reset browser to safari

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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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How to reset the Safari browser on your iPhone in 2 different ways

• You can reset Safari on an iPhone by clearing cookies and erasing your browsing history.
• There are two ways to reset your Safari data: through the Safari app itself, and through the Settings app.
• Both methods will let your clear both your browsing history and cookies.

If you're looking to clear your Safari data, simply removing your Frequently Visited sites isn't going to address privacy concerns if you have cookies stored, for instance.

Fortunately, it's easy to reset all your browsing history and settings. Here are two ways to do it, one directly through Safari, and the other through your iPhone's Settings.

How to reset Safari on iPhone through the browser

1. At the bottom of an open Safari page, tap the book icon .

2. At the top of the menu that opens, tap the clock icon to open your history.

3. Tap Clear at the bottom of the page. A prompt menu will open to warn that you'll clear your history, cookies, and other data over a selected time period. Tap All time to reset your browser.

How to reset Safari on iPhone through the Settings app

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Search for or scroll down to Safari and open it.

3. Tap Clear History and Website Data in blue about halfway down the page.

4. A prompt menu will pop up. Tap Clear History and Data and wait a few moments while the iPhone processes your request. Once it does, all your data will have been cleared.

• Main content

How to Reset Safari to Default Settings on Your Mac

If Safari runs slow or fails to open a page on your Mac, we will show you how to reset the browser to its default state to fix those issues.

Safari helps you feel at home while browsing the web on a Mac. The latest iterations of Safari always bring improvements, but no browser is perfect. Over time, Safari tends to slow down, become sluggish, and feel unresponsive.

While Chrome and Firefox pack a reset button, this feature is missing from Safari. We will show you how you can reset Safari to default settings on your Mac.

First, Back Up Your Bookmarks

After you've used Safari for a while, you probably have a lot of sites saved in your Bookmarks and Favorites. It's a good idea to make a copy of your Bookmarks before you proceed. Since you'll remove every bit data related to Safari, you probably don't want to erase all your bookmarks.

To do this, launch Safari, select the File tab in the top menu bar, and click Export Bookmarks . You can either set a new name or let it use the default one if you don't mind it. Click Save to save a copy of those bookmarks.

You may also want to edit, organize, and manage those bookmarks that you've collected over years.

After you've reset Safari by following the methods below, you can import the HTML copy of your Bookmarks by going to File > Import From and selecting Bookmarks HTML File . Make sure to save the file somewhere safe in the meantime.

Clear the Browsing History in Safari

To start, you should run Safari's built-in history cleaner. This will remove cookies and other browsing data from everywhere you've visited. Thankfully, the process to remove your browsing history manually from Safari is quite straightforward.

Related: How to Clear Your Safari Browsing History and Data

After opening Safari, click on the Safari item in the top menu bar and select Clear History . A window will pop up; select All History from the dropdown list. Then click on the Clear History button to erase all that data from Safari.

Remove the Temporary Files and Cache

To improve your browsing efficiency, Safari stores the data for sites that you visit regularly as cache on your Mac and uses that to load elements faster than downloading them again. That cache takes up disk space and often contributes to Safari's performance woes.

It's thus a good idea to get rid of that old data when you're resetting Safari to its defaults. Here's how to clear Safari's temporary files and cache:

• While you have Safari running, open Safari > Preferences from the menu bar.
• A window will pop open. Head to the Advanced tab and select the check box for Show Develop menu in menu bar .
• The Develop menu will appear next to Bookmarks on the menu bar. Select Develop > Empty Caches or use Option + Cmd + E to quickly clear the web cache.

Delete All Cookies

Like other browsers, Safari stores site cookies whenever you visit websites. These cookies contain details about your interactions with the site, such as registration and form data, your cart contents, and similar. It's a good idea to remove those cookies when starting fresh.

Here's how you can clear all cookies from Safari:

• Launch Safari and in the menu bar at the top of the screen, go to Safari > Preferences .
• In the window that pops up, go to the Privacy tab and click the Manage Website Data button. That'll pop open a window showing the list of cookies in Safari.
• You can hold down Cmd to select cookies to remove individually, or click Remove All to delete the entire list.

Turn Off Website Access/Delete Safari Plugins

While Apple builds Safari for efficiency, some outside plugins and website access rules can cause Safari to slow down. It's best to ensure that those plugins ask you before Safari runs them. You can also confirm which sites can access your Mac's camera, microphone, and other settings.

With Safari open, go to Safari > Preferences in the menu bar on the top of the screen. Go to the Websites tab and check each item in the sidebar for website access. We recommend disabling Auto-Play , Camera , Microphone , Location , and Pop-Ups , unless you have some reason not to do so.

If you're using an older version of Safari that doesn't have these options, you can head to Safari > Preferences and click on Security > Plug-In Settings . Then set all the plugins to Ask before Safari runs them, and disable the ones you don't need.

Disable or Uninstall Safari Extensions

Unlike Chrome and Firefox, Apple allows only a handful of extensions to work with Safari. Even with this filtering, some of them might impact your browsing performance and slow everything down. Whether you use extensions for saving articles to Pocket or applying dark mode on every website, they could affect Safari.

You can disable these extensions by going to Safari > Preferences and clicking the Extensions tab. Uncheck each extension listed to disable it. To remove all of them, you'll need to select each extension and click on the Uninstall button in the adjacent pane.

You can always find and install new Safari extensions later after resetting the browser. Try to only install high-quality ones you absolutely need.

Reset Safari Using Terminal

Even after removing cookies, cache, browsing history, and extensions, Safari still has some underlying metadata. To wipe everything in a true sense, you can use the Terminal app.

Using the Terminal to reset Safari to its default state means you'll have to use a series of commands. Refer to our beginner's guide to the Mac Terminal for using it effectively.

To reset Safari using Terminal:

• Open the Terminal app (you can find it easily using Spotlight with Cmd + Space ).
• Next, open the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen. Click Force Quit and select Safari to completely close it.
• Enter the below commands commands, one line at a time. After you run each command, the Terminal will prompt for confirmation to delete said files. Type y to confirm, then hit Enter .

Reset Safari for a Fresh and Fast Browser Experience

Now you know how to effectively reset Safari to factory settings. It should feel faster after this—though all the sites you visit at first will take a couple of seconds to load completely, since they'll create new cookies and cache.

To get even more out of Safari, make sure you're applying the best Safari tweaks for a better experience.

How to Reset Safari to Default Settings on Mac and iPhone

Scratching your head to reset Safari to default settings? Don't know where to begin? Well don't worry, we have got your back!

Safari is an exceptional browser and there are no two ways about it. With Apple leading the charge against ad trackers on the internet with its anti-tracking policy, Safari has been a safe haven for users who want to protect their privacy.

That being said, while Safari might win the race when it comes to protecting its users but more often than not is not able to match up to its competitors in the game of extensible features.

However, many of us are extensively using safari on a daily basis. Some want to hold on to that last ounce of privacy on the net, and others do not want to install a 3rd party browser on their Macs or iPhones.

Whatever may be your case for using Safari. One thing is for sure, with years of use, Safari accumulates tons and tons of website data which might slow down your browser or in worst cases, your devices as well.

Reset Safari to Default Settings on Mac

To everybody’s shock, there’s no ‘Reset Safari’ button on any of the apple devices. As a result, we are bound to perform a list of steps not every user might be comfortable with. Anyways, resetting Safari consists of resetting 3 components :

• Website Data

We are going to reset the components on a first-come-first-serve basis. So let’s get started.

