web browser settings safari

Tell websites to stop tracking you

Change your search engine to duckduckgo.

• Hide your IP address 

Stop using location services

Disable autofill, clear your browsing history, block your cookies, 7 settings you should change in safari to enhance your privacy.

• If you use Safari on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can enable settings to enhance your privacy while web browsing.
• You can easily disable cookies, change your search engine to DuckDuckGo, hide your IP address, and more.
• Here are seven of the top ways to make your online activity more private.

While Apple has allowed alternative browsers on the iPhone and iPad for quite some time, odds are good that if you have one of those devices (or a Mac computer, of course) you frequently use Safari to browse the web. It's relatively safe and private, but you can do much better by tweaking a few settings. Here are seven Safari settings that'll enhance your privacy when you're online.

Almost every step you take online is tracked by websites to target you for ads and to customize your experience. But you can shut most of that down by telling Safari to stop tracking you. On your iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, enable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking by swiping the button to the right. 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab and then click the checkbox for Prevent Cross-Site Tracking .

Google is most people's default, but that search engine fundamentally lacks privacy. If you don't want a large corporation to know your browsing history, switch to DuckDuckGo. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Search section, tap Search Engine and choose DuckDuckGo from the options.

If you're using a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Search tab. Finally, to the right of Search Engine , click the dropdown menu and switch from Google to DuckDuckGo .

Hide your IP address 

By default, websites can see your IP address, which can reveal personal details about you including your location. If you prefer, you can hide this from online trackers. On your iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, tap Hide IP Address and choose From Trackers .

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab and then click the checkbox for Hide IP address from trackers . 

A lot of your mobile device's secret sauce is based on location services — your iPhone and iPad need to know where you are to make smart suggestions and offer location-based features. But if you don't want Safari to know where you are, it's easy to turn off. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Settings for Websites section, tap Location and change the setting to Deny (or, if you want to be asked every time, choose Ask ). 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Websites tab. Choose Location in the pane on the left. At the bottom of the window, configure When visiting other sites by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Ask or Deny . 

Autofill is a great feature if you don't like to enter basic personal information into web forms over and over again, but for that to work, Safari has to record private data. Don't want that? On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the General section, tap Autofill and turn off Use Contact Info and Credit Cards by swiping the buttons to the left. 

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the AutoFill tab. You can disable autofill data in four categories by clearing the checkboxes.

This one is the traditional, go-to way to enhance your privacy — you can clear your browsing history from time to time to erase records on your device about where you've been online, along with your saved website passwords. On an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . Then scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data . Conform you want to do that in the popup window.

On a Mac, start Safari and then click History in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Clear History in the dropdown menu, choose the timeframe you want from the dropdown menu, and click Clear History .

If you prevent cross-site tracking (see the earlier tip in this article), Safari prevents some third-party cookies. But you can disable all cookies if you want to amp up your privacy — just be aware that your online experience will be less convenient, and some sites won't work properly. To try it on an iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app and then tap Safari . In the Privacy & Security section, enable Block All Cookies by swiping the button to the right.  

On a Mac, start Safari and then click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Preferences in the dropdown menu. In the Preferences window, click the Privacy tab. Beside Cookies and website data , click the checkbox for Block all cookies .

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How to use Safari on a Mac

Safari is the web browser app bundled with all Macs as part of macOS. You don’t have to use it – if you prefer to use Chrome or Firefox, for example, you can install those apps for your web surfing needs. But in our experience, Safari is a good option – and as you can see from our round-up of best web browser apps for the Mac , it’s pretty much the best you can get.

If you are new to Safari this article will help you find your way around the app. And if you are a seasoned Safari user we will reveal a few Safari tips and tricks that you might not know, including some of the fab new features in Safari 11, the latest version of Safari for Mac.

If you’d like to read about using Safari on the iPad or iPhone, read this .

How to get the latest version of Safari for Mac

First things first. You will want to make sure you have the latest version of Safari. At the time of writing the most up-to-date version is Safari 11.1.

Here’s how to find out which version of Safari you are running:

• Open Safari.
• Click on Safari > About Safari in the menu.
• The resulting window will reveal the version number.

As long as your copy of MacOS – the Mac operating system – is up to date your copy of Safari should be because Safari is bundled as part of an operating system update.

However, you don’t have to be using the latest version of macOS to have the latest version of Safari. Apple is bundling Safari 11 with High Sierra, Sierra and El Capitan versions of the Mac OS. If you need to update your version of MacOS read this: how to update your Mac operating system software .

Now that you have the latest version of Safari you can start enjoying some of the new features that we will discuss below.

Safari basics

If you are a surfing novice you might want to familiarise yourself with these tips.

We’ll start off with the basics, such as how to get into Safari, how to search, and other useful pointers. You can skip this bit if you aren’t a Safari beginner, there are plenty of tips below that you might find useful.

You can find Safari in the Dock at the bottom of your Mac’s screen. Its icon looks like a compass.

How to use Safari

The big bar at the top of the Safari window is where you can enter a website URL or a search term to either take you directly to a website, or to a list of pages that match your query.

It will automatically search in Google (but you can change it so it defaults to another search engine).

You rarely have to enter a complete URL for a website. Once you have visited a site once you only need to type a few letters of its name and it will autofill the rest of the URL.

For example, type: ‘Face’ and it will autofill the rest of the URL and when you press enter it will take you straight to Facebook.

How to make it easy to find your favourite sites in Safari

There are lots of ways of making it easy to get to websites you frequently visit.

When you open a new tab (see below for details of how to do that) you will see your Favourites view including Frequently Visited Sites. You could also choose to see a Top Sites view, set a Homepage, just see an empty page, or have the Same Page show up. These are all options you can access in Safari > Preferences > General. Just click on the menu beside New tabs open with.

If you choose the Top Sites view you can adjust it to show 6, 12 or 24 sites. To add and remove Top Sites hover over the preview until you see an x and a pin icon. Pin those sites you wish to keep and click x on those you don’t image you will want to find again. The sites that appear in Top Sites tend to be those you visit most frequently.

You can choose one of these views for every time you open a new Safari window.

How to Pin a site in Safari

In Safari you can also ‘Pin’ favourite sites to the menu bar – a simple way of adding a shortcut to Facebook, YouTube or any site you visit frequently.

When you Pin a site you will see a small icon representing that site on the left of your tabs.

To Pin a particular web page right- or control-click on the tab and choose Pin Tab. Then it’s very easy to go straight to that site.

Using tabs in Safari

Back to tabs. You can open multiple tabs in a Safari window, this means that rather than having a different Safari window open for every website you are on, you can just have one Safari window open and multiple pages accessible through that.

To open a new tab press Command + T.

There are two ways that you can see a preview of the different tabs you have open:

• You can see a short summary of the name of the web page on the tabs themselves. This might be sufficient if you only have one or two tabs open, but once you have more than eight you’ll probably find the summary is too short to be useful.
• Or, you can click on the icon that looks like two boxes on the right of the search/URL box. This will show a thumbnail view of all the web pages you have open.

While we’re on the subject of Tabs, you can close a single tab just by hovering over the tab and clicking on the x that shows up in the corner of that tab.

It’s also possible to close all but one tab. Just hold down the Option/Alt key when you click on the x to get rid of all the other tabs that are open, except for the page on that tab.

How to tell which Safari tabs are playing audio

Not everyone wants to surf the web in silence though. There is lots of very worthy audio and video content available on the web and no doubt many surfers wouldn’t want to miss out on that.

The problem is when you have multiple web pages open and more than one of them is blaring out audio.

Luckily there is another Safari tip to fix that.

You can identify which of your open tabs is playing audio by the speaker symbol that appears in the far right of the Safari tab associated with that web page.

It’s possible to mute the audio with a single click on the speaker symbol without even opening the tab.

And if more than one Safari webpage is playing audio you can choose to mute them all at once. Just click on the speaker symbol in the URL bar and choose Mute all Tabs.

Alternatively, you can Option/Alt-click on the speaker icon of the tab you do wish to listen to and mute the audio on all the other tabs.

How to reopen all windows from the last session

Here’s another useful tip. You can easily reopen all the tabs you had open last time you were using Safari.

Click History > Reopen All Windows from Last Session to quickly recover all the windows you were recently looking at. You might also find this helpful: How to export bookmarks from Chrome to Safari

How to show the full URL in Safari

Another handy Safari tip. In Yosemite Safari stopped showing the whole URL – a feature designed to help avoid users being taken in by phishing scams, wherein the URL is obfuscated. In other words, if you’re visiting https://macworld.co.uk/this/page/that/page then all you’ll see in the address bar is macworld.co.uk.

If this isn’t what you want, perhaps you want to see the full URL of the article you are reading, you can change things so that the whole URL is shown.

Open Safari’s preferences dialog box (Cmd+,) then click the Advanced icon and put a check alongside Show Full Website Address.

How to change how you view websites in Safari

One of our favourite features in Safari 11 is the extra control we have over the web. You can tweak the settings of specific websites so that they suit you for example.

How to change the font size on a website

You can tweak your settings so that when you visit a specific site the images and text are bigger – perfect if you are frustrated to find that the text on a favourite website is a bit too small for your eyes.

Here’s how to enlarge (or reduce) the font size on a particular website so that it stays that size whether you visit:

• Go to Safari > Preferences.
• Click on the Websites tab.
• Click on Page Zoom.
• Find the site you want to customise (any site you have open or have recently visited will be listed here).
• Choose a number bigger or smaller than 100% depending on how large you want the text and images to be.

You can do this on a per website basis, or if you frequently find that the text on websites is too small for you, you can choose to default to the percentage that suits you wherever you go on the web. Note that not all websites are created the same so some will naturally have larger type than others.

To choose the zoom percentage for all websites, click in the drop down box beside “When visiting other websites”.

