How to Turn Off the Pop‐Up Blocker in Microsoft Edge & IE

Pop-ups have a reputation problem. Some are helpful (login windows, receipt downloads, bank authentication), and some are… let’s call them “aggressively enthusiastic marketers.” If you’re here, you probably need a pop-up to work right nowand Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer is acting like an overprotective bouncer.

This guide shows you exactly how to turn off the pop-up blocker in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer (IE), plus the safer option: allowing pop-ups only for specific trusted sites. You’ll also get troubleshooting tips for the common “I turned it off and it still won’t open” scenario (spoiler: sometimes it’s not a pop-up at all).

First: Pop-Ups vs. “Pop-Ups” (Yes, That’s a Thing)

A classic browser pop-up is a new window or tab launched by a site (often via a button like “Print,” “Pay,” “Download PDF,” or “Open report”). Microsoft Edge blocks many of these by default because shady sites abused them for years.

But what people call “pop-ups” can also include:

• Website notifications that appear in the corner of your screen (not the same as pop-up windows).
• Redirects that bounce you to a new page (often paired with pop-ups in the same setting).
• Extensions/adware injecting ads (browser settings won’t fix every case).

The good news: Edge gives you strong controlglobal on/off, plus a site-by-site “allow list.” The even better news: you don’t have to open the pop-up floodgates for every website on the internet.

Microsoft Edge: Turn Off the Pop-Up Blocker (Desktop)

In modern Microsoft Edge, the setting you want is usually called “Pop-ups and redirects.” Turning it off allows pop-ups; keeping it on blocks pop-ups (recommended). You can also add exceptions per site.

Option A: Disable the Pop-Up Blocker for All Sites (Fast, Riskier)

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots menu (top-right).
3. Select Settings.
4. Go to Cookies and site permissions (or Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions, depending on your Edge layout).
5. Click Pop-ups and redirects.
6. Turn off the toggle labeled Block (recommended).

That’s it. Edge will stop blocking pop-up windows across the board. If you do this, consider it a temporary “break glass in case of emergency” moveand turn blocking back on when you’re done.

Option B: Allow Pop-Ups for One Site (Smarter, Recommended)

If you only need pop-ups for a specific sitelike your bank, school portal, payroll system, or an internal tool allow pop-ups only there.

1. Open Edge and go to the website that needs pop-ups.
2. Open Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Pop-ups and redirects.
3. Under Allow, click Add.
4. Enter the site address (example: example.com) and click Add.

Pro tip: If the site uses multiple subdomains (like login.example.com and portal.example.com), you may need to allow each relevant domainor use a wildcard format if your environment supports it.

Option C: Use the “Pop-Up Blocked” Icon (When You’re Mid-Task)

If Edge blocks a pop-up, you’ll often see a small indicator in the address bar. Click it and choose an option like Always allow pop-ups and redirects from this site, then confirm. This is the quickest fix when you don’t want to leave the page you’re working on.

Shortcut: Open the Setting Directly

If you prefer typing instead of clicking through menus, you can often jump straight to the page by entering edge://settings/content/popups in the address bar. (If that path looks different in your version, Edge may still route you to the same “Pop-ups and redirects” screen.)

Microsoft Edge: Turn Off the Pop-Up Blocker (Mobile: iPhone/Android)

On mobile, Edge still has a pop-up setting, but the menu labels can be slightly different. The idea is the same: find Pop-ups and redirects and toggle blocking offor add a site to the allow list if available.

1. Open the Edge app.
2. Tap the menu (often three dots).
3. Go to Settings → Site permissions (or Privacy and security).
4. Tap Pop-ups and redirects.
5. Toggle blocking off to allow pop-ups, or add a trusted site if Edge offers that option on your device.

Heads up: Mobile pop-ups can also be affected by content blockers, DNS-based ad blocking, or device-level privacy settings. If the website still won’t open a needed window, jump to the troubleshooting section below.

Internet Explorer 11: Turn Off the Pop-Up Blocker

Yes, Internet Explorer. It’s like finding a payphone in the wildrare, but not impossible. Some organizations still run legacy web apps that behave best in IE (or in IE mode inside Edge).

Turn Off Pop-up Blocker in IE (All Sites)

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Tools icon (gear) and choose Internet options.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Under Pop-up Blocker, uncheck Turn on Pop-up Blocker.
5. Click OK.

IE will now allow pop-ups everywhere. Just remember: IE is not where you want to browse the modern web freely. Think of this like taking the training wheels off… while riding next to a cactus field.

Allow Pop-Ups for Specific Sites in IE (Better Control)

If you want pop-ups only for trusted sites, keep Pop-up Blocker on and add exceptions.

1. Open Internet options → Privacy tab.
2. Under Pop-up Blocker, click Settings.
3. Type the website address into Address of website to allow.
4. Click Add, then Close, then OK.

Adjust IE’s Blocking Level (And the Handy Override)

IE lets you choose how strict the blocker is. In the Pop-up Blocker Settings window, you can set the Blocking level to be more aggressive. If you set it to the highest level, IE can still allow a pop-up when you hold Ctrl + Alt while the pop-up tries to open (useful for those “I need this once” moments).

Important Reality Check: IE Is RetiredUse IE Mode in Edge When You Can

If you’re using IE because a work or government site “requires Internet Explorer,” you may not actually need the standalone IE app anymore. Microsoft Edge includes Internet Explorer mode (often called IE mode) for compatibility with legacy sites.

How to Turn On IE Mode in Edge (Common Method)

1. Open Edge and type edge://settings/defaultbrowser in the address bar.
2. Find the option to allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode and switch it On.
3. Restart Edge.