Reset History

First, Launch Safari from the Launchpad or from dock of your Mac.

Next, click on the ‘History’ tab from the menu bar. Next, click on the ‘Clear History…’ option from the list.

After that, choose ‘all history’ option from the drop-down. Then, click on ‘Clear History’ button.

Reset Website Data

First, Launch Safari from the Launchpad or from the dock of you Mac.

Next, click on the ‘Safari’ tab present on the menu bar. Now, click on the ‘Preferences’ option from the list.

After that, go to the ‘Privacy’ pane and click on ‘Manage Website Data’ button.

Now, click on ‘Remove All’ button from the bottom left corner of the pane.

Next, click on ‘Remove Now’ button to confirm.

Reset Cache

Next, click on the ‘Safari’ tab from the menu bar. Then, click on the ‘Preferences’ option from the list.

After that, go to the ‘Advanced’ pane. Now, check the ‘Show Develop menu in the menu bar’ option.

As a result, the ‘Develop’ tab would now be visible in the menu bar. Click on it, and then choose the ‘Empty Caches’ option from the list.

Reset Safari to Default Settings on iPhone

Resetting safari is pretty straight forward on iPhone and requires just couple of steps.

Launch the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone from the home screen.

Next, scroll down and locate ‘Safari’ from the list and tap on it.

After that, scroll down till you find the ‘Clear History and Website Data’ option on the screen and then tap on it, once located.

Now, tap ‘Clear History and Data’ from the pop-up alert menu to confirm.

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How To Reset Safari In Mac

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Resetting Safari on your Mac can be a helpful solution when you encounter issues such as slow performance, unexpected crashes, or unresponsive web pages. By resetting Safari, you can clear out accumulated data, remove problematic extensions, and restore the browser to its default settings. This process can effectively resolve various browsing issues and enhance the overall performance of Safari.

Whether you're experiencing frequent crashes, encountering persistent pop-up ads, or noticing unusual behavior while browsing, resetting Safari can often provide a fresh start and resolve these issues. It's important to note that resetting Safari will clear your browsing history, cookies, and other website data, so it's essential to back up any important information before proceeding with the reset.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of resetting Safari on your Mac. By following these instructions, you can effectively troubleshoot common browsing issues and ensure that Safari functions smoothly and efficiently. Let's dive into the details and learn how to reset Safari to optimize your browsing experience.

Step 1: Open Safari Preferences

To initiate the process of resetting Safari on your Mac, the first step is to access the Safari Preferences . This can be done by launching the Safari browser and locating the "Safari" option in the top menu bar. Upon clicking on "Safari," a drop-down menu will appear, and you should select "Preferences" from the list. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Command + ," to directly open the Preferences window.

Upon accessing the Preferences window, you will be presented with a range of customizable settings and options for Safari. This is where you can modify various aspects of the browser, including privacy settings, security preferences, and extensions. The Preferences window is a central hub for managing Safari's behavior and appearance, making it a crucial starting point for the process of resetting the browser.

Once you have opened the Preferences window, you are ready to proceed to the next step in the process of resetting Safari. This initial step sets the stage for the subsequent actions that will ultimately lead to a refreshed and optimized browsing experience. By accessing the Preferences window, you gain access to the underlying settings and configurations that govern Safari's functionality, allowing you to make informed adjustments to enhance the browser's performance.

In the following steps, we will delve deeper into the process of resetting Safari, leveraging the options and tools available within the Preferences window to ensure a comprehensive and effective reset. By navigating through the Preferences window and making the necessary adjustments, you can pave the way for a smoother and more efficient browsing experience with Safari on your Mac.

With the first step completed, you are now prepared to move on to the subsequent stages of the reset process, each of which plays a pivotal role in restoring Safari to its default state. As we progress through the remaining steps, you will gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in resetting Safari and optimizing its performance for seamless browsing.

Next, we will explore the second step in the process, which involves navigating to the Advanced tab within the Safari Preferences window. This step is essential for enabling additional options that are instrumental in the comprehensive reset of Safari on your Mac. Let's continue our journey toward resetting Safari and revitalizing your browsing experience.

Step 2: Choose the Advanced Tab

After accessing the Safari Preferences window, the next crucial step in the process of resetting Safari on your Mac is to navigate to the Advanced tab. This tab houses a range of advanced settings and options that are integral to the comprehensive reset of the browser.

Upon entering the Advanced tab within the Safari Preferences window, you gain access to a plethora of advanced configurations that govern the behavior and functionality of the browser. These settings delve into the intricacies of Safari's operations, allowing for fine-tuned adjustments that can significantly impact the browsing experience.

One of the key features within the Advanced tab is the option to enable the Develop menu. This menu provides access to a variety of developer-oriented tools and functionalities that are typically hidden from the standard Safari interface. By enabling the Develop menu, you unlock a suite of powerful tools that can aid in troubleshooting and optimizing the browser's performance.

Enabling the Develop menu is essential for the subsequent steps in the reset process, as it grants access to critical options that facilitate the comprehensive restoration of Safari to its default state. These options include the ability to clear caches, disable extensions, and reset various aspects of the browser that may be contributing to performance issues.

In addition to enabling the Develop menu, the Advanced tab also offers the option to manage website data. This feature allows you to view and remove specific data stored by websites, including cookies, cached files, and other site-specific information. By managing website data, you can effectively clear out accumulated browsing data that may be impacting Safari's performance.

Furthermore, the Advanced tab provides access to a range of other advanced settings, such as those related to security, privacy, and website permissions. These settings offer granular control over how Safari interacts with websites and handles various types of content, empowering you to tailor the browser's behavior to align with your preferences and security requirements.

By choosing the Advanced tab within the Safari Preferences window, you position yourself to leverage the advanced configurations and options that are pivotal to the comprehensive reset of Safari on your Mac. This step sets the stage for the subsequent actions that will ultimately lead to a refreshed and optimized browsing experience, ensuring that Safari functions smoothly and efficiently.

With the Advanced tab explored and its significance in the reset process elucidated, you are now prepared to proceed to the next step, where you will enable the Develop menu and unlock a suite of powerful tools that will aid in the comprehensive restoration of Safari. Let's continue our journey toward resetting Safari and revitalizing your browsing experience.

Step 3: Enable the Develop Menu

Enabling the Develop menu within Safari is a pivotal step in the process of resetting the browser on your Mac. The Develop menu unlocks a suite of powerful tools and functionalities that are instrumental in troubleshooting, optimizing, and customizing the browsing experience. By enabling this menu, you gain access to a range of developer-oriented features that are typically hidden from the standard Safari interface, empowering you to delve into the inner workings of the browser and make informed adjustments to enhance its performance.

To enable the Develop menu, you will navigate to the Advanced tab within the Safari Preferences window, as outlined in the previous step. Once in the Advanced tab, you will find the option to "Show Develop menu in menu bar." By checking this option, you effectively enable the Develop menu, causing it to appear in the Safari menu bar alongside other standard options.

The Develop menu offers a wealth of tools and functionalities that cater to developers, power users, and individuals seeking to optimize their browsing experience. One of the key features within the Develop menu is the ability to access the Web Inspector, a powerful tool that allows you to inspect, debug, and modify the structure and behavior of web pages. The Web Inspector provides invaluable insights into the underlying code and elements of web pages, enabling you to diagnose issues, optimize performance, and customize the display of content.

