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A user-friendly guide to block page redirects on multiple desktop browsers
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When a page redirect happens on your browser, you're taken from one URL to another. In some cases, this is caused by a spam link, and it's best to avoid these redirects to avoid viruses or malware. Luckily, many browsers have built-in features to protect you from page redirects. This wikiHow will show you how to block a website from redirecting you to another page using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera on a PC or Mac computer.
Blocking Page Redirects
- On Chrome, click "⋮" → "Settings" → "Privacy and Security" → "Site settings" → "Pop-ups and redirects". Make sure it's toggled on.
- On Firefox, you'll need to edit about:config to block page redirects.
- On Microsoft Edge, click "•••" → "Settings" → "Cookies and site permissions" → "Pop-ups and redirects". Toggle on "Block".
Steps
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Install AdGuard for Safari. There is no option to block page redirects in Safari, but ad blockers like AdGuard do a good job blocking most of them. The free version, AdGuard for Safari, will block most page redirects, but some may still slip through. If you need more protection and are willing to pay a little, consider the full version, AdGuard for Mac, which comes with a "Stealth Mode" that blocks nearly all redirects.
- You can install AdGuard for Safari (free) from the Mac App Store—just search for AdGuard for Safari , click GET , and follow the on-screen instructions to install. [1] X Research source
- If you want to try the full version of AdGuard for Mac, you can get a free 14-day trial. [2] X Research source Go to https://adguard.com/en/adguard-mac/overview.html and click Download to save the installer, then double-click the installer to install the app.
- If you're seeing the error "Could not open the page, too many redirects" while browsing a particular website, skip to Step 9 .
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Open Safari on your Mac. After installing AdGuard for Safari, you'll need to enable its extensions.Advertisement
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Click the Safari menu and select Settings . This menu item will be called Preferences on earlier versions of macOS.
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Click the Extensions tab. It's the puzzle piece icon at the top of the window.
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Enable the AdGuard extensions. You'll see many extensions that start with "Adguard" here, and the developers of Adguard recommend enabling all of them. [3] X Research source
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Enable "Content Blockers." AdGuard requires Safari's Content Blockers to be active, so click Content Blockers in the left panel, then select On . Once enabled, AdGuard will begin protecting you against ads, trackers, and, most importantly, page redirects.
- To ensure AdGuard can block redirects on all websites, turn on "When visiting other websites" as well.
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Enable Stealth Mode (AdGuard for Mac Only). If you're using the paid version of AdGuard, you can enable Stealth Mode for greater protection against page redirects. Open the AdGuard app, click the Stealth Mode tab in the left panel, then toggle on "Stealth Mode."
- Don't tweak any of the other settings here.
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Fix the "Too many redirects" error. If you're getting this error on a specific website, you can fix it by removing saved data for that site. Here's how:
- In Safari > Settings , click Privacy and select Cookies and website data .
- Click Details or Manage Website Data .
- Search for the site you're having problems with.
- Select the site and click Remove > Remove Now .
- Refresh the page to view the site without errors. [5] X Research source
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Click ⋮ at the top-right corner of Chrome. By default, Google Chrome will automatically block all pop-ups and page redirects. Use this method to double-check you have the feature turned on. [6] X Research source .
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Click Settings . You'll find this near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
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Click Privacy and Security . This will be in the left panel, underneath Autofill .
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Click Site settings . This will be underneath Security .
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Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects . A new page will open.
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Click the bubble next to "Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects". You'll need to restart Google Chrome to apply any changes.
- If this option is already selected, page redirects are already blocked in Chrome.
- Blocking redirects in Chrome's settings should get rid of most redirects. However, some page redirects may still slip through. Installing a reputable ad-blocker like uBlock Origin can enhance your redirect protection.
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Open Mozilla Firefox. While Firefox used to have a simple menu option to block page redirects, they've removed the feature from their menus. However, you can still block page redirects by editing the browser's advanced configuration file.
- Editing this file will allow you to choose whether you want to be redirected to a different site when a site attempts to redirect you.
- Be sure to check for updates and download accordingly.
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Go to about:config . To get there, just type about:config into the address bar at the top of Firefox, then press Enter or Return .
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Click Accept the Risk and Continue . This opens the advanced configuration editor.
- Be very careful when editing this file, as you can inadvertently break things.
- Type Accessibility.blockautorefresh into the Search bar. This filters the settings list to show only two items.
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Double-click false next to "Accessibility.blockautorefresh." This changes the value to true. Now, any time a website attempts to redirect you to a different page, you'll be asked whether you want to go to that page or stay where you are. [7] X Research source
- This trick should work, but there's also another option you can try—type network.http.redirection-limit into the search bar. When it appears, replace the default value of "20" with 1 .
- If you're still running into rogue redirects, try installing an add-on like Skip Redirect .
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Click the menu in Edge ••• . You'll see it at the top-right corner of your browser.
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Click Settings . It's at the bottom of the menu. A new page will open.
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Click Cookies and site permissions . You can find this on the left panel, underneath Share, copy and paste .
- If you don't see this option, click the three-line menu at the top-left corner of the page.
- If you need to update Microsoft Edge , click About Microsoft Edge in the left panel.
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Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects . This will be underneath the All permissions header.
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Toggle on "Block (recommended)." If this option is already selected, page redirects are already being blocked in Microsoft Edge.
- Disabling redirects in Edge should block most page redirects. If too many are still slipping through, try using a reputable ad-blocking add-on like uBlock Origin .
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Launch Opera. This looks like a red o .
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Click the cog icon in the left panel. The Settings menu will open.
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Scroll down and click Privacy and security . This will be underneath the Advanced header.
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Click Site Settings . You can find this underneath Security .
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Click Pop-ups and redirects . This will be underneath the Content header.
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QuestionWhy, when I open my phone, does Chrome automatically open pages and redirect?Community AnswerOn your phone, go to Settings, Apps, Chrome, and Clear App Data. That will clear recently visited pages and bookmarks and should resolve the problem.
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Tips
- Adware on your computer or in your browser can cause redirects as well. Try scanning your computer for viruses and removing extensions and add-ons from your browsers to clear out any malware that might be causing redirects.Thanks
- There is no guaranteed way to block 100% of page redirects.Thanks
- Most browsers will give you the option of continuing to a redirected page when a redirect is blocked.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://adguard.com/kb/adguard-for-safari/installation/
- ↑ https://adguard.com/en/adguard-mac/overview.html
- ↑ https://adguard.com/kb/adguard-for-safari/installation/
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
- ↑ https://help.netflix.com/en/node/40124
- ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95472?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- ↑ https://kb.mozillazine.org/Accessibility.blockautorefresh
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the menu.
3. Click Settings
.
4. Click Advanced
.
5. Scroll down to "Privacy and security."
6. Toggle on "Safe Browsing."
7. Restart Chrome.
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