What to Know
- Disable/enable: Select Tools > Internet options > Privacy > Pop-up Blocker > toggle Turn on Pop-up Blocker.
- Adjust in IE11: Select Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > Internet Options > Turn on Pop-up Blocker.
- Set exemption: Select Settings > Pop-up Blocker Settings > Address of website to allow > enter website > Add.
This article explains how to use the pop-up blocker feature in Internet Explorer 11 on a Windows PC.
Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer and recommends that you update to the newer Edge browser. Head to their site to download the newest version.
![A laptop displaying no pop-up ads on the screen.](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/CK-ul3c8FYX-x1upxFer8AApLzQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pop-up-ads-4007115_1920-415f079bc45e41c58299f20cf82676a9.jpg)
Disable or Enable the Pop-Up Blocker
The IE11 pop-up blocker is enabled by default. It's easy to disable or re-enable the feature.
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Open Internet Explorer and select Tools (the gear icon located in the upper-right corner of the browser) and then select Internet options.
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In the Internet Options dialog box, go to the Privacy tab.
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In the Pop-up Blocker section, select the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box to block pop-up ads. Clear the check box to disable the pop-up blocker.
The IE11 pop-up blocker is enabled by default.
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Select Apply to make the changes.
How to Adjust the IE11 Pop-Up Blocker Settings
Here's how to view and modify the behavior of the IE pop-up blocker, including how to allow pop-ups on certain sites, modify how you're notified when the browser blocks a pop-up, and how to set the pop-up blocker's restriction level.
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Open Internet Explorer and select Tools > Internet Options > Privacy.
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In the Internet Options dialog box, select the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box.
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Select Settings.
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In the IE11 Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box, go to the Address of website to allow field and enter the address of a website from which you want to allow pop-up windows. Select Add to add the website to the safelist.
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Under Notifications and blocking level, clear the Play a sound when a pop-up is blocked check box if you don't want to hear the default audio chime. This chime announces a blocked pop-up window.
This feature is enabled by default.
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Clear the Show Notification bar when a pop-up is blocked check box if you don't want to see an alert that a pop-up window was blocked, along with an option to allow the pop-up.
This feature is enabled by default.
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Under Blocking Level, select the drop-down arrow and choose High to block all pop-up windows from all websites, with the option to override this restriction at any time by pressing CTRL+ALT. Choose Medium to block all pop-up windows except those located in your local intranet or Trusted Sites content zones. Choose Low to block all pop-up windows, except those found on websites deemed to be secure.
Medium is the default setting.