In addition to the Web Inspector, the Develop menu grants access to options for disabling caches, disabling extensions, and resetting various aspects of the browser. These options are instrumental in the comprehensive reset of Safari, as they allow you to clear out accumulated data, remove problematic extensions, and restore the browser to its default settings. By leveraging the functionalities within the Develop menu, you can effectively troubleshoot common browsing issues and ensure that Safari functions smoothly and efficiently.

Enabling the Develop menu within Safari empowers you to harness the full potential of the browser, providing access to advanced tools and functionalities that are essential for the comprehensive reset and optimization of Safari on your Mac. By enabling this menu, you position yourself to leverage a suite of powerful features that can aid in troubleshooting, customizing, and enhancing the browsing experience, ultimately leading to a refreshed and optimized Safari browser .

With the Develop menu enabled, you are now prepared to proceed to the next step in the reset process, where you will utilize the functionalities within the Develop menu to initiate the comprehensive reset of Safari on your Mac. Let's continue our journey toward resetting Safari and revitalizing your browsing experience.

Step 4: Reset Safari

Resetting Safari on your Mac involves a series of critical actions that collectively restore the browser to its default state, effectively clearing out accumulated data, removing problematic extensions, and optimizing its performance. This process is instrumental in troubleshooting common browsing issues and ensuring that Safari functions smoothly and efficiently. By following the steps outlined below, you can initiate the comprehensive reset of Safari and revitalize your browsing experience.

Clear Browsing History and Data

The first step in resetting Safari involves clearing the browsing history and data. This action effectively removes the record of websites visited, searches conducted, and other browsing activities. To accomplish this, you will navigate to the "History" menu in the Safari menu bar and select "Clear History." Upon doing so, a window will appear, allowing you to choose the time range for which you wish to clear the history. Selecting "Clear History" will remove the specified browsing history, contributing to the comprehensive reset of Safari.

Remove Website Data and Cookies

In addition to clearing the browsing history, it is essential to remove website data and cookies to further optimize Safari. This action involves accessing the "Privacy" tab within the Safari Preferences window and clicking on "Manage Website Data." Here, you can view and remove specific data stored by websites, including cookies and cached files. By removing this data, you effectively clear out accumulated browsing data that may be impacting Safari's performance, contributing to the comprehensive reset of the browser.

Disable Extensions and Plug-Ins

Another critical step in resetting Safari is to disable extensions and plug-ins that may be contributing to browsing issues. This action involves accessing the "Extensions" tab within the Safari Preferences window and unchecking the boxes next to each installed extension. Additionally, you can navigate to the "Security" tab to manage website plug-ins and disable any that may be causing issues. By disabling extensions and plug-ins, you eliminate potential sources of browsing problems, paving the way for a refreshed and optimized browsing experience.

Reset Safari Settings

The final step in the reset process involves resetting Safari's settings to their default configurations. This action is carried out by navigating to the "General" tab within the Safari Preferences window and clicking on "Reset Safari." A window will appear, allowing you to choose which settings to reset, including clearing the cache, removing cookies, and resetting the top sites. By selecting the desired options and proceeding with the reset, you effectively restore Safari to its default state, resolving common browsing issues and optimizing its performance.

By following these steps to reset Safari on your Mac, you can effectively troubleshoot common browsing issues and ensure that the browser functions smoothly and efficiently. This comprehensive reset clears out accumulated data, removes problematic extensions, and restores Safari to its default settings, ultimately revitalizing your browsing experience and enhancing the overall performance of the browser.

In conclusion, resetting Safari on your Mac is a valuable troubleshooting technique that can effectively address a range of browsing issues and optimize the performance of the browser. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this guide, you can initiate a comprehensive reset that clears out accumulated data, removes problematic extensions, and restores Safari to its default settings, ultimately revitalizing your browsing experience.

Through the process of resetting Safari, you gain the ability to clear browsing history and data, remove website data and cookies, disable extensions and plug-ins, and reset Safari's settings to their default configurations. These actions collectively contribute to the restoration of Safari to a pristine state, free from the clutter and issues that may have been impacting its performance.

Upon completing the reset process, you can expect to experience a smoother and more efficient browsing experience with Safari. The removal of accumulated data and cookies, coupled with the disabling of problematic extensions and the restoration of default settings, can lead to improved stability, faster page loading times, and a more responsive browsing interface.

Furthermore, the ability to access the Develop menu and leverage advanced tools within Safari empowers you to take control of the browser's behavior and optimize its performance according to your preferences. This level of customization and fine-tuning ensures that Safari aligns with your specific browsing needs, providing a tailored and optimized experience.

It's important to note that resetting Safari will clear your browsing history, cookies, and other website data, so it's essential to back up any important information before proceeding with the reset. Additionally, after completing the reset, you may need to reconfigure certain preferences and re-enable desired extensions to tailor Safari to your specific requirements.

By incorporating the insights and techniques presented in this guide, you are equipped to effectively troubleshoot common browsing issues and ensure that Safari functions smoothly and efficiently. The comprehensive reset process enables you to revitalize your browsing experience, setting the stage for seamless and enjoyable interactions with the Safari browser on your Mac.

In essence, resetting Safari serves as a valuable maintenance practice, allowing you to refresh the browser and optimize its performance, ultimately enhancing your overall browsing experience and productivity. Embracing the process of resetting Safari empowers you to take proactive steps in maintaining a smooth and efficient browsing environment, ensuring that Safari remains a reliable and effective tool for accessing the web on your Mac.

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How To Fully Reset Safari On Mac

This article explains how you can fully reset Safari on your Mac. You might need to do this if Safari on your Mac runs very slowly, crashes often, acts bizarre, or functions incorrectly.

See also: Your System Is Infected With (3) Viruses

Safari is included with the macOS operating system.

How to reset Safari

1-Remove site history

There are two ways to do this. If you want to remove particular web sites (e.g., a web site is giving you problems whenever you visit) then try the second option. Please also note that if you are using other Apple devices (iOS devices or other Macs), if you turn on Safari in iCloud preferences with the same Apple ID, your site browsing history will be removed from all of them.

See also: How To Change Default Search Engine in Safari

When you do this, you will be removing history of web sites you visited, recent searchers, list of download items, frequently visited sites list, web sites that asked to use your located and to send you notifications.

• Open Safari
• Click Safari located in the menu bar in the top left hand corner of your screen
• Click Clear History

• Click the Clear History button
• Click Preferences
• Click the Privacy tab
• Click the manage Website Data button
• Here you can remove everything, or you can remove specific web sites. You can also search to find a specific web site.

2-Clear web caches 

Here is how you can clear Safari’s caches. Caches are images and videos, or the layouts for entire web pages you browsed.

• In the Safari app, click Safari
• Click the Advanced tab

• Close the Preferences window
• Now you will see a new menu bar item called ‘Develop’
• Click Develop

Disable Safari extensions

Extensions are small programs that extends your Safari’s functionalities. They add new features to let you enhance and customize your browsing experience. But some may have bugs and thus cause problems. And you may want to turn them off. Here is how:

• Choose Safari from the Safari menu bar
• Click the Extensions tab
• For each extension, you can use the checkbox to enable or disable that particular extension.
• You can also uninstall extensions.

