Internet Explorer, 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 McAfee anti-virus for members of the Boston University community, which doesn’t interfere with pop-ups.

ie7-logo-sm Internet Explorer 8 to 11

  1. Launch Internet Explorer from your desktop or the start menu.
  2. Click Tools from the main menu.
    (IE8 through IE9 users can also find the “Tools” menu icon to the right of the “Home” icon)
  3. Scroll down to and mouse-over the Pop-up blocker option.
  4. At the Pop-up blocker option, a menu will appear to the right of your mouse. In that menu, click Pop-up Blocker Settings. If the Pop-up Blocker Settings option is disabled, click on Turn on Pop-up Blocker first.
    fx3-tools-popupblocker
  5. 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 to allow text box.
  6. Click the Add button.
    ie8-popup-allowed
  7. Click the Close button.

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 window that appears, click the Options icon.
    Firefox browser options
  4. Click the Content icon.
    fx3-content
  5. Ensure that the checkbox labeled Block pop-up windows is checked and click the Exceptions… button located to the right.
    Firefox 29 Content tab
  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.
    fx3-allowedsites
  8. Click Close to close the Allowed Sites – Pop-ups window.
  9. Click the OK button in the Options window to close this window.

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. Click the Show advanced settings… link at the bottom of the page.
    Google Chrome Settings
  3. In the Privacy section, click the Content settings… button.
    Google Chrome Privacy Settings
  4. Scroll down to the Pop-ups section, click the Do not allow any site to show pop-ups (recommended) radio button and then click the Manage exceptions… button.
    Google Chrome Pop-up Settings
  5. 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 Add a new hostname pattern text box and ensure that the Allow option is selected in the Behavior column.
    Google Chrome Pop-up Settings
  6. Click the Done button on this screen and then the following screen.
  7. Click the “X” to the right of the Settings tab to close out the browser’s Settings tab.
    Google Chrome 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.