Allow and Disable Pop-Up Blocker in Brave Browser
Brave’s pop-up blocker helps prevent unwanted windows and redirects, but it can sometimes interfere with legitimate website features.
To allow pop-ups, open Brave Settings > Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects, then add a trusted website to the allowed list. To disable pop-up blocking more broadly, change the default permission to allow pop-ups if your version provides that option.
If you want to restore protection, switch the default back to blocking and remove any unnecessary website exceptions.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to allow and disable the pop-up blocker in Brave on Windows 11, Windows 10, and other desktop platforms.
Allow and Disable Pop-Up Blocker in Brave
To allow or disable the pop-up blocker in Brave, open Brave Settings, select Privacy and security, and navigate to Site and Shields Settings or the site’s Pop-ups and redirects permission. From there, you can allow pop-ups for a specific website or change the default behavior for websites.
The exact menu labels may vary slightly depending on your Brave version.
For most users, allowing pop-ups for a single trusted website is the better choice because it keeps unwanted pop-ups blocked everywhere else.
1: Open Brave Browser Settings
First, open Brave Browser on your computer. Make sure you’re using the browser profile where you want to change the pop-up settings.
Click the three-line menu or the main menu button in the upper-right corner of Brave, depending on your version. Select Settings from the menu.
You can also enter brave://settings in the address bar and press Enter. This takes you directly to Brave’s settings page.
Once the page opens, you’ll see different categories for managing privacy, security, appearance, and other browser features.
You don’t need to change every privacy setting to control pop-ups. The next step will take you to the specific area where Brave manages website permissions.
2: Open Privacy and Security Settings
In the left sidebar of Brave Settings, select Privacy and security.
Look for Site and Shields Settings or a similarly named option related to website permissions. Depending on your Brave version, this option may appear under an additional settings section.
Click it to open the permissions that control how websites interact with your browser.
Here, you can manage access to features such as the camera, microphone, location, notifications, and pop-ups. These settings help you decide what individual websites can do when you visit them.
Find Pop-ups and redirects and open it. This is the main setting you’ll use to allow or block pop-up windows.
3: Allow Pop-Ups for a Specific Website
If a website isn’t opening a payment window, login screen, or other important pop-up, you can allow it without changing the default setting for every website.
Open Brave and visit the website that needs pop-ups. For example, this might be an online banking portal, a trusted shopping website, or a service that opens documents in a separate window.
Click the site information icon next to the website address in the address bar. Depending on the site and your Brave version, this may appear as a settings or site-controls icon.
Open the site’s permissions or settings if that option is available. Look for Pop-ups and redirects and change the permission to Allow.
If the option isn’t available in the site information menu, open Brave Settings and navigate to Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
Under the allowed section, select Add if available. Enter the website’s address and confirm the change.
Return to the website and reload the page. Try the action that originally required a pop-up, such as clicking a sign-in or payment button.
Allow pop-ups only for websites you trust. If a page displays suspicious advertisements or asks you to install unfamiliar software, don’t grant permission just to make it work.
4: Disable the Pop-Up Blocker for All Websites
If you want Brave to allow pop-ups across websites, you can change the default permission.
Open brave://settings/content/popups in the address bar and press Enter. If the direct address doesn’t work in your version, navigate through Settings > Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
Look for the default behavior setting. Brave generally offers an option to block pop-ups and redirects, along with an option to allow them, although the wording may vary by version.
Select the option that allows sites to send pop-ups and use redirects, if available.
After making the change, close the settings tab and revisit the website. Reload the page if necessary to test whether the pop-up now opens.
Keep in mind that allowing pop-ups globally can result in more advertisements, unwanted tabs, and potentially misleading pages. For everyday browsing, it’s usually safer to leave the default blocker enabled and allow only specific websites.
5: Block Pop-Ups Again in Brave
If you previously allowed pop-ups and want to restore the default protection, you can switch the setting back.
Open Brave Settings and navigate to Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
Select the option that blocks pop-ups and redirects, if available. This restores the browser’s default blocking behavior for websites that don’t have a separate permission.
If you allowed pop-ups for a particular website, check the Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects section. Find the website and remove its permission or change it back to Block, depending on the controls available.
Removing a site’s exception means Brave will use the default permission for that website again. If the default is set to block pop-ups, the site should no longer be able to open them freely.
Reload the website and test it again. If you still see unwanted windows, continue to the next step.
6: Manage Pop-Up Permissions for Individual Websites
Brave lets you manage permissions for websites you’ve previously visited. This is useful when you don’t remember which website you allowed or blocked.
Open Settings > Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.
Review the lists of websites that are allowed or blocked. If you see a website that you no longer trust, remove its entry or change its permission.
For example, if you accidentally allowed pop-ups on an unfamiliar website, remove that exception. If a trusted website is listed under blocked sites, remove the blocked entry or add the site to the allowed list.
After making the change, revisit the website and reload the page.
Be careful when editing website permissions. Allowing pop-ups does not mean you must allow notifications, camera access, or other permissions. Keep those settings separate and grant access only when necessary.
7: Check Brave Shields and Other Blocking Features
Sometimes a pop-up doesn’t appear even after you’ve allowed it in the browser settings. That’s because Brave includes other privacy and content-blocking features that may affect how a website works.
Open the affected website and click the Brave Shields icon near the address bar. Review the available protections and check whether a setting is interfering with the site’s functionality.
If you suspect Shields is causing the problem, you can temporarily turn it off for that website to test the page. Reload the site and try again.
However, disabling Shields is different from allowing pop-ups. Shields can affect trackers, ads, scripts, and other content, while pop-up permissions specifically control pop-up windows and redirects.
If the site works only when Shields is disabled, consider restoring Shields and adjusting the relevant site permission instead. Avoid lowering protections across all websites unless you understand the consequences.
8: Update Brave and Test the Website Again
If pop-up settings look correct but the problem continues, check whether Brave needs an update.
Open the Brave menu and select About Brave, or enter brave://settings/help in the address bar. Brave will check for available updates and may install them automatically.
If an update is installed, restart the browser when prompted.
Next, reopen the website and test the pop-up again. Make sure you’re using the correct browser profile and that the website’s permission hasn’t been changed in another profile.
If the issue continues, try opening the website in a private window only if the site and your browser settings allow it, or test another trusted website that uses pop-ups. This can help determine whether the problem affects one website or Brave more generally.
If only one website is affected, the issue may be with that site’s code or its own requirements rather than Brave’s pop-up blocker.
FAQs
1. How do I turn off the pop-up blocker in Brave?
Open Brave Settings and navigate to Privacy and security > Site and Shields Settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Select the option that allows pop-ups, if available.
2. Can I allow pop-ups for just one website in Brave?
Yes. Open the pop-up permissions page and add the trusted website to the allowed list. This lets you keep pop-ups blocked by default on other websites.
3. Why are pop-ups still blocked after I allow them?
The website may need to be reloaded, another Brave protection may be interfering, or the website itself may have a problem. Check the site’s permission, confirm you’re using the correct browser profile, and test again.
4. Is it safe to disable the pop-up blocker?
Allowing pop-ups everywhere can expose you to unwanted advertisements, misleading pages, and suspicious redirects. It’s safer to allow pop-ups only on trusted websites that genuinely need them.
5. Does allowing pop-ups also allow website notifications?
No. Pop-ups, redirects, and notifications are separate website permissions. Allowing one does not automatically grant the other.