How to close a pop-up box
Pop-up boxes are little messages that appear on the screen from time to time. Some are helpful, such as when your computer wants permission to perform an update. Others, however, can be a nuisance or even unsafe, such as on an untrusted website.
In this course, we show you different ways to close these little messages, including how to get rid of stubborn website pop ups that refuse to go away.
Below you will find three different ways to learn how to close a pop up. You can:
- Watch it: A short animation demonstrating some different ways to close a pop up.
- Try it: For laptop and desktop computers only. An interactive challenge for you to practise closing different pop-up boxes.
- Read it: Read the steps in our handy guide that you can print or save for later. Available in different languages in the Print the guide section at the bottom of this page.
Sign in to save your progress
Watch it
Watch our short video on different ways to close a pop up.
Transcript
Pop-up boxes come from websites or programs on your computer. If you don't want to follow the instructions on the pop-up box or are not sure if it's genuine, you can just close it.
Use your mouse to move the cursor, the arrow on the screen. Move the cursor on top of the small X in the top right corner. Left click once on the X to close the pop-up box.
Some pop-up boxes don't have an X. To close a pop-up box without an X, click anywhere on the screen outside the pop-up box.
If you're unsure what to do about a pop up on a web page, you can simply close the web page. To do this, move the cursor to the browser tab at the top of the page, and click on the X.
Try it
For desktop and laptop computers only. Try it for yourself in a safe practice environment.