This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox popup blocker exception list does not work for private windows

more options

Firefox 90.0.2 (64-bit) on Windows 10.

In about:preferences#privacy I have "Block pop-up windows" ticked and 16 websites set as exceptions.

This exception list works in non-private windows, but not in private ones - popups are blocked and I have to explicitly click "options" and then "show".

This bug was introduced a few releases ago - it used to work OK.

Firefox 90.0.2 (64-bit) on Windows 10. In about:preferences#privacy I have "Block pop-up windows" ticked and 16 websites set as exceptions. This exception list works in non-private windows, but not in private ones - popups are blocked and I have to explicitly click "options" and then "show". This bug was introduced a few releases ago - it used to work OK.

All Replies (4)

more options

Some add-ons are not active when using Private Windows.

Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Find and select that add-on.

Locate and select Run in Private Windows.

more options

The problem is not related to an extension. If I disable the only extension I have active ("In Zoom") the problem still occurs.

more options

We have seen several reports during the past months of this issue with pop-up blocking in Private Browsing mode.


This is a deliberate decision that is the result of isolating normal mode and PB mode permissions. See:

See also:

  • bug 1701814 - Popup exceptions set via about:preferences do not apply to private browsing windows

You could disable this isolate feature, but that can lead to other unexpected issues.

  • bug 1692567 - Accessing a site in Private Browsing can cause that site's non-private session to be logged out in 24 hours

(please do not comment in bug reports
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html
)

Modified by cor-el

more options

@cor-el Thanks for that.

So the only solution currently until the UI for https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1589608 is sorted out is to turn the popup blocker off globally (which works, and I have now done)?

This presumably isn't the desired outcome that https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1702290#c3 ("We consider being prompted again in private browsing a privacy feature.") had in mind.

Modified by yetanothermozillaaccounttoaddtothepreviousones