Disable Safari plugins 

Please note that Safari is no longer supporting most plugins. You can however view and manage the plugins you have installed. Here is how:

• Click Safari
• Click the Websites tab

• When you are done, close the window

See also: How To See The Full Web Site Address In Safari URL Bar

Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director specializing in Apple solutions for small and medium-sized educational institutions. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. He is a former faculty member. Here is his LinkedIn profile and Google Scholar profile . Email Serhat Kurt .

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I Have been having this for about a week now. I Have tried getting rid of the Cookies and what not, restarted Safari, everything still doesn’t work. Did Apple do something to Safari? Like I Can use Chrome and everything is fine, but I go to Youtube on Safari and login and I get a blank screen. I am not logged in I Can see the page it’s only when I login is when I can’t see anything. Again not the case with Chrome. Does anyone one know what is going on?

I have the same problem

Safari 14 I cannot attach photos into facebook, its takes forever to open any websites, i have cleared the history and still takes forever, its like something is running in the background making my computer run slow. We don’t even use this computer very much as we do most surfing on our iPad, we have att wifi which shows 4 bars on the wifi icon. Can the problem be to many files on the computer or in the iCloud?

No facebook or youtube since updating to Big Sur 11.0 Safari is not working properly.

Safari not working at all…i couldn’t even open http://www.google.com

Hi, I have done all steps recommended, YouTube still does not play on MacBook Air. YouTube opens alright, but when I try playing a video, it won’t play, just that circle on the screen that keeps rotating. Can you please help me solve this problem. I am not computer savvy. Thank you, Liviu

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Home » Tech Tips » Browsers » How to Reset Safari Browser in Mac?

How to Reset Safari Browser in Mac?

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge offers simple way to reset your browser from the settings page. In addition, you can also repair Edge app in Windows to fix problems. However, Apple does not offer any default options to repair or reset Safari browser in Mac. If you are stuck with slow Safari browser or the browser behaving weirdly, here is how you can reset using different options.

Why Resetting Safari Browser in Mac?

Below are some of the situations you can think of resetting the browser:

• Safari is very slow and affects your Mac’s speed as well.
• Browser automatically opens pages or redirect to different pages.
• You want to delete all stored data in Safari to bring to its original settings.

Reset Safari Browser in Mac

Earlier days, Apple was offering a simple “Reset Safari” menu within the browser.

Selecting the menu will show a list of items that you can delete and reset your browser.

However, this has been removed in the subsequent Safari versions and now there is no direct option available for resetting the browser to factory default settings. You have to carry out different steps to clean up the browser and set it back to original factory settings. Unlike Chrome and Edge, these options will not change your browser settings in Safari. You have to go to Safari preferences and reset the settings manually.

1. Clear History

The first option is to clear the browsing history of Safari browser. Over period, you might have browsed thousands of websites and Safari will retain the history data for all those websites. Deleting them will help to fix corrupted cache and allow you to access the sites afresh.

• Open Safari browser and click on “Safari > Clear History…” menu.

• Alternatively, you can go to “History > Clear History…” menu.

• This will open a pop-up like below. Select “all history” from the dropdown and click on “Clear History” button.

It will delete all browsing history data from Safari browser and reset the history. Remember, this will also delete the browsing history on all devices like iPhone and iPad that you have logged with same iCloud account .

2. Empty Safari Browser’s Cache

The second option to reset Safari browser in Mac is to delete the cache stored in the browser. However, this option available under the hidden “Develop” menu that you first need to enable.

• Click on the “Safari” menu and go to “Preferences…” option. Alternatively, you can press “Command + ,” shortcut keys to open the preferences section.
• Go to “Advanced” tab and enable “Show Develop menu in menu bar” option.

• After that close the preferences pop-up and you will see a new “Develop” menu added in your browser.
• Click on the “ Develop ” menu and then select “Empty Caches” option.

This will delete all stored cached data and you can check if your problem in the browser is resolved.

3. Delete Cookies

Safari browser stores all the cookie details of websites you visit. Sometimes, corrupted cookies can create problems and prevent accessing websites or redirect sites. You can delete all stored cookie data to clean up the browser and check if that helps to resolve your problem.

• When you are in Safari preferences, go to “Privacy” tab.
• Click on the “Manage Website Data…” button showing against “Cookies and website data” section.

• You will see cookies stored in the browser by all previously visited websites. Click “Remove All” to completely delete all cookies or select any particular website and then click “Remove” button. You can also use the search box to find the relevant site and delete its cookie.

• After deleting, click on the “Done” button to close the window.

Note: Make sure to save all your work and logout of the sites before you delete cookies. Otherwise, you will be logged out forcibly and lose any unsaved data.

4. Delete Extensions

You can get third-party extensions for Safari from Mac App Store. If you have installed any Safari extensions, disable or delete them when troubleshooting your browser.

• Go to “Safari > Preferences…” menu and navigate to “Extensions” tab.
• Here, you can view all installed extensions in your browser.
• Select the extension and click on “Uninstall” button to delete.
• You can uninstall all the extensions and restart you browser to check the browser works fine now.

5. Delete AutoFill Data in Safari

The last option is to delete all your stored AutoFill data which includes passwords, cards and contact details. Go to “AutoFill” section in the Safari preferences and click on the “Edit” button against the corresponding options. This will open the related section where you can find and delete the details.

Final Words

Apple applications always have different way of working compared to other applications. Though this helps to differentiate from others, it will be painful when troubleshooting applications like Safari browser in Mac. We hope one of the above explained options helped you to reset Safari browser in Mac fix your problem. Otherwise, you can try to alternate options like Google Chrome, Firefox or Edge for Mac.

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Editorial Staff at WebNots are team of experts who love to build websites, find tech hacks and share the learning with community.

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How to Reset Safari and Restore Default Settings?

Safari is a popular web browser used by many Mac users. If you’re experiencing issues with Safari or simply want to start fresh, resetting it to its default settings can be a helpful solution. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to reset Safari and provide some additional tips to optimize your browsing experience.

Resetting Safari can resolve various problems, such as slow performance, frequent crashes, or unexpected behavior. It’s important to note that resetting will remove your browsing history, website data, cookies, and other preferences. However, bookmarks and saved passwords will not be affected. Now, let’s dive into the steps to reset Safari to its default state.

1. Open Safari: Launch Safari by clicking on its icon in the dock or by searching for it in the Applications folder.

2. Access Preferences: Once Safari is open, click on the “Safari” menu located in the top-left corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select “Preferences.”

3. Navigate to the Privacy settings: In the Preferences window, click on the “Privacy” tab located at the top.

4. Clear website data: Within the Privacy tab, you will find the option to manage website data. Click on the “Remove All Website Data” button to delete all stored data from websites you’ve visited.

5. Confirm the action: A confirmation prompt will appear, asking if you are sure you want to remove all website data. Click on “Remove Now” to proceed. Please note that this action cannot be undone, so make sure you have any necessary data backed up before proceeding.

6. Reload the page: After clearing the data, it’s a good practice to reload any open web pages. You can do this by clicking on the “View” menu in Safari’s menu bar, then selecting “Reload Page.” Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command-R.

By following these steps, you have successfully reset Safari to its default settings. Now, let’s explore some additional tips to optimize your browsing experience.

– Update Safari: Keeping Safari up to date ensures you have the latest features and security enhancements. To check for updates, go to the “Safari” menu and select “About Safari.” If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.

