Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Firefox all come with a pop-up blocker, which must be configured to allow Blackboard Learn to use pop-up windows. If you have an external pop-up blocker, such as the Google Toolbar, please see the section on configuring external pop-up blockers for Blackboard Learn.

Please Note: Many anti-virus programs also include pop-up blockers which can interfere with applications such as Blackboard Learn. If you have configured your browser to allow pop-ups or have them turned off and still have issues with pop-up windows consult your anti-virus documentation for allowing pop-up windows.

BU does offer free CrowdStrike anti-virus for members of the Boston University community, which doesn’t interfere with pop-ups.

Edge logo

  1. Launch Microsoft Edge from your desktop or the start menu.
  2. Click the menu icon (•••) in the top right corner of your browser and choose “Settings.”
    Menu interface for selecting Settings
  3. Scroll to “Cookies and site Permissions” on the left sidebar. Then, click “Pop-ups and redirects”.
    Menu interface for selecting Pop-ups and redirects
  4. Click the “Add” button in the “Allow” box and enter the website address to allow pop-ups.(e.g. https://learn.bu.edu, https://cader.bu.edu, or https://onlinecampus.bu.edu).
    Pop-up settings with option to add URL exceptions in the box presented

fx-logo-smFirefox Final Release Channel

  1. Launch Firefox from your desktop or start menu.
  2. Click on the menu icon, located in the upper right-hand corner of the web browser.
  3. In the menu that appears, click Options.
    Firefox menu with Options highlighted
  4. Click Privacy & Security from the left-hand menu.
  5. Ensure that the checkbox labeled Block pop-up windows is checked and click the Exceptions… button located to the right.
    Firefox Permissions settings with Pop-up blocking highlighted
  6. Depending on the website address that you’re using (such as https://learn.bu.edu, https://cader.bu.edu or https://onlinecampus.bu.edu for online courses), put that address into the Address of website text box.
  7. Click the Allow button.
  8. Click Save Changes to save and close the Allowed Websites – Pop-ups window.
    Allowed websites pop-ups setting window in Firefox

Google Chrome icon Google Chrome Stable Release Channel

  1. Open Google Chrome and click the menu icon located to the immediate right of the web address bar.
    Google Chrome Options
  2. In the Privacy & Security section, click the Site settings… button.
    Google Chrome Site Settings option
  3. In the Content section, click Pop-ups and redirects.
    Chrome content settings
  4. Under Default behavior, click the Do not allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects radio button.
    Google Chrome don't allow pop-ups option
  5. Click the Add button to the right of Allowed to send pop-ups and use redirects option.
    Google Chrome add a site to pop-up exception list.
  6. Depending on the website address that you’re using (such as https://learn.bu.edu, https://cader.bu.edu or https://onlinecampus.bu.edu for online courses), put that address into the Site text box and click the Add button.
    Add site dialog box
  7. Click the x to the right of the Settings tab to close out the browser’s Settings tab.

Allowing sites through other Pop-up Blockers

If you have configured your browser to allow pop-ups from Blackboard Learn, have checked your anti-virus and still don’t see pop-up windows, you may have a web browser toolbar with its own pop-up blocker installed. These may include, but are not limited to the list below.