Another benefit of having access to these controls that allow you to change the way you view the web is that it enables you to stop seeing ads and auto-playing videos. We’ll look at that below.

How to stop ads and auto-playing videos in Safari

Another enticing feature of Safari is the way you can choose to adjust the settings so that you never see another ad or auto-playing video again. We’ll look at how to do that next.

How to stop autoplay audio and video in Safari

Perhaps you are frustrated by auto-playing video blaring out every time you visit a website.

With Safari 11 you can disable autoplay video, so you will never again have to hear voices while you are browsing the web. Here’s what to do:

• Open the offending website.
• Click on Safari > Settings for This Website (or right-click the URL box and select Settings for This Website).
• Allow All Auto-Play
• Stop Media with Sound
• Never Auto-Play

Stop Media with Sounds is the default option, and it will essentially stop any video from starting if the sound is set to be on. If the video is set to play silently it will still run but you won’t hear it, unless you choose to.

If you would rather not let auto-playing video play, you can choose Never Auto-Play.

Remember that if you adjust the settings this way it will only apply to autoplay videos on that website. If you’d like to never see an autoplaying video again follow these steps:

• Go to Safari > Preferences and click on Websites.

And there is an option below to choose the same settings “When visiting other websites”.

We have a complete tutorial that explains how to use this feature here: How to stop autoplay video in Safari & Chrome on Mac .

We also cover how to stop Safari asking to use your location data here .

How to stop seeing ads on websites in Safari

While ads pay a part of our wage, we realise that some ads can really reduce the enjoyment of web browsing. Usually these are ads that have something wrong with the way they have been coded and aren’t behaving as intended, or even worse they are spam ads that have crept onto the ad networks. We are honestly as frustrated as you are!

One of the big changes Apple bought to Safari 11 was the ability to really manage the ads that you see – this was part of Apple’s effort to make the web work better. Effectively, if Apple can remove ads that aren’t behaving as intended and are jamming up page loading times and the like, then Safari will perform quicker, which means that the surfer has a better time surfing.

There are a few ways you can take advantage of these anti-ad related features in Safari 11.

One way is to choose to surf the web – or certain pages – in Reader mode.

Reader mode is a way of viewing webpages that Apple introduced back in 2010 in Safari 5. Reader displays just the text and images from a webpage, without any of the other page furniture. We think it is a bit like reading a Word document or a PDF. The feature hasn’t changed much over the years, but in Safari 11 it’s became possible to choose for a site to always be viewed in Reader Mode.

First, here’s how to view a site in Reader mode:

• Click on the stack of lines to the left of the URL bar.
• This will automatically change the webpage to Reader view.
• Click on the stack of lines to turn Reader view off.

It’s worth checking how a site appears in this mode before switching over to it because not all sites implement it particularly well (sometimes you will find that an article stops abruptly because only one page has been carried into Reader view). Some sites don’t have a Reader view at all (such as Apple, for example).

And here is how to customise your settings so that whenever you visit that site the pages are viewed in Reader mode:

• Click on Reader.
• Find the site you want to customise (any site you have open, or have recently visited will be listed here).
• Toggle the drop-down menu beside that site to On.

A quicker way to do this is to right-click or control-click on the stack of lines beside the URL and choose Use Reader Automatically.

Or, as long as you are on the website you wish to change the setting for, you can click on Safari > Settings for this Website, and choose Use Reader When Available.

How to surf in private using Safari

Another useful feature in Safari is the option to use a private browsing window. This doesn’t just keep your browsing habits private from someone else who has access to your Mac, it also means that you are incognito – in other words even the websites you are visiting don’t have any information about you.

Go to Safari > File > New Private Window (or shift-cmd-n). You can tell if a window is private because the search bar will be grey. Any new tabs you open in this window will be private.

Alternatively, to open a Private Browsing window you can click shift, command and N.

You can tell it’s a private window because the URL field will be greyed out.

Hold down Option/Alt while picking Private Browsing to quickly switch it on and bypass the ‘Do you want to switch on Private Browsing?’ alert window if you happen to see it frequently. We have a complete guide to private browsing on Safari here .

For even more privacy, you can choose to always search with privacy-obsessed DuckDuckGo as your default search engine. Go to Safari > Preferences > Search, and click on the Search Engine. Then select Duck Duck Go from the Search Engine dropdown list. You can choose from Google, Bing, Yahoo or DuckDuckGo.

How to delete your histroy in Safari

If you didn’t search using a private browsing window you can still delete your history and evidence of what you were up to.

• Click on History.
• Scroll down and click on Clear History.
• You can choose to clear history for Today, the last hour, today and yesterday, or all history.
• You’ll see a warning that Clearing history will remove related cookies and other website data. Basically this is warning you that if you go ahead and Clear History you may find that you have to log onto websites, or shopping cart information may disappear.
• If you are happy with that then click on Clear history.

We have a complete tutorial all about how to delete your browser history on a Mac here .

How to delete cookies in Safari

Another new feature that came in Safari 11 was the introduction of privacy protection, a feature that’ll stop those annoying Amazon adverts showing you products after you’ve bought them.

Safari actively tries to block the cross-site tracking data that powers targeted adverts. While it won’t completely stop it, it should have a noticeable effect when using the browser.

According to Apple this isn’t an attempt to block ads, but rather to protect your privacy.

This means that you should no longer need to delete cookies if you want to stop seeing targeted ads (cookies have also been known to affect the price for goods if you have previously shown an interest in a product so deleting cookies could avoid such practices).

If you want to go a step further regarding cookies in Safari 11 there are some preferences changes you can make.

• Beside Website tracking click on Ask websites not to track me.
• Beside Cookies and website data click on Block all cookies.

If you aren’t using Safari 11 you can still delete cookies.

• Click on the Privacy tab.
• Click on Remove All Website Data…

Here’s how to add your own background image to Safari.

Author: Karen Haslam , Editor

Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago. 

Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.

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How to Access Website Settings in Safari for iOS

Like Safari on Mac, the Website Settings section allows you to configure different viewing and security options for specific websites, and Safari then applies them automatically so you don't have to bother with them again. Here's where you can find it.

• Navigate to a site you frequently visit.
• Tap the "aA" icon in the top-left corner of the screen to reveal the Website View menu.
• Tap Website Settings .

Request Desktop Website: Mobile-friendly websites are often stripped down and streamlined for easier navigation, with the result that some full-page content isn't displayed at all. Even when it is, finding that content can sometimes be a chore, especially if you're used to the desktop version of a site. Fortunately, Apple has had the foresight to let you bypass mobile versions of websites and view original desktop versions on its mobile devices instead.

Camera, Microphone, Location: The last three options in Website Settings let you choose whether to allow or deny the site access to your iOS device's camera and microphone, and whether to enable location detection. You can opt to "Allow" or "Deny", but if your preference is likely to change from time to time for these, set them to "Ask", and Safari will query you whenever access is requested by the site.

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Simple Steps to Change Your General Preferences on Safari

Last Updated: June 13, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 222,689 times. Learn more...

Do you want to increase your privacy on Safari or maybe make it more useful for you? To change your Safari preferences on an iOS device, you'll need to use your device's Settings app instead of the Safari app. On macOS computers, you can change the settings from Safari's Preferences menu. Both the mobile and the desktop share some similar settings, but the desktop version has many more options available.

Things You Should Know

• On an iPhone or iPad, go to your device's Settings app to change the general preferences of Safari.
• On Mac, change your general preferences in "Safari > Settings > General."
• Changing things like your search engine and preventing trackers will provide you with more privacy and increase your security.

• This method works for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
• Forgot your iPhone's password? You can reset it in 2 ways !

• The "Search Engine Suggestions" toggle will provide search suggestions from your default search engine as you type.
• The "Safari Suggestions" toggle provides search suggestions curated by Apple.

• Use the Safari app instead of Settings to change how your Home page behaves .

• You can enable or disable various search preferences underneath this menu, including using Safari Suggestions.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/customize-your-safari-settings-iphb3100d149/ios
• ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2042451/exploring-safaris-preferences.html

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Better Browsing: 30 Hidden Tricks Inside Apple's Safari Browser

Safari offers a variety of features and settings to help you navigate and use the web. and you’ll find even more handy options in ios 17 and ipados 17..

Safari is Apple's default web browser on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, which means you may take it for granted. But have you delved into all of Safari’s features and settings? Standard options like Private browsing, Reader view, and downloading files are part of the package, but there are many more things you can do.

Upgrading to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 gives you a few new tricks, including using separate profiles, sharing website passwords, asking Siri to read a webpage to you, and setting a different search engine when in Private Browsing mode.

To install the latest OS version on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update . You’ll be told that your device is up to date or asked to download and install the latest update.

Now, here are 30 tricks to help you have a better experience when using Safari.

1. Navigate Tab Bar

The jump to iOS 15 moved Safari's address bar to the bottom of the screen, which can make it easier to access your open tabs. To navigate your open tabs, simply swipe left and right on the tab bar to cycle through them.

2. Manage Tab Bar Location

If you’re a creature of habit and prefer to keep the search bar at the top , you have some options. Go to Settings > Safari and you can enable Landscape Tab Bar to make the tabs appear at the top of the iPhone screen when in Landscape mode. For something more permanent, select the Single Tab option to keep the address bar in its traditional location.

You can also alter how tabs are displayed on an iPad. Go to Settings > Safari and click Compact Tab Bar to shrink the amount of space your tabs take up at the top of the screen.

3. Sort Open Tabs

Sort multiple tab windows by tapping the Tabs icon on the tabs bar, which will let you see all your open tabs. Long-press on one of the tab thumbnails and select Arrange Tabs By and then choose to sort them by title or website.

iPad users can view open tabs from the Sidebar icon. Tap the Tabs icon, press down on any thumbnail, and then choose Arrange Tabs By to sort by title or website.