– Clear cache regularly: Safari stores temporary files and website data in its cache to load pages faster. However, over time, a large cache can slow down the browser. To clear the cache, go to the “Develop” menu (if it’s not visible, enable it in Safari preferences) and select “Empty Caches.”

– Disable unnecessary extensions: Extensions can enhance your browsing experience, but having too many can also slow down Safari. Go to the “Safari” menu, select “Preferences,” and click on the “Extensions” tab to manage and disable any unnecessary extensions.

– Customize search engine: Safari uses a default search engine for web searches, but you can change it to your preferred search engine. To do this, go to “Safari” > “Preferences,” click on the “Search” tab, and choose your preferred search engine from the drop-down menu.

– Enable pop-up blocker: Pop-up windows can be annoying and potentially harmful. To prevent them, go to “Safari” > “Preferences,” click on the “Security” tab, and ensure the “Block pop-up windows” option is checked.

Resetting Safari to its default settings can help resolve various issues and improve your browsing experience. However, if you continue to experience problems, you may want to consider contacting Apple Support or seeking assistance from a professional technician.

Remember, resetting Safari is just one step towards optimizing your browsing experience. Regularly updating the browser, clearing the cache, and managing extensions can further enhance its performance. Keep exploring the settings and preferences to personalize Safari according to your needs. Happy browsing!

How Do You Reset Safari Back to Normal?

To reset Safari back to its default settings, you can follow these detailed steps:

1. Open Safari and click on the “Safari” menu located in the top left corner of your screen. 2. From the drop-down menu, choose “Preferences…” to open the Safari Preferences window. 3. In the Preferences window, you will see several tabs at the top. Click on the “Privacy” tab. 4. Once you are on the Privacy tab, you will notice a section called “Cookies and website data.” 5. To remove all the data stored by websites on your computer, click on the “Remove All Website Data” button. 6. A confirmation window will appear asking if you are sure you want to remove all website data. Click on the “Remove Now” button to proceed. 7. Safari will now remove all the stored data, including cookies, cache, and other website-specific information. 8. After the process is complete, you can close the Preferences window.

By following these steps, you will effectively reset Safari back to its default settings, clearing any stored data from websites you have visited.

How Do You Reset Your Safari Page?

To reset your Safari page, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Safari on your device. 2. From the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on “View.” 3. In the drop-down menu, select “Reload Page.” Alternatively, you can press the Command-R keyboard shortcut. 4. Safari will then reload the current page, refreshing its content and clearing any cached data.

In case you encounter any issues or the page doesn’t reset as expected, you can try a force refresh by holding down the Shift key while clicking on the “Reload Page” option or by pressing Command-Shift-R. This will bypass the cache and load the most up-to-date version of the page.

By resetting or refreshing your Safari page, you can ensure that you are viewing the latest content and eliminate any temporary glitches or errors that may have occurred.

How Do You Reset Safari Search Settings?

To reset the search settings in Safari, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Safari on your device. 2. Click on “Safari” in the top menu bar. 3. Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu. 4. In the Preferences window, navigate to the “Search” tab. 5. Here, you will see a section labeled “Search engine.” 6. Click on the drop-down menu next to “Search engine” to see the available options. 7. Choose the search engine you want Safari to use for web searches. 8. If you want to remove any search engines from the list, you can click on the “-” button next to the search engine name. 9. To add a new search engine, click on the “+” button and enter the required details. 10. Once you have made your desired changes, close the Preferences window.

By following these steps, you will be able to reset the search settings in Safari and choose the search engine of your preference.

Resetting Safari to its default settings is a straightforward process that can help resolve various issues and enhance your browsing experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily clear all website data stored on your computer and restore Safari to its original state.

Resetting Safari can be particularly useful if you are experiencing slow performance, frequent crashes, or if you want to start fresh with a clean slate. It allows you to remove any unwanted extensions, cookies, cache, and other data accumulated over time, which can help improve browser speed and stability.

Additionally, resetting Safari also enables you to change your default search engine. By accessing the Safari preferences and selecting the desired search engine, you can tailor your browsing experience to suit your preferences and needs.

Remember to reload the page after resetting Safari to ensure that the changes take effect. You can do this by clicking the reload button or using the shortcut Command-R.

Resetting Safari to its default settings can be a helpful troubleshooting step and a way to customize your browsing experience. By following the steps provided and making use of the various options available in the Safari settings, you can optimize your browser’s performance and enjoy a smoother and more personalized web browsing experience.

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How to Factory Reset Your Browser on Mac: Safari, Chrome, and Firefox

Hashir Ibrahim

Reviewed by

Last updated: October 18, 2023

Expert verified

To factory reset your browser on Mac, you must follow specific steps for each browser. Resetting Safari involves clearing history, cache, and cookies, removing extensions, deleting bookmarks, and removing plug-ins. Advanced users can also use Terminal commands to reset Safari.

To reset Chrome, click the three dots > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset Settings . To reset Firefox, click the three horizontal lines > Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox twice.

• Resetting browsers boosts performance, fixes errors, removes malware, declutters data, and restores default settings.
• The process clears cache, cookies, history, disables extensions, reverts settings, and may delete bookmarks and passwords.
• It’s crucial to back up essential data before proceeding, as a reset will erase personalized settings and saved information.

Ever felt your browser acting like it’s dragging a ton of bricks? Clogged with data, or just misbehaving? Just as you occasionally need a fresh start, so does your browser.

Whether you’re a Safari surfer, a Chrome cruiser, or a Firefox flyer, this concise guide is your quick fix to factory reset your browser on Mac. Let’s get started and get your Mac browsers to perform better.

Why Factory Reset Your Browser on Mac?

Browsers are prone to accumulating clutter over time. And just as our physical spaces benefit from periodic decluttering, our digital spaces need occasional refreshing, too.

Here’s why you might consider a factory reset for your browser on Mac:

• 🚀 Enhanced Performance : Over time, excessive cache, cookies, and browsing history can slow down your browser. A reset can make your browsing experience smoother and faster.
• 🔧 Fix Glitches : Encountered unexpected crashes, rendering issues, or unresponsive pages? Resetting can resolve such unexplained errors.
• 🛡️ Security : Malware and unwanted extensions can compromise your browser. Starting fresh eliminates potential threats.
• 🕵️ Simplified Troubleshooting : Not sure if an extension is causing an issue? Resetting provides a clean slate, making it easier to pinpoint problems.
• 📚 Data Overload : Overloaded bookmarks, saved passwords, and filled auto-forms can be overwhelming. Begin anew for a more organized digital experience.
• 🌱 Fresh Experience : If you’ve tinkered too much with settings and are missing the default browsing experience, a reset can take you back to the browser’s original state.

Remember, while a factory reset offers numerous advantages, backing up vital data is essential, as the process will erase your personalized settings and saved information.

What Happens When You Reset Your Browser on Mac?

