Pop-ups can be ads, notices, offers, or alerts that open in your current browser window, in a new window, or in another tab. Some pop-ups are third-party ads that use phishing tactics—like warnings or prizes—to trick you into believing they’re from Apple or another trusted company, so you’ll share personal or financial information. Or they might claim to offer free downloads, software updates, or plugins, to try to trick you into installing unwanted software.
Unless you’re confident of an ad’s legitimacy, you should avoid interacting with pop-ups or webpages that seem to take over your screen. Here are additional tips that can help you manage pop-ups and other unwanted interruptions.
Jan 23, 2019 There are many ways that Messages can break on your Mac. Regardless of the symptoms, the cause is typically the same: a miscommunication between the Messages app and the messaging servers on Apple’s end. With the correct troubleshooting steps, we can straighten this out. Apr 30, 2020 iPhoto or the upgraded Photos app on Yosemite and later is the default app on Mac to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. However, some users have met the same problem as the above user asked – photos on iPhone will not show up on Mac in iPhoto/Photos when connected with the iPhone. Jan 08, 2019 How to transfer your Message history to a new Mac. Turn on both your old and new Macs. Open an Airdrop window on both Macs. Or you could also use File Sharing. Open up the. /Library/Messages. folder (using the above method) on both the old and new Mac. Drag that folder on your old Mac over to Airdrop.
Check and update your software
Always make sure you install the latest software updates for all your Apple products. Many software releases have important security updates and may include improvements that help control pop-ups.
The safest place to download apps for your Mac is the App Store. If you need third-party software for your Mac, and it isn’t available in the App Store, get it directly from the developer or another reliable source, rather than through an ad or link.
Check Safari settings and security preferences
Make sure Safari security settings are turned on, particularly Block Pop-ups—for pop-up windows—and the Fraudulent Website Warning.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Safari and turn on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning.
On your Mac, you can find these options in Safari > Preferences. The Websites tab includes options to block some or all pop-up windows, and you can turn on fraudulent site warnings in the Security tab.
Pop-ups and ads in Safari
If you see an annoying pop-up ad in Safari, you can go to the Search field and enter a new URL or search term to browse to a new site. If you don’t see the Search field on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, tap the top of the screen to make it appear.
Some pop-ups and ads have fake buttons that resemble the close button, so use caution if you try to close a pop-up or ad. If you're unsure, avoid interacting with the pop-up or ad and close the Safari window or tab.
On your Mac, you can also update your settings to prevent windows from opening again after you close Safari, or just press and hold the Shift key when you open Safari.
If you might have installed adware or other unwanted software on your Mac
If you see pop-ups on your Mac that just won’t go away, you might have inadvertently downloaded and installed adware (advertising-supported software) or other unwanted software. Certain third-party download sites might include programs that you don’t want with the software that you install.
If you think that you might have malware or adware on your Mac, update to the latest version of macOS. If your Mac is already running the latest version, restart it. macOS includes a built-in tool that removes known malware when you restart your Mac.
Check your Applications folder to see if you have any apps that you didn’t expect and uninstall them. You can also check the Extensions tab in Safari preferences to check if you installed any unnecessary extensions that you'd prefer to turn off. If you continue to see advertising or other unwanted programs on your Mac, contact Apple.
Learn more
- How to safely open software on your Mac
- How to recognize and avoid phishing and other scams
![Text message app Text message app](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126431363/550048097.jpg)
Messages on macOS lets you communicate with friends, family, and coworkers across a variety of different platforms, including Apple's own iMessage, along with SMS and services from Google, Yahoo, and AOL. But if you're new to the Mac or have just never set up Messages, you might be wondering how to get started with the app.
Mac Message App Popping Up Free
Follow these simple steps, and you'll be chatting with your friends in no time at all.
How to set up Messages on the Mac
Text Message App
![Popping Popping](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126431363/816090258.png)
- Launch Messages from your desktop, dock, or Applications folder.
- Enter your Apple ID email address and password. If you have two-step or two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID, enter your verification code.
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Click on Messages in the Menu barSource: iMore
- Click Preferences.
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Click Accounts tab.Source: iMore
- Select the phone number and email addresses at which you would like to be reached.
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Choose which phone number or email address people will see when you start a new conversation.Source: iMore
How to set up Messages in iCloud in macOS
Messages in iCloud keeps both your iMessages and standard SMS in sync between your Mac and your iOS devices, and also lets you download your messages when you set up a brand new device.
- Open Messages from your Dock or Applications folder.
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Click Messages in the Menu bar.Source: iMore
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Click Preferences.
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Click the Accounts tab.Source: iMore
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Click on your iMessage account.
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Click the checkbox next to Enable Messages on iCloud.Source: iMore
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Click the Sync Now button to sync immediately.Source: iMore
Mac Message App Popping Up Free
And that's how you turn on iMessage sync.
How to set up Messages in iCloud in iOS
To fully take advantage of Messages in iCloud, you'll need to turn it on for any iOS or iPadOS devices you own.
Questions?
Let us know in the comments below!
Update June 2020: Updated for the latest macOS.
Mac Message App Popping Up Computer
macOS Catalina
Main
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Closed for 2020
Apple says its offices in the US will not fully reopen until at least 2021
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning for its office and many of its retail workers to remain remote for the rest of the year.