4. Organize Tabs Into Groups

Ever feel like you’re juggling too many tabs? One solution is to organize them into groups. On an iPhone, tap the Tabs icon and then select the icon with the three dots and lines below the number of tabs. Tap New Empty Tab Group to create a new group or New Tab Group with X Tabs to create a group out of all your existing tabs. Name your new group and tap Save . The group will now be selectable from the Tabs screen.

On an iPad, tap the Sidebar icon and then select the Tabs icon. Tap the icon at the top right of the sidebar and select New Empty Tab Group to create a new group or New Tab Group from X Tabs to create a group out of all your existing tabs. Then name the group.

You can also press down directly on a thumbnail and tap Move to Tab Group to create a new group for it or move it to an existing group. An even easier method is to long-press on the Tabs icon and tap Move to Tab Group to access your tab group options.

5. Share a Tab Group

With iOS/iPadOS 16 or higher, you can share an entire tab group with someone else as long as that person is syncing Safari via iCloud. To do this, tap the Tabs icon and open the tab group you wish to share. Tap the Share icon at the top and select the person or app with whom you want to share the group.

A link is sent to the recipient over email or text. That person can then open the link on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to view the tab group in Safari.

6. Pin a Tab

Pinning a tab lets you save a page on the Tabs screen so you can easily open it again. To pin a tab, tap the Tabs icon. Press down on the page you want to pin and select Pin Tab from the menu. The next time you want to access that page, tap the Tabs icon and then tap the pinned tab to open it.

7. Save Open Tabs as Bookmarks

Instead of saving every individual open tab as a bookmark, save them all at once. To do this, tap the Tabs icon to view all your open tabs. Press down on one of the tab thumbnails and select Add Bookmarks for X Tabs from the menu. Name the folder to house the bookmarked tabs and tap Save .

8. Auto Close Open Tabs 

The pages you open in Safari have a way of growing and growing until the browser gets cluttered with dozens of open tabs. To prevent this, you can set a certain amount of time before tabs are automatically closed. Go to Settings > Safari > Close Tabs and you’re able to set tabs to close after one day, one week, or one month.

9. Customize the Start Page

Tweak Safari's Start Page by adding, removing, or moving certain sections and choosing a background image. Swipe to the bottom of the Start page (the screen your browser displays when you open a new tab) and click the Edit button. 

Disable any sections you don’t want to see or drag and drop sections to rearrange them on the page. Under the Background Image section, select a background or upload your own and then tap the X button to see your new Start page.

10. Try Some Extensions

Safari added support for extensions on mobile with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. To try some out, go to Settings > Safari > Extensions and tap the More Extensions link to see additional options. Tap the Get button (or the price button if it's paid) for any extensions you want to install.

You can then view installed extensions from the Extensions setting screen and enable or disable the ones you want to use. You can also sync extensions across multiple Apple devices by enabling the Share Across Devices option on this page. To remove an extension completely, press down on its icon on your Home screen and tap Remove App .

11. Create Separate Profiles

Do you use Safari for both personal and professional tasks? If so, you can create separate profiles, each with its own unique bookmarks, extensions, tab groups, and other content. For this endeavor, you’ll need iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 or higher on your device. To get started, go to Settings > Safari and tap New Profile .

Tap the Name field and give your profile a name, such as Work or Business. Select an icon for this profile. Under Settings, the option for Favorites will use the name you gave to this profile. Tap Done . By default, another profile is created for you named Personal. Tap each of the two profiles to review the settings and change any you wish.

To switch between your profiles in Safari, tap the Tabs icon and then tap the Profile icon at the bottom. Tap the Profile option, then select the profile you wish to use.

12. Sync Website Settings Across Devices

You can sync other settings in Safari across different devices under Settings > Safari . Swipe down to the section called Settings for Websites and turn on the switch for Share Across Devices .

13. Browse Privately

If you don’t want Safari to keep track of the sites you visit or the AutoFill information you enter, Private Browsing mode will keep this information hidden (although you won’t be completely anonymous ). With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 or higher, the feature even locks automatically when you’re not using it to protect your open tabs from other people who may access your device. You can then unlock Safari with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

To enter Privacy Browsing mode on an iPhone, tap the Tabs icon, swipe the Tabs section to the right, and then tap Private . On an iPad, open the Sidebar and select Private . Now any page you launch opens in Private mode. Exit Private mode by returning to the Tabs screen and selecting your previous tabs or page.

14. Check a Privacy Report

Cross-site trackers monitor your web-based activities as you move from one site to another. If you’re concerned about your online privacy, Safari blocks these trackers by default. You can also see which sites and trackers have been blocked through Apple's Privacy Report . 

Tap the aA icon on an iPhone or iPad and select Privacy Report . The window reveals how many trackers were prevented from profiling you and how many sites contacted such trackers. Under the Websites tab, you can see a breakdown of which websites contacted trackers. Tap Trackers to see what specific trackers were blocked.

15. Translate Websites

Safari is able to translate websites displayed in a foreign language. The feature supports English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Arabic, and Simplified Chinese. 

Open a website in one of these languages. On an iPad, tap the ellipsis icon at the right of the address bar, and select Translator in the menu. On an iPhone, tap the aA icon and select Translate to [your language] . The site will then automatically be translated.

16. Listen to a Webpage Read Aloud

Safari has a built-in text-to-speech feature. Tap the aA icon and select Listen to Page to have the browser read a web page aloud. To stop the reading, tap the aA icon again and select End Listening . With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, you can also ask Siri for assistant. Just say “Siri, read this,” and the narration will start. To stop, say “Siri, stop reading.”

17. View Compromised or Reused Passwords

If you set up iCloud Keychain to sync your passwords across devices, you can also have Safari warn you if any of them have been compromised in a breach or are reused elsewhere. To set this up, go to Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations and make sure Detect Compromised Passwords is enabled.

Under the Security Recommendations screen, you can select any password that’s been leaked, reused for multiple websites, or is considered weak. Either delete the password or change it to something more secure.

18. Edit Suggested Website Passwords

If you use iCloud Keychain to manage your website passwords, there’s an option whereby Safari will suggest a strong password to use when you create a new account on a website. Just tap the password field, and a potential password appears. With iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 or higher, you can edit the suggested password as you see fit.

After tapping the password field and seeing the suggested password, tap Other Options below the Use Strong Password button. Select Edit Strong Password to change what Apple offered or generate a password with no special characters or one that’s easier to type.

19. Share Passwords Stored in Safari

With iCloud Keychain managing your passwords in Safari, you can share passwords with family members and other trusted contacts. On your iPhone or iPad, head to Settings > Passwords . Tap the option for Share Passwords with Family or tap the plus icon at the top and select New Shared Group .

Create a name for the shared password group and then add the other people from your contact list. Choose the accounts that contain the passwords you want to share and then send the recipients an invitation to join the group. Upon accepting the invitation, the others can then switch between their own private passwords and the passwords shared through the group.

20. Request Desktop Website

Many websites offer versions for both mobile devices and desktop PCs. By default, you’ll likely see the mobile version when browsing via Safari on your iPhone or iPad. But sometimes that version may not be as full-featured or display as much information as the desktop one. To check out the desktop version, tap the aA icon and tap Request Desktop Website . To go back, tap the aA icon again and select Request Mobile Website .

21. Copy Subject from an Image

With iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, Apple's Live Text feature expanded to let you isolate and extract a foreground subject from an image. That capability extends to the websites you visit with Safari. Find a picture with a subject that you want to copy. Press down on it and select Copy Subject from the menu. Open an app into which you can insert the image, such as Mail or iMessage, and then use the Paste function to add the subject.

22. Watch Picture-in-Picture Videos

Similar to the way many streaming video apps let you watch their videos in a smaller window while you take care of other tasks, Safari fully supports picture-in-picture video. If you’re watching a video on YouTube or Vimeo, select the Picture-in-Picture icon or just drag the window to the bottom. The video shrinks to a smaller window that you can move to any corner of the screen. To see the video in full-screen mode again, tap the small window and select the Picture-in-Picture icon once more.

23. Read Offline 

Want to savor that 5,000-word long-read for a plane ride or lazy day on the lake where cell service is spotty? Save it to read offline . At the page you want to save, tap the Share icon, and then tap Add to Reading List . To access pages in your reading list, online or off, tap the Bookmarks icon, select the Eyeglasses icon, and tap the page you want to read. 

By default, the page disappears from the reading list after you've read it. To see all pages, including ones you've already read, tap Show All at the bottom of the menu. Select Show Unread to go back to a list of only unread items.

24. Use Reader Mode

Reader Mode, as its name indicates, makes a web page easier to read by stripping out distracting elements like ads and excessive formatting. Tap the aA icon and choose Show Reader on an iPhone or tap the ellipsis icon and choose Reader on an iPad. Tap the icon again to change the text size or hide the Reader.

25. View Two Pages Side by Side 

Do more in Safari with the iPad’s multitasking features , which supports viewing two web pages side by side. Open the first page, then tap the ellipsis icon at the very top of the screen to access the multitasking toolbar and select Split View . You can then open a second instance of Safari and navigate to a different site. Reposition the second window so both pages are in Split View and use the vertical bar to change the width of each window.

26. Access Sharing Options 

By tapping the Share icon, you can send a link for the current web page to another app via text message, email, reminder, or apps like Facebook and Twitter. From here, you can even add the page to your home screen or print it. The Share icon will also display an Options link. Tap it to send the page as a PDF, Reader PDF, or Web Archive.

27. Manage Downloads

Safari's download manager lets you more easily manage files you download from the web. Download a file by long-pressing on the item and tapping Download Linked File from the pop-up menu. To view all your downloaded files, tap the down arrow button at the top and then select Downloads . You can also access downloaded files from the Files app by selecting the location for your iPhone or iPad and then navigating to the Downloads folder.

