Firefox blocks pop-ups everywhere by default, which is fine until a real login window, checkout page, or upload form refuses to open. You do not need to switch the blocker off for the whole browser to fix one site.
Grant the exception from the address bar permissions panel when you are in a hurry, or add the site under Privacy & Security when you want it on record. Both keep the pop-up blocker active everywhere else.
In this guide, I have covered:
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Firefox blocked a pop-up you actually need
Firefox blocks pop-ups on every site by default. That keeps ad windows, fake download prompts, and shady redirects off your screen. You only notice the blocker when something legitimate refuses to open: a login window, a payment dialog, an upload form.
Turning the blocker off everywhere is overkill. Firefox lets you allow pop-ups for one site and keeps blocking them for everything else. Two places handle it: the address bar permissions panel, or the exceptions list under Privacy & Security in Settings.
Allow pop-ups for one site from the address bar
Firefox just blocked the window you needed, and you want it back now. The address bar gets you there in a few clicks, no trip into Settings.
- Open the site that needs the pop-up and trigger the action that was blocked. Firefox blocks the window and shows a prompt in the address bar.
- Click the blocked pop-up icon at the left end of the address bar, just inside the URL.
- Find the Pop-ups row in the permissions panel. It should currently read Blocked.
- Switch that row to Allowed.
- Close the panel, then reload the page or retry the action. The pop-up opens normally.
The exception sticks. Firefox adds the site to its permissions list the moment you flip the toggle, so it survives closing and reopening the browser.
The address bar permissions panel shares space with camera, location, microphone, and notification settings. On a small window, scroll the panel until the pop-ups entry comes into view.
Manage the pop-up exceptions list in Firefox settings
Maybe you would rather set the exception before anything gets blocked, or you have several trusted sites to add in one sitting. The Settings list does both, and it shows every exception you have granted so far.
- Click the
menu and choose Settings. - Select Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
- Scroll down to the Permissions section.
- Find the row labeled Block pop-up windows. It carries a checkmark by default, meaning the global blocker is on.
- Click on the right side of that row.
- Type the site address into the Address of website field in the Allowed Sites dialog.
- Click to add it. Repeat for any other domains you trust.
- Click to store the list.
The site shows up under the Allowed column right away. Visit it and retry whatever was blocked, and the pop-up opens with no extra prompt.
Remove a site from the pop-up exceptions list
A site that no longer needs pop-up access should not keep it. Revoking an entry takes less time than adding one.
- Open Settings from the menu and go to Privacy & Security.
- Click in the Permissions section.
- Select the site under the Allowed column that you want to revoke.
- Click .
- Click .
Once you save, the site falls back to the default blocked behavior the next time it tries to open a window.
What to try if pop-ups still do not appear
The exceptions list says the site is allowed and the pop-up still will not open. Work through these checks in order and stop at the one that fixes it.
- Reload the tab or retry the original action. Some sites set up their pop-up on first page load, which happened before your exception was saved.
- Click the padlock (or Connection secure) icon in the address bar and confirm Pop-ups reads Allowed. A per-site toggle you flipped earlier overrides the global setting.
- Match the address exactly. Some sites treat example.com and www.example.com as separate origins, so add the hostname that is actually in your address bar.
- Disable content-blocking and privacy extensions for the site, especially ad blockers and script blockers. They run outside Firefox’s permission list and can override your exception. The wider toggle pattern is in our guide to allowing or blocking pop-ups globally in Firefox.
- Open the page in a private window. Exceptions carry over, and a clean session rules out profile or cookie issues that stop some sites from firing their pop-up.
- Update Firefox to the latest release so the built-in blocker behaves the way current versions expect.
TIP: For a real-world walkthrough of the address bar flow on one site, see this Mozilla Support question on Firefox pop-up exceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I let pop-ups through for every site instead of just one?
Open Settings from the menu, pick Privacy & Security, and clear the checkbox next to Block pop-up windows in the Permissions section. Firefox then allows pop-ups from any site until you turn that option back on.
Is the address bar permission temporary?
It lasts as long as you leave it set to Allowed. Firefox remembers the choice across sessions, so the site keeps pop-up access until you flip the toggle back or remove the entry from the exceptions list.
Does my pop-up exception sync to Firefox on my phone?
Yes, as long as you are signed into the same Firefox account on both devices and have Sync turned on for privacy and security preferences. The desktop change reaches the phone on the next sync. Without Sync, you have to allow pop-ups separately on each device.
What is the difference between pop-ups and redirects?
Pop-ups open extra windows on top of the current tab. Redirects send your current tab to a different URL. Firefox blocks both by default, with separate toggles in the same Permissions section.
Why does Firefox still block a pop-up after I allowed the site?
An ad blocker or similar extension is the usual answer. Extensions run outside Firefox’s built-in permission list, so their block rules override your exception. Disable the extension for that site, or add the site to its own allow list, and the pop-up fires.
