the “Settings” menu on your Home Screen. 2. Tap the “Safari” tab on the Settings page. The Safari preferences screen loads. 3. Scroll down the page to the Security section. 4. Slide the "Block Pop-Ups" switch to the "Off" position. 5. Press the "Home" button to return to your Home Screen.
  • Question
    How do I allow pop-ups from certain sites on Windows 10?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    There's an app in the app store called" AdBlocker" -- it'll get rid of those extra ads with no cost. When it says that, it costs something, ignore it.
  • Question
    How do I turn off pop-up blockers on my smart phone?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Open your browser. Tap the three dots menu icon in the top right corner of your screen and tap Settings. Tap Advanced from the menu that appears. Look for the Block pop-ups setting and make sure it’s disabled.
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Tips

  • If Pop-up Blocker is enabled and a pop-up is blocked, you'll be notified by a small information bar beneath the address bar. Clicking this bar will allow you to temporarily allow pop-ups, add the site to the exceptions list, or adjust your blocking settings.
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about computer functions, check out our in-depth interview with Luigi Oppido.

About This Article

Luigi Oppido
Co-authored by:
Computer & Tech Specialist
This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 694,311 times.
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Co-authors: 9
Updated: May 25, 2023
Views: 694,311
Categories: Internet Explorer
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 694,311 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Janet Beatrice

    Janet Beatrice

    Jun 30, 2016

    "The ads seem almost deliberately designed to fool us into thinking they are steps in the process, which is pretty..." more
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