Safari saves files to the Downloads folder on iCloud, but you can change the location. Go to Settings > Safari > Downloads and send them to your iPhone, iPad, or another location. Here, you can also opt to remove downloaded items after one day, after a successful download, or manually.

28. Take a Screenshot of an Entire Web Page 

Older versions of Safari only allowed the screenshot feature on your mobile device to snap an image of the visible portion of a web page, but now you can capture the entire page. Take a screenshot as you normally would, then open the preview thumbnail of the shot. Tap the Full Page tab at the top of the preview to see the entire web page, even if it wasn’t visible in the initial shot.

29. Manage Your Privacy Settings

You’ll find a couple of sections under Safari settings where you can control your privacy options. Head to Settings > Safari and swipe down the screen to the Privacy & Security section. To stay protected, turn on Prevent Cross-Site Tracking , Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing , and Fraudulent Website Warning . Tap Hide IP Address and set it to From Trackers .

Next, swipe down to the bottom of the screen and tap Advanced . In the Privacy section, tap Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection and set it to Private Browsing or All Browsing . You can try turning on Block All Cookies but be aware that you’ll likely bump into problems with many websites.

The option for Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement allows advertisers to measure their ads. But whether you switch it on or off, your anonymity is supposed to be maintained. And the option for Check for Apple Pay allows websites to enquire if Apple Pay is enabled on your device, so you may want to leave this off.

30. Manage AutoFill Information

You can set what information is included in the AutoFill feature under Settings > Safari > AutoFill . Set whether your contact info or credit cards will be used. You are also able to change the information stored in the Contacts app and manage your saved cards.

More Inside PCMag.com

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• Google Cache Is Gone: How to View Archived Versions of a Website

About Lance Whitney

My experience.

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons— Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn .

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The Safari Settings You Should Tweak Right Now

Your browser is your window onto the world, the app you rely on most during the day. You want to wring every last drop of usefulness out of it. It definitely pays to know all of the features and tricks your daily browser is capable of. For iOS users, that means mastering Safari: how to stay safe online, how to get stuff done faster, and more.

For a smoother online experience, take a few minutes to run through these Safari tweaks to make your life online a little smoother.

Safari is very concerned about the strength of your passwords—perhaps even more so than you are. To see whether you're using any weak passwords, or duplicating passwords across accounts, open the Safari menu and choose Preferences then Passwords . A yellow exclamation mark indicates a potential problem with one of your listed passwords.

You'll often want to carry on watching a video while doing something else, and Safari can help—with a video playing, click and hold the audio icon in the address bar, then choose Enter Picture in Picture . The pop-out video player can be repositioned and resized as needed, but keep the original tab open in the background while you work on other tasks.

Websites want a lot these days: access to your webcam, your mic, your location , and more. To check what a site does and does not have access to, click Safari then Settings for This Website . You can revoke any permissions you've previously given, stop content from auto-playing, and limit the number of pop-up windows that the website can show.

It's taken a long time for Safari to support favicons (the little icons that represent websites), so you might as well take advantage; they also help you identify open tabs more easily as well. From the Safari menu, choose Preferences then Tabs , and then tick the checkbox labeled Show website icons in tabs to apply the change to the browser.

Having access to your recent browsing history can be useful for retracing your online steps, but you don't need it to follow you around for years. Open Safari then Preferences , switch to the General tab, then open Remove history items —you can delete browsing logs automatically after a day, week, fortnight, month, or year.

By default Safari just shows the domain name of the site you're visiting in the address bar, but this can make it tricky to work out exactly where you are on the web. To see the full URL instead, you need to open up the Safari menu, then the Preferences dialog, then switch to the Advanced tab—make sure the Show full website address box is ticked.

No productivity hack is ever going to beat an intuitive keyboard shortcut or two. You'll find a full list for Safari here and here , but some of our favorites include Space (and Shift+Space ) to scroll, Cmd+W to close a tab, Ctrl+Tab (and Shift+Ctrl+Tab ) to scroll through open tabs, and Cmd+L to jump straight to the Safari address bar at the top.

Safari, like every other Apple app, can be fully controlled with your voice in macOS Catalina. To enable the feature, open the Apple menu then choose System Preferences , Accessibility , Voice Control , and Enable Voice Control . It lets you speak out numbers for menus and links, zoom in and out, and much more—there's a full list of commands here .

Safari has an entire Develop menu that's not displayed by default but which is very handy for power users. To show it, open the Safari menu then choose Preferences , then Advanced , then tick the box marked Show Develop menu in menu bar. The new menu then appears, enabling you to access options such as disabling images or extensions.

Clearing out a browser's cache can often improve performance in the long term, even if it takes a short-term hit while local files are refreshed and reset. To do this in Safari, you first need to enable the Develop menu (see the step above), then you can open it and choose Empty Caches . This wipes all of Safari's temporary files and data off the local disk.

Safari has borrowed a very useful feature from Windows: the ability to "snap" open tabs to the left or right of the screen, so you can compare two side-by-side. Open up the Window menu, then choose Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen to do just that—your other windows are then automatically docked on the opposite side.

Apple devices all play wonderfully well together, as long as you're signed in on the same Apple ID, and jumping between open tabs on different devices is a breeze. To do this on Safari on macOS, you need to click on the Show tab overview button in the top right corner; you'll then see Safari tabs from your other devices listed lower down.

Who has time to read everything during the working day? No one! So make use of Safari's built-in Reading List tool. Use the Plus button on the left side of the address bar to add articles to the Reading List, then click the Show sidebar button (or View and Show Reading List Sidebar ) to bring up the list of all the posts you've saved during the day.

Safari gives you more control than you might have realized over the buttons and options that appear on the toolbar—having the tools you use most often in easy reach can make a big difference to your online productivity. To make changes, select View then Customize Toolbar , then just drag and drop the icons you need most often into the toolbar.