Resetting your browser is like giving it a digital detox. But what exactly happens under the hood when you hit that reset button? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty:

• 🌪️ Cache Clearing : All the cached images, files, and site data that browsers store for faster loading get wiped out. This means websites might take slightly longer to load the first time post-reset.
• 🍪 Cookie Cleanup : All cookies are deleted. You’ll need to re-login to sites where you were previously auto-logged in.
• 📜 History Erasure : Your browsing history, including the websites you visited and search queries, is removed.
• 🔌 Extension Exits : Extensions, plugins, and add-ons get disabled or removed, depending on the browser. You might need to reinstall or re-enable them.
• ⚙️ Reset Settings : Any custom settings (homepage, tab behavior, download location, etc.) revert to their default state.
• 🔐 Bookmarks & Saved Passwords : Depending on the browser and reset options chosen, these might be retained or deleted. It’s always wise to back up this data.
• ⬇️ Download List Deletion : The list of downloaded files within the browser gets cleared. (The actual downloaded files on your Mac remain unaffected.)
• 👾 Personalized Themes & Appearance : If you’ve customized the look of your browser, it will return to the default appearance.

How to Factory Reset Your Browser on Mac

In this section, I’ll walk you through the steps to factory reset different browsers on your Mac. The specifics vary slightly between browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. So, I’ve shared the steps for these three popular browsers. Let’s dive in!

a. Factory Reset Safari on Mac

Previously, factory resetting Safari on Mac was a one-click affair. However, the Reset Safari button is no longer available to Mac users. Due to this, it now takes several steps to factory reset Safari on Mac.

Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Clear Safari History

Here’s how to delete Safari history on your Mac :

• Launch Safari by clicking its icon in the Dock.

• Once Safari is open, click History in the menu bar, and select Clear History… . It’s at the bottom of the menu, and you may have to scroll down.

• A dialog box will appear, asking you to specify the time range for which you want to delete history. You can select last hour, today, today, and yesterday, or all history.

• Select all history from the menu and click the Clear History button. This will also clear your browser cache and cookies for the specified time range.

• For the changes to take effect, close all Safari windows and relaunch the application.

Step 2: Clear Safari Cache and Cookies

Here’s how to clear cookies on Mac in Safari:

• Click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings .

• Select the Privacy tab and click the Manage Website Data button.

• Click Remove All to clear all website cookies completely.

• You’ll be prompted to confirm if you choose to remove all cookies. Click Remove Now to proceed.
• Alternatively, you can select individual websites and tap Remove .

• Click Done when you have deleted all cache files.

To clear Safari cache on your Mac , follow these steps:

• Go to Safari in the menu bar and select Settings .
• Select the Advanced tab and check the box next to the Show Develop menu in menu bar if it is unchecked.

• Once the Develop menu is enabled, you’ll find it in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
• Click Develop in the menu bar and select Empty Caches from the dropdown menu.

This will clear all your Safari cache on Mac.

Step 3: Remove Safari Extensions

Here’s how to remove browser extensions on Mac from Safari:

• Open Safari on your Mac.

• Click the Extensions tab to view all the installed extensions.

• Find the extension you want to remove and click it.

• Click the Uninstall button to confirm that you want to remove the extension.

Step 4: Delete Safari Bookmarks

There are two methods to delete bookmarks on Mac in Safari:

• Launch Safari from your Dock.
• Click Bookmarks in the menu bar and select Edit Bookmarks .

• A new window will appear, showing all your bookmarks. Right-click a bookmark you want to remove and select Delete .

To remove several bookmarks at once on your Mac, hold down the Command ⌘ key while clicking the bookmarks you wish to delete, and press the Delete key.

• Click the sidebar icon in the Safari toolbar (next to the green expand icon).

• A sidebar will appear on the left of your Safari window. At the bottom of the sidebar, select Bookmarks .

• Right-click the bookmarks you aim to remove and click Delete .

Step 5: Delete Safari Plug-ins

Follow these steps to delete Safari plug-ins on Mac:

• Ensure Safari is completely closed.
• Click the Finder icon in your Dock.

• In the Finder menu, click Go and select Go to Folder .

• Type the following path:

• In this folder, you’ll find various plug-ins. Drag the ones you wish to remove to the Bin.

It’s important to be cautious and only delete the ones you recognize and are sure about to avoid affecting Safari’s functionality.

• As a final step, right-click the Bin icon and select Empty Bin to remove those plug-ins permanently.

For Advanced Users: Reset Safari Using Terminal

If you’re comfortable with Terminal, you can employ various commands to factory reset Safari on your Mac. Follow these instructions carefully to reset Safari using Terminal :

• Ensure that Safari is not running.
• Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities and launch Terminal . You can also search for it in Spotlight search.

• Enter each of the commands below individually. After pasting each command, press Enter and follow any on-screen prompts:

🚨 Caution: The rm -Rf command can be dangerous and permanently deletes files. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable with Terminal, manually navigate to the Library and move the files mentioned in the paths above to the Bin. This manual method is considered safer.

b. Factory Reset Chrome on Mac

Over time, Chrome can slow down with all the added extensions and stored data. If you’re facing issues or just want a fresh browser experience, a factory reset is a good idea.

Below, I’ll walk you through the steps to reset Chrome on your Mac:

• In Chrome, click the three vertical dots and go to Settings .

• In the next window, click Reset settings in the left sidebar and select Restore settings to their original defaults .

• A pop-up window will appear. Click Reset settings, and it will restore your Chrome settings to default.

c. Factory Reset Firefox on Mac

Just like any browser, Firefox can accumulate clutter over time. If you’re noticing lags or unwanted extensions or simply want to start from scratch, resetting is the way to go. In this section, I’ll guide you through the process of resetting Firefox to its original state on your Mac:

• In Firefox, click the three horizontal lines and go to Help .

• Select More troubleshooting information .

• On the right, you’ll see Refresh Firefox . Click it.

• When you click Refresh Firefox, a pop-up will appear at the top of the page. Click Refresh Firefox again.

Start With a Clean Slate on Your Mac Browser

Resetting your browser can achieve a smoother, faster, and more secure online experience. Whether using Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on your Mac, knowing how to return to a fresh state ensures you’re always in control of your digital environment.

Here are some more tips to enhance your browsing experience on Mac:

• Pop-ups and ads are a nuisance. Learn how to block ads on Mac .
• Some websites may be malicious and slow down your browser. You can block websites on Safari on Mac , along with other browsers.
• If your Safari bookmarks disappeared on Mac , you can restore them from Bookmarks Library, backup, or iCloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will i lose all my bookmarks and saved passwords when i reset my browser.

When you reset your browser, you will lose bookmarks and saved passwords if you don’t create a backup before resetting. Many browsers offer options to retain this data during a reset. Always back up important information before proceeding to ensure no essential data is lost.

How often should I reset my browser?

You should only reset your browser when encountering persistent issues or noticeable slowdowns. For optimal performance, consider doing it once a year or when problems arise, ensuring you always back up essential data first.

Is clearing cache and cookies different from a full browser reset?

Yes, clearing cache and cookies is different from a full browser reset. Clearing cache and cookies only removes temporary data, improving loading times. On the other hand, a full browser reset reverts settings, disables extensions, and provides a more thorough refresh, giving the browser a clean slate to operate from.

Can I undo a browser reset on Mac?

No, you cannot undo a browser reset on Mac. Once you’ve reset your browser, the action is typically irreversible. Before resetting, always back up essential data like bookmarks and passwords to avoid potential loss.

Will resetting my browser log me out of all my accounts?

Yes, resetting your browser typically clears sessions and cookies, which means you’ll likely be logged out of most, if not all, of your online accounts. You’ll need to re-enter your credentials the next time you visit those sites.

