How to stop pop-ups in Safari on iPhone

Safari already blocks pop-up windows, but most annoying pop-ups today are drawn inside the page itself. Here's how to deal with both.

1. Check Safari's own pop-up blocker

Open Settings → Apps → Safari. On iOS 17: Settings → Safari.
Make sure Block Pop-ups is on. It is on by default.

This stops new windows and tabs that open by themselves. It doesn't stop boxes drawn inside the page: newsletter sign-ups, “download our app” banners, cookie notices and ad layers.

2. Hide in-page pop-ups with a content blocker

A content blocker such as Popbye hides many overlays, sticky banners and ad layers before you see them, and blocks known redirects to ad and scam pages. Setting it up takes a minute — see How to block ads in Safari on iPhone.

If a page says your iPhone has a virus

Pages that say your iPhone is infected, that you won a prize or that you must install something are ads, not messages from Apple. Don't tap anything on the page. Close the tab: tap the tabs button, then close it.

If the page keeps coming back, open Settings → Apps → Safari → Clear History and Website Data (on iOS 17: Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data).

If a pop-up blocks a site you need

Some sites won't show anything until you answer their pop-up. Read A site won't open with an ad blocker on? to pause blocking for that site.