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iPhone User Guide

• iPhone models compatible with iOS 17
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• Make a call
• Answer or decline incoming calls
• While on a call
• Set up voicemail
• Check voicemail
• Change voicemail greeting and settings
• Select ringtones and vibrations
• Make calls using Wi-Fi
• Set up call forwarding and call waiting
• Avoid unwanted calls
• View photos and videos
• Play videos and slideshows
• Delete or hide photos and videos
• Edit photos and videos
• Trim video length and adjust slow motion
• Edit Cinematic mode videos
• Edit Live Photos
• Edit portraits
• Use photo albums
• Edit, share, and organize albums
• Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
• Make stickers from your photos
• Duplicate and copy photos and videos
• Merge duplicate photos and videos
• Search for photos
• Identify people and pets
• Browse photos by location
• Share photos and videos
• Share long videos
• View photos and videos shared with you
• Watch memories
• Personalize your memories
• Manage memories and featured photos
• Use iCloud Photos
• Create shared albums
• Add and remove people in a shared album
• Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
• Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Import and export photos and videos
• Print photos
• Find podcasts
• Listen to podcasts
• Follow your favorite podcasts
• Use the Podcasts widget
• Organize your podcast library
• Download, save, or share podcasts
• Subscribe to podcasts
• Listen to subscriber-only content
• Change download settings
• Make a grocery list
• Add items to a list
• Edit and manage a list
• Search and organize lists
• Work with templates
• Use Smart Lists
• Print reminders
• Use the Reminders widget
• Change Reminders settings
• Browse the web
• Search for websites
• Customize your Safari settings
• Change the layout
• Use Safari profiles
• Open and close tabs
• Organize your tabs
• View your Safari tabs from another Apple device
• Share Tab Groups
• Use Siri to listen to a webpage
• Bookmark favorite webpages
• Save pages to a Reading List
• Find links shared with you
• Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
• Automatically fill in forms
• Get extensions
• Hide ads and distractions
• Clear your cache
• Browse the web privately
• Use passkeys in Safari
• Check stocks
• Manage multiple watchlists
• Read business news
• Add earnings reports to your calendar
• Use a Stocks widget
• Translate text, voice, and conversations
• Translate text in apps
• Translate with the camera view
• Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
• Add your TV provider
• Get shows, movies, and more
• Watch sports
• Watch Major League Soccer with MLS Season Pass
• Control playback
• Manage your library
• Change the settings
• Make a recording
• Play it back
• Edit or delete a recording
• Keep recordings up to date
• Organize recordings
• Search for or rename a recording
• Share a recording
• Duplicate a recording
• Keep cards and passes in Wallet
• Set up Apple Pay
• Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
• Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
• Track your orders
• Use Apple Cash
• Use Apple Card
• Use Savings
• Pay for transit
• Access your home, hotel room, and vehicle
• Add identity cards
• Use COVID-19 vaccination cards
• Check your Apple Account balance
• Use Express Mode
• Organize your Wallet
• Remove cards or passes
• Check the weather
• Check the weather in other locations
• View weather maps
• Manage weather notifications
• Use Weather widgets
• Learn the weather icons
• Find out what Siri can do
• Tell Siri about yourself
• Have Siri announce calls and notifications
• Add Siri Shortcuts
• About Siri Suggestions
• Use Siri in your car
• Change Siri settings
• Contact emergency services
• Use Emergency SOS via satellite
• Request Roadside Assistance via satellite
• Set up and view your Medical ID
• Use Check In
• Manage Crash Detection
• Reset privacy and security settings in an emergency
• Set up Family Sharing
• Add Family Sharing members
• Remove Family Sharing members
• Share subscriptions
• Share purchases
• Share locations with family and locate lost devices
• Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
• Set up parental controls
• Set up a child’s device
• Get started with Screen Time
• Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
• Set up Screen Time
• Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
• Charging cable
• Power adapters
• MagSafe chargers and battery packs
• MagSafe cases and sleeves
• Qi-certified wireless chargers
• Use AirPods
• Use EarPods
• Apple Watch
• Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
• Connect to a display with a cable
• HomePod and other wireless speakers
• Pair Magic Keyboard
• Enter characters with diacritical marks
• Switch between keyboards
• Use shortcuts
• Choose an alternative keyboard layout
• Change typing assistance options
• External storage devices
• Bluetooth accessories
• Share your internet connection
• Allow phone calls on your iPad and Mac
• Use iPhone as a webcam
• Hand off tasks between devices
• Cut, copy, and paste between iPhone and other devices
• Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPhone
• Start SharePlay instantly
• Use AirDrop to send items
• Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable
• Transfer files between devices
• Transfer files with email, messages, or AirDrop
• Transfer files or sync content with the Finder or iTunes
• Automatically keep files up to date with iCloud
• Use an external storage device, a file server, or a cloud storage service
• Intro to CarPlay
• Connect to CarPlay
• Use your vehicle’s built-in controls
• Get turn-by-turn directions
• Change the map view
• Make phone calls
• View your calendar
• Send and receive text messages
• Announce incoming text messages
• Play podcasts
• Play audiobooks
• Listen to news stories
• Control your home
• Use other apps with CarPlay
• Rearrange icons on CarPlay Home
• Change settings in CarPlay
• Get started with accessibility features
• Turn on accessibility features for setup
• Change Siri accessibility settings
• Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
• Change color and brightness
• Make text easier to read
• Reduce onscreen motion
• Customize per-app visual settings
• Hear what’s on the screen or typed
• Hear audio descriptions
• Turn on and practice VoiceOver
• Change your VoiceOver settings
• Use VoiceOver gestures
• Operate iPhone when VoiceOver is on
• Control VoiceOver using the rotor
• Use the onscreen keyboard
• Write with your finger
• Use VoiceOver with an Apple external keyboard
• Use a braille display
• Type braille on the screen
• Customize gestures and keyboard shortcuts
• Use VoiceOver with a pointer device
• Use VoiceOver for images and videos
• Use VoiceOver in apps
• Use AssistiveTouch
• Adjust how iPhone responds to your touch
• Use Reachability
• Auto-answer calls
• Turn off vibration
• Change Face ID and attention settings
• Use Voice Control
• Adjust the side or Home button
• Use Apple TV Remote buttons
• Adjust pointer settings
• Adjust keyboard settings
• Adjust AirPods settings
• Turn on Apple Watch Mirroring
• Control a nearby Apple device
• Intro to Switch Control
• Set up and turn on Switch Control
• Select items, perform actions, and more
• Control several devices with one switch
• Use hearing devices
• Use Live Listen
• Use sound recognition
• Set up and use RTT and TTY
• Flash the LED for alerts
• Adjust audio settings
• Play background sounds
• Display subtitles and captions
• Show transcriptions for Intercom messages
• Get Live Captions (beta)
• Type to speak
• Record a Personal Voice
• Use Guided Access
• Use built-in privacy and security protections
• Set a passcode
• Set up Face ID
• Set up Touch ID
• Control access to information on the Lock Screen
• Keep your Apple ID secure
• Use passkeys to sign in to apps and websites
• Sign in with Apple
• Share passwords
• Automatically fill in strong passwords
• Change weak or compromised passwords
• View your passwords and related information
• Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop
• Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices
• Automatically fill in verification codes
• Automatically fill in SMS passcodes
• Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges
• Use two-factor authentication
• Use security keys
• Manage information sharing with Safety Check
• Control app tracking permissions
• Control the location information you share
• Control access to information in apps
• Control how Apple delivers advertising to you
• Control access to hardware features
• Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
• Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
• Use a private network address
• Use Advanced Data Protection
• Use Lockdown Mode
• Use Stolen Device Protection
• Receive warnings about sensitive content
• Use Contact Key Verification
• Turn iPhone on or off
• Force restart iPhone
• Back up iPhone
• Return iPhone settings to their defaults
• Restore all content from a backup
• Restore purchased and deleted items
• Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone
• Erase iPhone
• Install or remove configuration profiles
• Important safety information
• Important handling information
• Find more resources for software and service
• FCC compliance statement
• ISED Canada compliance statement
• Ultra Wideband information
• Class 1 Laser information
• Apple and the environment
• Disposal and recycling information
• Unauthorized modification of iOS

Browse the web using Safari on iPhone

View websites with Safari

You can easily navigate a webpage with a few taps.

Get back to the top: Double-tap the top edge of the screen to quickly return to the top of a long page.

See more of the page: Turn iPhone to landscape orientation.

Refresh the page: Pull down from the top of the page.

Preview website links

Touch and hold a link in Safari to see a preview of the link without opening the page. To open the link, tap the preview, or choose Open.

To close the preview and stay on the current page, tap anywhere outside the preview.

Translate a webpage or image

When you view a webpage or image that’s in another language, you can use Safari to translate the text (not available in all languages or regions).

Add Safari back to your Home Screen

If you don’t see Safari on your Home Screen, you can find it in App Library and add it back.

On the Home Screen, swipe left until you see the App Library.

Enter “Safari” in the search field.

How-To Geek

How to change your default browser on iphone and ipad.

For the first time, Apple is allowing iPhone and iPad users (that run iOS 14 or iPadOS 14) to change their default web browser app. Here's how.

Safari is a great web browser, but there's a reason why Google Chrome has the largest market share . Thankfully, as long as you're running iOS 14 , iPadOS 14 , or higher, you can set any third-party browser as the default on your iPhone or iPad.

First, open the "Settings" app. If you've lost it in a sea of icons, use Apple's built-in  Spotlight Search  to find the application.

In the Settings menu, locate the section for the browser you'd like to set as your default. For example, navigate to Settings > Chrome to set Google Chrome as your default web browser.

If the third-party browser has been updated to support Apple's default browser switching feature, you will find a "Default Browser App" option in its settings. Tap it.

Next, you'll see a list of every web browser app installed on your device that supports the default browser feature. Tap the name of the browser you'd like to use as your default.

After that, tap the "Back" button once and exit "Settings." From now on, whenever you tap a web address link, it will open in the browser app you chose.

Note that, at the time of writing, rebooting your iPhone or iPad will reset the default setting . It's not clear yet if this was designed to reset or it's a bug.

Related: How to Change Your Default Email App on iPhone and iPad

Also, if you prefer to use a third-party email client, you can change your default email app on iPhone or iPad.

How to manage privacy and security settings in Safari on Mac

Apple continues to add new features to Safari on a regular basis to try to make our web browsing experience faster, easier, and—above all—more secure.

You can open up a private browser window anytime you want in Safari's file menu and Safari won't save your browsing history and will ask websites you visit not to track you. But there are a few more steps you might want to consider taking.

The place to go for most of these things is in Safari's preferences window, accessed from the Safari menu.

How to guard against unsafe files

How to identify fraudulent websites, how to disable javascript, how to prevent cross-site tracking, how to block all cookies in safari, how to remove website data, how to clear your browsing history, how to check for apple pay on websites, how to allow or deny camera, microphone, and location access, how to block pop-up windows.

As with all things related to security, there's a balancing act between convenience and safety. Safari will automatically open certain types of "safe" files you download from the web as a matter of convenience. But because a malicious file could be disguised as a "safe" file, it's a good idea to guard against unsafe files—and it's as easy as checking a box.

• Launch Safari . If it's not in the Dock, you can find it in the Applications folder.
• From the Safari menu, choose Preferences... .

• Click the General button.
• Uncheck the box to Open "safe" files after downloading .

Downloads will occur as they usually do, and to the location you have chosen, but the files won't automatically open.

Safari already identifies websites that use encryption (indicated by a padlock icon in the address bar) and an EV certificate which indicates a more extensive identity verification of the website operator (indicated in green). Safari also uses Google Safe Browsing technology--which is simply a list of websites that may contain malware, unwanted software, or phishing scams.

If it's not already on, here's how to do so:

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

• Click the Security button.
• Check the box to Warn when visiting a fraudulent website .

If you happen to run across one of these sites, Safari will put up a full-screen warning about the site before you can proceed.

Many—if not all—webpages contain JavaScript, which enables certain functionality for web pages, such as displaying the time and date or displaying an image from a set of options.

You can disable JavaScript if you like, but it may impact the functioning of the web page.

• Uncheck the box to disable JavaScript .

If you've been using Safari and suddenly seen a plethora of lawnmower ads not long after doing some web research about lawnmowers, then congratulations: you've discovered crop-site tracking. It's a way of keeping track of your behavior on one part of the internet to show you ads while using a different part of the internet. If you prefer, you can turn it off.

• Click the Privacy button.
• Check the box to Prevent cross-site tracking and check the box to Ask websites not to track me .

Keep in mind that while you can ask websites not to track you, it's up to the website creator to honor your request.

Cookies are small text files a website may store on your Mac to help identify you or your Mac when you visit the website in the future. Examples of content stored in a cookie are your name, site browsing history, and preferences. If you don't want Safari to use cookies, you can shut it off.

• Uncheck the box to Block all cookies .

If you ever decide to remove website data from your Mac, you can do it selectively for certain websites or remove all the data.

• Click the Manage Website Data... button.
• Select a website and click the Remove button to remove the site's cache, cookies, or local storage or click the Remove All button to delete data for all websites.

Rather than root around through a set of checkboxes and pop-up menus, you can clear your browsing history, cookies, and website data with a menu command.

• From the Safari menu, choose Clear History... .
• From the Clear pop-up menu, choose how far back you want to go.
• Click Clear History .

In addition to the history of the website pages you've visited, you'll also give the heave-ho to recent searches, a list of items you have downloaded, the frequently visited site list, and other information.

If your Mac and other devices have Safari turned on in iCloud preferences, the clear history command will remove the browsing history from Safari on those other devices.

