How to Block Pop-Ups on iPhone 12 (Safari Browser)
Tired of annoying pop-ups interrupting your browsing on Safari? Whether they’re ads, sign-up boxes, or just sketchy spam windows, pop-ups can be a major hassle — but your iPhone 12 has a built-in way to stop them.
Here’s how to block pop-ups in Safari and boost your privacy while browsing.
Enable Pop-Up Blocking in Safari on iPhone 12
This feature is built into iOS and works right inside Safari — no third-party apps needed.
To turn on pop-up blocking:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Safari.
- Find the toggle for Block Pop-ups and turn it ON (green).
That’s it! Safari will now prevent most unwanted pop-ups from appearing while you browse.
Turn On Fraudulent Website Warning (Extra Protection)
For added safety, you should also enable Safari’s built-in phishing and malware protection.
- Still in Settings > Safari,
- Scroll down and turn on Fraudulent Website Warning.
This warns you before visiting known scam or malicious websites — a great second line of defense.
Still Seeing Pop-Ups? Try These Fixes
If pop-ups are still slipping through, try the following:
- Update iOS:
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version. - Clear Safari Data:
Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. - Avoid sketchy sites:
Some pop-ups are coded as part of a site’s layout — if Safari allows it, the pop-up blocker can’t help unless the site is blacklisted.
When to Turn Pop-Up Blocking Off
Some legitimate sites (like banks or online forms) use pop-ups for important tools or messages. If you can’t open a site feature, try turning Block Pop-ups off temporarily.