I'm Hashir, a tech journalist with a decade of experience. My work has been featured in some of the top tech publications like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. I have a bachelor's degree in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and extensive knowledge of Apple hardware, specifically MacBooks. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write in depth guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac and unbiased reviews that help you make the right buying decisions.

Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

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Proven Tips: How to Reset Safari Browser on Mac

Quick Navigation

• Method 1: How to reset Safari on Mac without opening it [Fast & Safe]

Method 2: How to manually restore Safari to default settings

This post will show you how to reset Safari to default on Mac. The process can sometimes fix some errors (you may fail to launch the app, for example) when trying to use the Safari browser on your Mac. Please continue to read on this guide to learn how to reset Safari on Mac without opening it.

When Safari keeps crashing, won't open or doesn't work on your Mac, how do you fix Safari on Mac? You may reset Safari to default to fix the problems. However, as Apple has removed Reset Safari button from the browser since OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, one click to reset Safari is no longer available on OS X 10.9 Mavericks, 10.10 Yosemite and latest systems. To reset Safari browser on Mac, there are two methods you can use.

Method 1: How to reset Safari on Mac without opening it [Fast & Safe]

Generally, you have to open Safari browser to reset it back to default settings. However, when Safari keeps crashing or won't open, you may need to figure out a way to reset Safari on Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra without opening the browser.

Instead of resetting Safari on the browser, you can reset Safari to factory settings with Macube Cleaner , a Mac cleaner to clear unwanted files on Mac, including Safari browsing data (caches, cookies, browsing history, autofill, preferences, etc.). Now, you can follow these steps to reset Safari on macOS Sierra:

Step 1: Download Macube Cleaner on your Mac. After installation, open the top Mac cleaner.

Free Download Free Download

Step 2: Choose System Junk and click Scan. When the scanning is done, choose App Cache > find Safari caches > click Clean to clear cache on Safari.

Step 3: Choose Privacy > Scan. From the scanning result, tick and choose Safari . Click Clean button to clean and remove all browser history all (browsing history, download history, download files, cookies and HTML5 Local Storage).

You have restored Safari to its default settings. Now you can open the browser and see if it is working right now. Also, you can use Macube Cleaner to clean up your Mac and free up space: remove duplicate files/image, clear system caches/logs, uninstall apps completely and more.

• You can also reset Safari on iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro by using Terminal command. But you should not use Terminal unless you know what you are doing. Otherwise, you may mess up the macOS.

Although the Reset Safari button is gone, you can still reset Safari on Mac in the following steps.

A Manually reset Safari step-by-step [Security & Complexity]

Step 1: Clear history

Open Safari. Click History > Clear history > all history > Clear History.

Step 2: Clear cache on Safari browser

On Safari browser, navigate to the top left corner and click Safari > Preference > Advanced.

Tick Show Develop menu in menu bar. Click Develop > Empty Caches.

Step 3: Remove stored cookies and other website data

Click Safari > Preference > Privacy > Remove All Website Data.

Step 4: Delete Extension & plug-ins

A Safari plug-in or extension is a small software program that enhances the functionality of the Safari web browser. It allows users to customize their browsing experience by adding new features or modifying existing ones. Let’s take a look at how to delete it.

1. Choose Safari > Preferences > Extensions.

2. In the pop-up window, you will see a list of installed extensions. To completely reset Safari, select each extension and click Uninstall.

Then, you need to manually delete Safari plug-ins from the Library folder. Don't worry, the following method is not a complete removal of the plugin, and you can still easily restore it when you still want to download it.

• If you can't see it, try holding down the Option key as you click; or in the Go menu, select Go to Folder and enter ~/Library

2. Click the Internet Plug-ins folder and drag the plug-ins you want to delete to the Trash.

3. Open Finder > Go > Computer again.

4. Click the name of your Mac and select the Library folder or click the Go > Go to Folder, and then type /Library.

5. Click the Internet Plug-ins folder and drag the plug-ins you want to delete to the Trash.

Step 5: Delete Preferences on Safari

Click Go tab and hold down Option, click Library. Find the Preference folder and delete files named with com.apple.Safari.

Step 6: Clear Safari window state

In the Library, locate Saved Application State folder and delete files in com.apple.Safari.savedState folder.

• Safari on your iMac, MacBook should start working after the reset. If not, you may reinstall Safari by updating macOS to the latest version.

B Reset Safari on Mac using Terminal [Fast & Risky]

If you use Terminal frequently and are a professional computer user, you can run several Terminal commands to reset Safari. Please be careful, as incorrect terminal commands may cause the system to crash.

Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal > Paste the following commands. Execute the following commands sequentially in the Terminal, typing each line separately. Once you run a command, the Terminal will request confirmation to delete the specified files. Press “y” to confirm and then press Enter. mv ~/Library/Safari ~/Desktop/Safari-`date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S` rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/Apple\ -\ Safari\ -\ Safari\ Extensions\ Gallery rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari rm -Rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.WebKit.PluginProcess rm -Rf ~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.binarycookies rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/Apple\ -\ Safari\ -\ Safari\ Extensions\ Gallery rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.LSSharedFileList.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.RSS.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebFoundation.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebKit.PluginHost.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.WebKit.PluginProcess.plist rm -Rf ~/Library/PubSub/Database rm -Rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.apple.Safari.savedState

Using the terminal to reset Safari is fast, but it may cause risks. Therefore, this article recommends using the zero-risk and efficient Macube Cleaner to reset Safari to meet your needs.

Part 3：FAQs

Q1: can i restore my bookmarks after resetting safari.

Certainly! You can recover your bookmarks after resetting Safari on your Mac by following these steps:

• Open Safari on your Mac.
• Click on the “File” menu located in the top-left corner of the screen.
• Select “Import From” and then choose “Bookmarks HTML File”.
• Navigate to the location where you previously saved your bookmarks before resetting Safari.
• Select the HTML file containing your bookmarks.
• Click on the “Import” button, and your bookmarks should be restored.

Alternatively, if you have enabled iCloud syncing for your Safari bookmarks, you can also restore them by enabling the “Safari” option in iCloud settings on your Mac. This will sync your bookmarks from iCloud to your Safari browser.

Q2: How do I fix Safari problems on iPhone and iPad?

• Refresh the page.
• Install software updates and restart your device.
• Review Safari extensions.
• Try opening a private browsing window.
• Verify Safari settings.
• Verify iCloud Private Relay settings.
• Confirm if any VPN or security software is affecting the connection.
• Verify network settings.

I hope you have learned something about resetting Safari in this note. In order to prevent you from encountering problems that affect the use of Safari again, please remember to clean your computer regularly. Macube Cleaner can help you quickly clean software and Mac storage space. If you have more questions about Safari, you are welcome to browse other articles on our website. I believe we can answer your confusion.

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How to reset the Safari browser on your iPhone in 2 different ways

K303/Shutterstock

It's easy to reset Safari's data on your iPhone.

• You can reset Safari on your iPhone by clearing cookies and erasing your browsing history.
• There are two ways to reset your Safari data: through the Safari app itself, and through the Settings app.
• Both methods will let your clear both your browsing history and cookies.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's nice to get a clean start on Safari , but simply removing your Frequently Visited sites isn't going to address privacy concerns if you have cookies stored, for instance.

Fortunately, it's easy to reset all your browsing and history and settings.

Here's two ways, one directly through Safari , and the other through your iPhone's Settings.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Iphone 11 (from $699.99 at best buy), how to reset safari on your iphone through the browser.