You can enable Safari on your Mac to show you websites that can accept payments via Apple Pay. You can then make the payments from your Apple Watch or iPhone, or using Touch ID if it's built into your Mac.

• Check the box to Allow websites to check if Apple Pay is set up .

Safari includes the ability to determine whether or not websites ask can use your Mac's camera and microphone. Here's how to set it up.

• Click the Websites button.

• From the General section of the sidebar, click Camera .
• Click the pop-up menu for "When visiting other websites" and choose Ask, Deny, or Allow , depending on your preference.

The settings work in exactly the same way for your Mac's microphone and your location. Simply click Microphone or Location in the sidebar. Similarly, you can change the setting for currently open websites to suit your preference.

Some web pages that you visit will automatically display a pop-up window that will block content—often with an ad—that you're trying to view. While this can be annoying, there are some sites that require pop-up windows to work properly. Fortunately, Safari provides fine-grained control of these pop-up windows.

• From the General section of the sidebar, click Pop-up Windows .
• Click the pop-up menu for "When visiting other websites" and choose Block and Notify, Block, or Allow , depending on your preference.

Similarly, you can change the setting for currently open websites to suit your preference.

If you choose Block and Notify, a small icon will appear on the right side of the Smart Search field. Click it to display the pop-up windows for the web page.

Great Mac accessories

Apple AirPods 2 (From $159 at Apple)

The best Apple accessory has gotten betting with AirPods 2. Now offering a wireless charger case, the popular earbuds feature the new Apple H1 headphone chip that delivers a faster wireless connection to your devices, as well as support for "Hey Siri."

Samsung T5 SSD (From $88 at Amazon)

This solid-state drive from Samsung is speedy, tiny, and portable. It also connects using USB-C, making it a perfect companion for your new Mac.

Let us know in the comments below.

Updated August 2019: Updated through macOS Mojave and the macOS Catalina beta.

Mike Matthews is a writer at iMore.com. He has used Apple products all the way back to the Apple II+. He appreciates no longer having to launch apps by loading them from a cassette tape recorder.

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How to Reset Safari to Default Settings

Restoring default settings is a multistep process

What to Know

• First, remove the browser history: Select Safari in the menu bar > Clear History , then select All History > Clear History . 
• Remove cookies: Safari > Preferences . Select the Privacy tab > Manage Website Data > Remove All .
• Clear cache: Safari > Preferences . Advanced > Select Show Develop menu in menu bar . Exit. Develop > Empty Caches .

This article explains how to reset Safari to default settings by removing Safari's history and cookies, clearing the cache, and disabling extensions. Instructions apply to Safari versions 11 through 14 and iOS.

Remove Browser History

The first step when resetting Safari is to remove your browser history. When you clear your browsing history, Safari removes data such as recent searches, the frequently visited site list, web page icons, the history of web pages you've visited, and more.

From Safari's menu bar, select Safari > Clear History

In the drop-down menu, select All History .

Select Clear History to complete the process.

To clear a particular website instead, navigate to History > Show History , select the website you want to clear, and press Delete .

Remove Cookies

When you remove all cookies from Safari, you'll lose personal registration data such as your name and address, shopping cart contents, preferred web page layouts, and more.

From Safari's menu bar, select Safari > Preferences .

Select the Privacy tab.

Select Manage Website Data .

Select Remove All .

Select Remove Now .

Select Done .

Clear Safari's Cache

When you clear Safari's cache, you're removing stored website data.

Select the Advanced tab.

Place a check next to Show Develop menu in menu bar , and then exit out of Preferences.

From Safari's menu bar, select Develop > Empty Caches .

Disable or Uninstall Extensions

Safari extensions are like mini-apps that add functionality to the browser. If you're trying to reset Safari, you'll want to disable or uninstall any extensions.

Select the Extensions tab.

Select an extension, and then deselect the checkbox next to the extension to disable it.

Many extensions have several sub-extensions, so you'll need to uncheck all of them.

After you've disabled an extension, you can uninstall it. Select Uninstall .

You'll see a message that the extension is part of an application, and that you'll need to remove the application. Select Show in Finder .

Finder will open with the app selected. Right-click on the application and select Move to Trash .

Enter your password and select OK . You've deleted the extension.

Clear Website Data on Safari for iOS

To clear Safari's settings on an iPhone or iPad:

Open the iOS device's Settings app.

Scroll down and select Safari .

Under Privacy & Security , select Clear History and Website Data .

Select Clear History and Data to confirm.

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6 Tips to Improve Your Safari Experience on iPhone

A ccessing the internet on an iPhone is made simple by Safari, Apple's native web browser; it does a great job of getting you started, but there are several other features that you can leverage to enhance your user experience.

Below, we'll list some valuable tips you can use to get the most out of Safari on your iPhone. So, let's get started.

1. Modify the Start Page

The start page is the first element you usually run into when launching Safari—it's the default screen if you've not used the browser before or didn't leave any tabs open after your last session. And the first step you can take in improving your Safari experience is to customize it.

Customizing the start page involves changing the background image and choosing the sections (listed below) you want the app to show. We've added descriptions to help you understand a little more about each section.

• Favorites : This section will show all your favorite websites and bookmarks which have been added to the Favorites section on your iPhone.
• Frequently Visited : This is a collection of searches and websites you've frequented in recent months. The information is said to be a mix from all your Apple devices if you've enabled iCloud.
• Shared with You : It works by finding links, images, music, and more, sent within the Messages app, and brings them up in relevant applications. For example, if someone texted you a link via iMessage, you'll find it in this section of the start page.
• Privacy Report : This section surfaces information on the trackers used by websites you've visited in the last 30 days and showcases when your iPhone—and other Apple devices—prevented them from profiling you.
• Siri Suggestions : You can find website suggestions based on your recent browsing history, bookmarks, and open tabs within this section if you choose to use them.
• Reading List : You can find the three latest additions to your Reading List in this section, with a Show All button available in case you want to view the other articles you've added to your read later list.
• iCloud Tabs : This feature showcases up to four most recent tabs open on each Apple device you own with iCloud enabled for Safari.

To begin customizing your Safari's start page, follow the steps listed below:

• Scroll down to the bottom of the Safari start page and tap Edit.
• Now, enable the desired sections using the toggles or reorder them by pressing (and dragging) the three horizontal lines.

If you want to experience Apple's Continuity feature , toggle on Use Start Page on All Devices at the top of the edit menu. This will ensure your start page is in sync across all devices connected to your iCloud account.

2. Create Tab Groups in Safari

The next step in improving Safari on iPhone is to create and use Tab Groups . The feature lets you bring order and control to tabs by allowing you to group similar ones—or those you often use together—into folders. Ideally, you can use the feature to separate search results and websites related to work from those you open during casual browsing.

To create a Tab Group, follow the steps listed below:

• View all your tabs by tapping the Tab button in the bottom-right corner.
• Now, tap the text box at the bottom of the screen—it mentions the number of tabs open.
• In the menu that appears, tap New Empty Tab Group or the second option, New Tab Group with X Tabs .
• Name the Tab Group according to your liking and hit Save .

The X in the second option will vary based on the number of tabs open when creating a Tab Group.

3. Use Safari Extensions

Like Chrome, you can install Safari extensions to improve your browsing experience. For those unaware, these are applications built for web browsers that bring additional functionality and make your life easier.

For example, you can install applications that scour the web for coupon codes and bring them up when you're making a purchase or add ones that help edit written content to ensure you aren't making silly errors.

Adding extensions to Safari on an iPhone is a bit different compared to installing and removing extensions in Safari on a Mac . To do this, follow the steps listed below:

• Go to Settings > Safari on your iOS device.
• On the next screen, find Extensions under the General subsection and tap on it.
• You'll now see a list of extensions available. In case you see no options, tap More Extensions to visit the Safari Extensions store.

You may sometimes see options without having installed an extension before; these are present due to an application—that offers Safari extensions—installed on your iPhone from before.

Once you've installed an extension, activate it in Settings using the same steps above and then do the following:

• Open Safari and tap the AA button in the address bar.
• Now, tap Manage Extensions and select the extension you want to activate.

4. Choose Websites to Automatically Use Reader

Reader in Safari is a nifty add-on that lets you read content from a website with minimal distractions and no ads. It makes the experience quite simple and offers options like changing the page color, font, and font size.

Activating Reader is quite simple; tap the AA button in the address bar when you're on a supported webpage and choose Show Reader . However, if you frequently visit a specific website, you can configure Safari to load all its webpages in Reader. Here's what you need to do:

• Open the desired website and tap the AA button.
• In the context menu that appears, tap Website Settings .
• Now, toggle on Use Reader Automatically . Each supported webpage will now open in Reader, making it easier to read the content.

5. Set Tabs to Open in Background

Despite it being easy to access AI tools like ChatGPT on mobile for learning about things, if you prefer getting deep into the weeds when doing research, you may want to view many of the following webpages in new tabs.

By default, opening a new tab via a hyperlink will leave the old tab behind and move you to the new tab. While this behavior is fine, it can feel like a chore if you'd like to open multiple results from a search page.

Fortunately, you can change this behavior. Here's what you need to do:

• Open the Settings app, and scroll down to the Safari option.
• On this page, under the Tabs subsection, tap on Open Links .
• Now, choose In Background .

6. Configure Safari to Automatically Close Tabs

Lastly, while the ability to open many tabs in Safari is a boon, knowing ways to organize your browser and keeping it clutter-free can help you focus better and increase productivity. And keeping only a few tabs open can be a part of this regime.

Safari on iPhone also helps with this, with the ability to automatically close tabs after a set period of time; we've detailed the steps to activate the feature below:

• On this page, under the Tabs subsection, tap on Close Tabs .
• Now, choose from the available options: After One Day , After One Week , or After One Month .

Become a Safari Power User With These Changes

Each customization method listed above will help improve your Safari experience, be it with a new background image that makes the app feel more personal or a setting that keeps it clutter-free.