After that, many organizations manage which sites open in IE mode through policies. If you’re in a workplace, your IT department may already have an “Enterprise Mode Site List” controlling this behavior.

Troubleshooting: “I Turned Off the Blocker… Where’s My Pop-Up?”

If you disabled the pop-up blocker and nothing changed, don’t panic. Pop-up failures usually fall into one of these buckets.

1) It’s Actually a Notification, Not a Pop-Up Window

If you’re seeing alerts in the corner of your desktop (or you want to see them and you can’t), you’re dealing with website notifications, which are controlled separately from “Pop-ups and redirects.”

1. In Edge, open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions (or Cookies and site permissions).
3. Select Notifications.
4. Block spammy sites, or allow the site you trust.

2) The Site Needs a “Trusted” Allow List Entry

Some sites open pop-ups only after a specific click (which browsers typically allow), but others attempt to open a new window at a time browsers consider suspicious. If you’re dealing with older enterprise software or a stubborn portal, adding it explicitly to the Allow list in Edge (or Allowed Sites in IE) is often the fix.

3) Another Blocker Is Doing the Blocking

Common culprits:

• Ad blockers / privacy extensions (they may block pop-ups, redirects, and scripts).
• Security software with web filtering.
• DNS-level ad blocking (Pi-hole-style setups, “family safety” filters, or network controls).

Quick test: open the same page in a private/incognito window with extensions disabled (or temporarily disable extensions one by one) and try again.

4) The Pop-Up Is Opening… Off-Screen

This is more common than you’d think, especially with older web apps and multiple monitors. If you click a button and nothing appears, the window may have opened outside your visible display area.

• Try Alt + Tab to see if a new window exists.
• On Windows, use Win + Arrow keys to “snap” the hidden window back onto the screen.
• Disconnect external monitors temporarily, then try again.

5) Redirects Are the Real Problem

Some sites launch a pop-up and immediately redirect it (or rely on redirects for login). Edge bundles these controls together as Pop-ups and redirects. If the redirect portion is blocked, your “pop-up” may appear blank or fail to load. Allowing pop-ups for that site usually resolves both behaviors.

Security Checklist: Before You Let Pop-Ups Run Wild

Disabling a pop-up blocker is like leaving your front door unlocked because your friend is coming over. It’s fine if you do it thoughtfullyand less fine if you forget and go on a midnight walk through the sketchiest corners of the internet.

Use These Safety Rules

• Prefer “Allow for this site” over “Allow everywhere.” Add trusted sites to the allow list instead of disabling protection globally.
• Turn the blocker back on after you finish the task that required pop-ups.
• Audit notifications permissions if you’re getting spammy “system alert” messagesthose often come from shady notification permissions, not pop-up windows.
• Keep Edge updated and remove suspicious extensions.
• If you must use IE, use it only for the one legacy site you need, not as your everyday browser.

Conclusion (Plus Real-World Experiences)

Turning off the pop-up blocker in Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer is straightforward once you know where the setting lives: in Edge, it’s Pop-ups and redirects; in IE, it’s the Pop-up Blocker checkbox under the Privacy tab. The best practice, almost every time, is to allow pop-ups only for the site you trust. You get the functionality you need without turning your browser into an open-mic night for advertisers.

Real-World Experiences: What People Commonly Run Into (About )

Here are the most common “pop-up blocker” stories people run intoso you can recognize your situation faster and fix it with fewer forehead-to-desk moments.

1) The payment page that “does nothing.” This one is classic: you click “Pay now,” and the page just sits there, silently judging you. Often the payment processor opens in a new window (or a redirected mini-window). The fix is usually adding that site (or its payment domain) to Edge’s Allow list. Once allowed, the checkout window appears instantlylike it was there the whole time, waiting for permission.

2) The bank login that needs a second window for verification. Some financial institutions use pop-ups for identity verification, statements, or downloading tax documents. People disable the blocker globally, finish the task, and forget to turn it back on. A week later: “Why are there random windows opening when I browse?” The smarter approach is site-specific allowance.

3) The school or HR portal that opens reports in a pop-up… off-screen. In offices with dual monitors, older web apps sometimes remember window positions poorly. Someone docks their laptop, opens a report, then later undocks and the report window opens somewhere in the void. The pop-up isn’t blockedit’s lost. Snapping windows back with keyboard shortcuts or reconnecting the original monitor usually reveals the “missing” window.

4) “Pop-ups” that are actually notifications. A lot of people think those little corner alerts are pop-up windows, so they change the pop-up blocker and nothing changes. If a site tricked someone into clicking “Allow notifications,” it can spam them all day without using pop-up windows at all. Managing Notifications permissions in Edge is the real cure here.

5) The legacy internal app that insists on Internet Explorer. Many organizations still have one stubborn tool that was built for old IE behavior. Users try IE, discover it’s outdated and awkward, then eventually land on Edge’s IE mode as the best compromise: modern Edge browser shell, legacy rendering where needed. If your pop-ups are tied to that legacy app, getting the site configured in IE mode (often via IT policy) can stabilize things dramatically.

6) The extension that “helps” too much. Privacy extensions can block scripts that spawn pop-up windows (or the scripts that load the content inside them). The result looks like “pop-ups are broken,” even if the browser setting is correct. Testing in an extension-free session helps you pinpoint the real blocker.

Bottom line: the fastest fix is knowing what kind of “pop-up” you’re dealing withwindow, redirect, notification, or extension interference. Once you identify the category, the solution is usually a two-minute adjustment instead of a two-hour spiral.