Overall, Safari is an excellent browser that can be made even better for power users with a few changes. And some of Apple's exclusive features make a strong case for the app, especially if you're a Mac user.

How To Enable Safari On IPhone

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Enabling Safari on your iPhone opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to browse the web, access favorite websites, and enjoy a seamless online experience. Safari, Apple's native web browser, is renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust security features, and seamless integration with other Apple devices. Whether you're a seasoned iPhone user or a newcomer to the Apple ecosystem, enabling Safari is a fundamental step towards harnessing the full potential of your device.

Safari offers a host of features designed to enhance your browsing experience, including tabbed browsing, reader mode for distraction-free reading, and the ability to save and organize bookmarks. Additionally, Safari's privacy and security settings empower users to control their online footprint, block unwanted content, and safeguard their personal information while browsing the web.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple process of enabling Safari on your iPhone. Whether you've accidentally disabled Safari and need to re-enable it or you're setting up a new device, these step-by-step instructions will ensure that you can swiftly access the web and take advantage of Safari's powerful capabilities. So, grab your iPhone, and let's get started on enabling Safari to unlock a world of browsing convenience and functionality.

Step 1: Accessing Settings

Accessing the Settings app on your iPhone is the first step towards enabling Safari. The Settings app serves as the control center for customizing various aspects of your device, including network settings, display preferences, and app configurations. Here's how to access the Settings app:

Locate the Settings Icon : On your iPhone's home screen, look for the Settings icon. It's recognizable by its gear-shaped symbol and is typically found in the first cluster of app icons. If you can't spot it right away, you can use the search feature by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Settings" in the search bar.

Tap the Settings Icon : Once you've located the Settings icon, tap on it to open the Settings app. This action will launch the app and present you with a range of options and configurations to explore.

Navigate Through Settings : Upon opening the Settings app, you'll find a series of sections organized into a list. These sections cover various aspects of your iPhone's settings, such as General, Display & Brightness, and Privacy. To proceed with enabling Safari, you'll need to navigate through these sections to find the specific setting related to Safari.

Search for Safari : To expedite the process, you can use the search functionality within the Settings app. Simply swipe down on the screen to reveal the search bar at the top, then type "Safari" into the search field. This will display relevant settings related to the Safari browser , allowing you to proceed to the next step of enabling Safari on your iPhone.

By following these steps, you'll successfully access the Settings app on your iPhone, setting the stage for the subsequent actions required to enable Safari and unlock its full potential for browsing the web seamlessly and securely.

Step 2: Finding Safari

Once you have accessed the Settings app on your iPhone, the next crucial step is to locate the Safari browser settings. Finding Safari within the Settings app is essential for enabling the browser and customizing its features to suit your browsing preferences. Here's a detailed guide on how to find Safari within the Settings app:

Scroll Through the Settings Sections : Upon opening the Settings app, you'll be greeted with a list of sections covering various aspects of your iPhone's settings. To find Safari, you'll need to scroll through this list and look for the specific section related to the Safari browser.

Locate the Safari Section : As you scroll through the settings sections, keep an eye out for the "Safari" option. The sections are typically arranged alphabetically, so you can expect to find Safari within the list of settings. Once you've located the Safari section, tap on it to access the browser's settings and configurations.

Explore Safari Settings : Upon entering the Safari section, you'll be presented with a range of settings and options that allow you to customize the browser according to your preferences. These settings cover various aspects of Safari, including privacy and security, general browsing behavior, and advanced features such as content blockers and website settings.

Customize Safari Preferences : Within the Safari settings, you can customize a multitude of preferences to tailor the browsing experience to your liking. This includes configuring privacy settings to enhance your online security, adjusting the default search engine, enabling or disabling features such as JavaScript and pop-ups, and managing website data and cookies.

Discover Advanced Settings : In addition to basic preferences, Safari offers advanced settings that empower users to fine-tune their browsing experience. These advanced settings encompass options for managing website settings, enabling experimental features, and configuring developer tools for web professionals.

By following these steps, you'll successfully locate the Safari browser settings within the Settings app on your iPhone. This paves the way for the next crucial step of enabling Safari and harnessing its powerful capabilities for seamless and secure web browsing on your device.

Step 3: Enabling Safari

Enabling Safari on your iPhone is a straightforward process that allows you to harness the full potential of Apple's native web browser . Once you've located the Safari settings within the Settings app, the next step is to enable the browser and configure its features to suit your browsing preferences. Here's a detailed guide on how to enable Safari and unlock its powerful capabilities on your iPhone:

Toggle the Safari Switch : Within the Safari settings in the Settings app, you'll find a switch labeled "Safari." This switch serves as the primary control for enabling or disabling the Safari browser on your iPhone. To enable Safari, simply tap the switch to turn it on. Once enabled, the Safari icon will reappear on your home screen, granting you instant access to the browser's intuitive interface and robust features.

Explore Additional Settings : In addition to enabling the Safari browser, the Safari settings within the Settings app offer a range of additional configurations to enhance your browsing experience. These settings cover privacy and security features, general browsing behavior, and advanced options for fine-tuning Safari according to your preferences.

Customize Privacy and Security : Safari prioritizes user privacy and security, empowering you to control your online footprint and safeguard your personal information. Within the Safari settings, you can customize privacy features such as blocking cross-site tracking, preventing camera and microphone access, and managing website tracking and data collection. By enabling these privacy settings, you can browse the web with confidence, knowing that your online activities are protected.

Manage Content Blockers : Safari allows you to install and manage content blockers, which are extensions that can block unwanted content such as advertisements, pop-ups, and tracking scripts. By enabling content blockers within the Safari settings, you can enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined browsing experience, free from intrusive ads and unwanted distractions.

Configure Website Settings : Safari offers granular control over website settings, allowing you to customize individual website preferences such as camera access, microphone access, and location access. By enabling or disabling these settings on a per-site basis, you can tailor your browsing experience to suit the specific requirements of each website you visit.

By following these steps and customizing the Safari settings to your preferences, you'll successfully enable Safari on your iPhone and unlock its powerful capabilities for seamless, secure, and personalized web browsing. Whether you're accessing your favorite websites, conducting research, or staying informed with the latest news, Safari's intuitive interface and robust features ensure that you can navigate the web with ease and confidence on your iPhone.

Enabling Safari on your iPhone is a pivotal step towards embracing a seamless and secure browsing experience. By following the simple yet essential steps outlined in this guide, you've successfully accessed the Settings app, located the Safari browser settings, and enabled Safari to unlock its powerful capabilities on your device.

As you embark on your browsing journey with Safari, it's important to explore the myriad features and functionalities that the browser offers. From tabbed browsing and reader mode to robust privacy and security settings, Safari empowers you to navigate the web with ease, efficiency, and peace of mind.

With Safari at your fingertips, you can effortlessly access your favorite websites, stay informed with the latest news, and indulge in online activities with confidence. The browser's intuitive interface, coupled with its seamless integration with other Apple devices, ensures a harmonious and consistent browsing experience across your digital ecosystem.

Furthermore, Safari's commitment to user privacy and security sets it apart as a trusted companion for your online endeavors. By customizing privacy settings, managing content blockers, and fine-tuning website preferences, you can tailor your browsing experience to align with your individual preferences and values.

As you enable Safari on your iPhone, you're not just gaining access to a web browser; you're embracing a gateway to a world of information, entertainment, and connectivity. Whether you're conducting research, shopping online, or simply exploring the vast expanse of the internet, Safari stands ready to accompany you on your digital adventures.

In conclusion, by enabling Safari on your iPhone, you're not only embracing a powerful browsing tool but also tapping into a realm of possibilities that await at your fingertips. So, as you navigate the web with Safari, may your online experiences be enriched, your privacy safeguarded, and your digital journey seamlessly intertwined with the intuitive prowess of Apple's native web browser.

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Tips to Stay Safe while Surfing the Web, Part 1: Web Browser Settings

Description, the bottom line.

Web browsers, such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, are a rich target for threat actors because they collect extensive amounts of personal information. In addition, threat actors often use web browsers to spread malware since people rely on them heavily for access to the internet. To mitigate these risks, you should:

• Keep your browser up to date and routinely close out of it.
• Clear cookies and stored data from your browser.
• Adjust browser settings to prevent it from storing your data and cookies.
• Properly vet extensions before adding them to your browser.

The Problem

Threat actors often exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers to spread malware.

Web browsers are very attractive targets for cyber threat actors since they are one of the most commonly used apps. If you do not take the proper security precautions, threat actors can exploit vulnerabilities in your web browser and disseminate malware.

Web browsers collect mountains of personal information, which could be lost or exposed in a data breach.

Web browsers include several mechanisms that accumulate and store information that reveals a lot about your interests, habits, work, and identity. Since it can be hard to know who can access this information, surfing the web without taking measures to safeguard your privacy puts you at risk.

 Here are some common ways that web browsers collect information about you:

• Geolocational data

Malicious websites could abuse access to your location, camera, and microphone to monitor your activity, conversations, and whereabouts.

Websites might also request your permission to send you pop-up notifications. When pop-up notification permissions are enabled on your web browser, a threat actor could use pop-up notifications as part of a phishing campaign or to deliver malware. The intention is to frustrate or overwhelm the user with pop-ups to get them to click on a link they otherwise would not have.

• Cookies. Cookies instruct your web browser to collect, store, and share information about your browsing habits, including your website history, search history, the links you click on, the content you interact with on social media, etc., and share this information with the cookie owner. Data brokers and advertising networks often use cookies to compile and sell your information. Threat actors can also develop cookies to obtain information about potential targets. In sum, cookies pose risks to your privacy due to the vast amount of intimate information they can obtain and the difficulty of knowing who is receiving information from these cookies.  
• Browsing history – Your browser can record every website you have ever visited.
• Saved form data – Your browser saves your personal data to autofill certain information fields on forms for you (e.g., name, email address, date of birth, address, phone number, and credit card information).
• Locational data – Even without a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, your browser can use your IP address, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to collect and share information about your location with websites.
• Account credentials – Many browsers give you the option to store your account credentials. This makes your credentials vulnerable to leakage if a cyber threat actor successfully exploits vulnerabilities in the browser or your operating system .
• Download history – Your browser can show every file you have downloaded and the file path to where you have it stored on your device, making it easy for threat actors to find data of interest.
• Personal data – Your browser can also collect data about your browsing habits and device activity and share it with third parties to deliver targeted advertisements to you.

The Solution

Protect yourself against malware.

• If available, turn on automatic updates.
• Restart your browser regularly to allow the security updates to take effect. (Note: Some browsers may automatically download the newest updates but require the application to be closed and restarted to activate the newest update.)
• If you are logged into an account associated with your web browser (e.g., you’re logged into your Google account while using Google Chrome, or logged into your Microsoft account while using Microsoft Edge), enable multifactor authentication to protect your account. (See Project Upskill Topic 2.2 . )  

Limit the amount of personal data that your browser saves and stores.

• Clear stored data from your browser history (including your browsing history, location, and downloads). If possible, update your settings to “never save” or “clear when you close your browser.”
• Do not save payment information in your web browser.
• Be wary of using your browser’s native password manager. ( Note: You should store your passwords in a password manager not related to your browser so they are safe even if a threat actor compromises the browser. See Topic 2.1 for more guidance on password managers.)
• Do not allow your browser to save and autofill sensitive data in online forms.
• Manage the ad settings in your browser to turn off ad personalization.

Limit the amount of data that websites and third parties can obtain through your browser.

• Clear cookies from your history. (Most browsers have this option under “Privacy & Security” in Settings.)
• Enable browser settings to automatically clear cookies when you close your browser. ( Note: Regularly close your browser.)
• Enable any browser settings that allow you to limit cookies during your browser session. ( Note: First-party cookies, or cookies that belong to the website you are visiting, may be required for the website to function properly. As a result, you should allow the first-party cookies and clear them when you exit the website to prevent them from tracking you for longer periods of time.)
• If available, enable browser settings that block third-party cookies to limit tracking from websites and organizations you do not visit.
• Note: See USSOCOM’s Social Media Smart Cards for specific instructions on how to complete these steps for some of the most popular browsers.

Restrict site permissions as much as possible.

• Do not give websites access to your location, camera, or microphone unless these permissions are required for the website to function properly.

Properly vet browser extensions.

• Follow Project Upskill Topic 1.4 to ensure any browser extensions meet your privacy and security needs.
• One extension that CISA recommends is AdBlock. AdBlock can help block advertisements and unwanted pop-ups that carry malware. You can find a link to AdBlock on our webpage Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools | CISA .
• Update your browser regularly.
• Close out of your browser regularly.
• Enable MFA if your browser is connected with an account.
• Clear stored data from your browser history.
• Turn off ad personalization in your browser settings.
• Regularly clear cookies from your history.
• Enable settings to limit cookies.
• Vet your browser extensions before installing them.
• Allow your web browser to save and autofill your sensitive information.
• Save payment information in your web browser.
• Use the native password manager associated with your web browser.
• Give websites access to your location, camera, or microphone unless required for website functionality.

Project Upskill is a product of the  Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative .

Prerequisites

• Module 1: Basic Cybersecurity for Personal Computers and Mobile Devices
• Module 2: Protecting Your Accounts from Compromise
• Module 3: Protecting Data Stored on Your Devices
• Topic 4.0: How to Communicate Securely on Your Mobile Device

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Zotero Connector and Safari

• Installation

The Zotero Connector for Safari is bundled with the Zotero desktop app. (Current versions of Safari don't allow direct installation of browser extensions like other browsers.) After opening Zotero for the first time, you can enable the Zotero Connector from the Extensions pane of the Safari settings (“Safari” menu → “Settings”/“Preferences” → “Extensions”).

The Zotero Connector for Safari requires macOS 11 Big Sur or later.

Using an iPhone or iPad? You can save to the Zotero iOS app using the Share sheet in Safari and other browsers.

• Can’t see the save button? Save button flickering?

Due to a macOS bug, you may occasionally find that the extension has disappeared from the Safari toolbar or is quickly appearing and reappearing after a Zotero app update. To restore the extension, delete the Zotero app from Applications and redownload it. (Your Zotero data won't be affected.) It may also be necessary to restart your computer in between deleting the app and redownloading.

We believe this bug is less common in macOS 11 Big Sur and later, so the release version of Zotero includes the Zotero Connector for Safari only for those versions. It's possible to run the Zotero Connector on macOS Mojave (10.14) and Catalina (10.15) by using the Zotero beta , but you may need to fix the extension more frequently after Zotero app updates and may encounter additional instability, possibly requiring booting into Safe Mode before performing the above steps.

If you have repeated trouble using the Zotero Connector in Safari, you may want to consider switching to a browser with a more stable extension framework, such as Firefox, Chrome, or Edge.

• Limitations

Due to technical limitations of the Safari extension framework, some features available in Firefox, Chrome, and Edge aren't available in Safari:

• Automatic proxy redirection
• Automatic RIS/BibTeX import
• Automatic CSL installation

Other differences:

• Gated PDFs may not be saved on some sites (e.g., ScienceDirect)
• It's not possible to right-click on the toolbar button to access secondary translators. Instead, right-click on the page itself.

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Microsoft’s Edge challenges Safari as second most-popular browser

Edge is on the cusp of edging out Safari as the second most-popular browser, according to more than one web analytics service. But when it comes to the iPhone and iPad, there's no contest: Safari remains No. 1.

Microsoft Edge is now used on 9.54% of desktops worldwide, just behind Safari at 9.84%, according to data  published this week by web analytics service StatCounter . It’s the highest market share for Edge reported by StatCounter to date.

Google Chrome still holds the top spot by a long shot at 65.38%, with Mozilla Firefox bringing up the rear with 9.18% market share. The new data was first reported by TechRadar .

Edge’s lead on other browsers differs greatly depending on location. For example, in the US , Edge is well behind Safari — Edge has just 12.1% market share while Safari claims 18.2%. In Europe and Asia, Edge has already passed Safari, with 10.9% and 7.46%, respectively. Apple’s Safari runs on 9.95% of desktops in Europe and just 5.41% of desktops in Asia.

All in all, Edge is now a worthy competitor to Goggle Chrome, with rivals such as Firefox apparently losing the limited popularity they already had, according to Jack Gold, president and principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.

In 2020, Microsoft relaunched Edge , recasting it with Google’s dominant Chromium technology; it’s the same browser code that powers Chrome. Not only did Microsoft make Edge a Chrome copy, it also expanded support to versions of Windows other than 10, including macOS and Linux.

“For one thing, when Microsoft switched to a Chromium engine, Edge got a lot faster and more compatible with more websites that, because of the preponderance of Google Chrome browsers, were built to be compatible with Chrome and not the older Edge (it had some unique requirements for full compatibility),” Gold said. 

Microsoft also upped Edge’s game around security and privacy, Gold said. And, while it’s not perfect, it does “a pretty good job of filtering out all the garbage people throw at you when browsing.

“And the link to Microsoft security helps with keeping away malware and malicious sites. But of course, Microsoft also has the advantage of putting Edge on every Windows machine, so there is a natural built-in use case for people who don’t want to bother with downloading an alternative,” Gold added.

Of course, Safari’s lane is as a default browser on the Apple iPhone and iPad tablet. On those devices, it’s a very different story . Chrome has 46.3%, Safari nets 39.4%, and Android claims just 12.6% of traffic.

Some web analytics services already have Edge surpassing all other browsers except the ever-dominant Chrome. For example, Net MarketShare’s most recent data has Chrome at 69% market share, Edge at 7.75%, and Firefox at 7.48%. Safari is a distant fourth, with just 3.73%.

Safari’s popularity in some quarters may, in fact, be waning — if Twitter comments can be a measurement of its popularity.

Earlier this month, an Apple employee who advocates for Safari developers got an eyeful after taking to Twitter to ask users for feedback on why the Safari browser is unpopular and to ask that they point out specific issues with it.

Jen Simmons, an Apple evangelist and developer advocate on the Web Developer Experience team for Safari and WebKit, was clearly taken aback by the responses.

“Catching up with tech Twitter this morning and there seems to be an angry pocket of men who really want Safari to just go away,” Simmons tweeted. “Do we really want to live in a 95% Chromium browser world? That would be a horrible future for the web. We need more voices, not fewer.”

Unlike some rival browsers, such as Firefox, Apple’s updates to Safari are sparse, with major upgrades just once a year. So the bulk of new features are often rolled out in a single instance. While that may be appealing for some who dislike frequent browser updates, it also means upgrades and/or fixes for Safari don’t come often.

In recent years, however, Safari has borne a raft of complaints about the browser’s bugs, user interface and experience, and website compatibility,  according to MacRumors . Last June, Apple unveiled a substantial redesign of Safari at the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Many of those changes, however, were met with quick criticism describing them as “counterintuitive.”

Apple went through several iterations of the browser during the summer — both on mobile devices and desktops — and allowed users to largely revert to the previous Safari design prior to the release of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.

“Everyone in my mentions [is] saying Safari is the worst, it’s the new IE,” Simmons tweeted.

Hoping to get to the bottom of the anger, Simmons asked Twitter users to point to specific bugs and missing support that frustrate them or make it harder for them to create websites or apps. “Bonus points for links to tickets,” she wrote.

“Specifics we can fix. Vague hate is honestly super counterproductive,” she added.

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