1. At the bottom of the Safari page, tap the icon that looks like an open book.

Emma Witman/Business Insider

You'll need to open your Safari's history to wipe it.

2. At the top of the menu that opens, tap the icon that looks like a clock.

3. Tap "Clear" at the bottom of the page. You'll see options to clear your history, cookies, and other data for various time periods. Select "All time," at the bottom.

If you want a less extensive data wipe, you can always select a shorter time period than "All time."

How to reset Safari on your iPhone through the Settings app

1. Open the Settings app for iPhone .

2. Search for or scroll down to "Safari" and open it.

3. Tap "Clear History and Website Data" in blue near the bottom of the page.

4. A notification will pop up. Tap "Clear History and Data," and wait a few moments while the iPhone processes your request. Once it does, all your data will have been cleared.

You can't undo it once you've cleared the data, so you do want to be sure before proceeding.

The button to clear your data will be gray while data is being cleared, then go back to blue when complete.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech :

Ios 13 lets you automatically close tabs in the safari browser on an iphone after a set period of time - here's how to do it, how to stop pop-ups from appearing on your iphone's safari browser, how to add bookmarks and favorites on an iphone's safari browser for quick access to your preferred webpages, how to delete or edit the saved bookmarks on your iphone's safari browser.

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How to Reset Safari on Mac to Default (Completely – Sonoma)

Key Takeaway: Resetting the Safari browser on your Mac can significantly improve its performance by clearing junk files such as caches, browsing history, website data, extensions, and plug-ins. While there's no Reset button, you can achieve this by individually clearing these aspects following simple steps outlined in the article.

Safari is arguably the best web browser for MacBook and Mac computers. This may be attributed to the numerous improvements it has received over the years—especially in security and privacy. However, your Safari browser may start running slowly with time. 

IN THIS ARTICLE

This is often caused by the accumulation of junk and temporary files created by the browser over time. Resetting the browser clears such files, allowing it to run much faster. As you may be aware, the Safari browser on Mac no longer has a Reset button for this purpose. 

However, you can still reset the browser to its defaults by individually clearing the history, caches, plug-ins, and extensions on the browser. Get to know how you can reset the Safari browser on your Mac in just a few steps.

How Do I Reset Safari Browser?

Since the unveiling of the OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 , Apple no longer adds a Reset button to the Safari browser. As such, you cannot just reset the Safari browser in a single click as you would other popular browsers.

Instead, you need to clear the following aspects individually:

• The Browsing History
• Website Data
• Browser Cache 
• Extensions 
• Plug-ins 

Note : Clearing such temporary files on the Safari browser will cause you to lose important auto-fill data, including usernames and passwords. 

Here are the five things you need to do to reset the Safari browser on your Mac: 

Reset the Safari Cache 

Whenever you visit a web page, the browser saves the media files on that page as caches in a temporary folder—within the Library folder. Leveraging this saved information, Safari can reopen such web pages much faster.

While this is a beneficial functionality, these files accumulate over time and may occupy a significant amount of disk space. If not checked, this may slow or even cause the browser to crash. As such, it is advisable to clear your Safari browser cache as follows: 

Method 1: Clearing the Safari Cache from Its Preferences  

To clear the cache files from Safari preferences, proceed as follows: 

Step 1 : Launch the Safari browser from the Launchpad on your Mac. Step 2 : Click on Safari —located towards the top-left corner of the browser homepage. Step 3 : Select Settings/Preferences from the drop-down menu that comes up.

Step 4 : Now navigate to the Advanced tab, then click on the checkbox adjacent to the Show Develop menu on the menu bar to enable it. This should display a Develop tab on the menu bar.

Step 5 : Click on this Develop menu command and choose the Empty Caches for all Profiles option (macOS Sonoma added the Feature of Create Profile in Safari & Save Cache for Different Profile). 

Alternatively, you could also press the Command + E + Option key shortcut to clear the cache after enabling the Develop tab in Step 4 above. Once the Develop menu command is activated on your Safari browser, you can access it anytime you need to clear the cache. 

Method 2: Manually Clear Safari Cache  

If you are running macOS 10.14 or earlier macOS version on your Mac, you could also clear Safari Cache. These operating systems save all temporary files within the Library folder. To manually clear Safari Caches: 

Step 1 : Open Finder Using Spotlight Search on Mac.

Step 2 : From the top menu Go > Go to Folder .

Step 3: Navigate to  ~/Library/Caches hit the return and open the Caches folder.

Step 4 : Delete Only Safari Cache folders, use the search box in the finder window > Select Caches folder > Select Folders and Move to the bin .

Note : Be careful while deleting files from the Library folder, as removing essential files may end up damaging the system. 

Or, select and then remove all the unnecessary files.

Clear Safari Browsing History 

Just as is the case with other browsers, Safari keeps a history of the web pages you have visited in the recent past. To reset Safari on Mac, you need to clear this History as well. To clear the Safari browsing history on Mac: 

Method 1: Manually Clear the Browsing History on Safari  

The first option is to just wipe the history out manually, as illustrated below: 

Step 1 : From the Launchpad , open the Safari browser. Step 2 : From the Menu bar , select the History tab.

Step 3 : Choose the Clear History option from the drop-down menu that appears. Step 4 : Now select the time frame to clear, it is advisable to clear all history . 

In Addition, we can clear the safari cache for specific profiles, Options showing ‘ From ‘. Select Profile and Clear Cache for Specific Profile.

Step 5 : Finally, click on the Clear History button to initiate the process. 

Note : If you happen to have enabled Safari in iCloud settings under the same Apple ID, a change in your browser history will be reflected across your other Apple devices using the same ID. Deleting Safari’s browsing history on one device will automatically clear the browsing history on the other Apple devices logged in under the same Apple ID. 

Method 2: Configure Safari to Clear Browsing History Automatically 

You could also set up the Safari browser in such a way that it automatically deletes your browsing history after a specified period. To do this: 

Step 1: Open the Safari app on your Mac and then open Safari Settings/Preferences.

Step 2: Navigate to the General Settings tab on your Safari browser. Step 3: Select the Set up Remove history items option.

Step 4: Select your preferred clearing frequency for the automatic history removal. Step 5: Once set up, Safari will automatically be clearing your browsing history after the period you selected. 

Reset Your Safari Website Data

Having cleared the cache and browsing history, now you should reset the website data to reset the Safari browser on Mac. To clear your Safari website data, you should: 

Step 1: Launch the Safari browser on your Mac. Step 2: Click on Safari—towards the top-left corner of the Safari homepage. Step 3: Select the Settings/Preferences option and then navigate to the Privacy tab. Next, click on Manage Website Data 

Step 4: before clicking Remove All —at the bottom-left corner.

Step 5: Finally, click on the Remove Now button to confirm this operation.

Reset, Uninstall, or Disable Safari Extensions and Plug-ins 

Both extensions and plug-ins add to the functionality of the Safari browser. However, some may malfunction and affect the functioning of the browser. When that happens, you need to troubleshoot and uninstall or disable problematic extensions or plug-ins. 

To fully reset Safari, you need to get rid of the extensions and plug-ins that have been added to the browser as well. 

To Remove Extensions on Safari:  

Launch the Safari browser then click on Safari —positioned on the top-left corner. Next, select the Settings/Preferences option then open the Extensions tab. This should display a list of extensions that are currently installed on Safari. Click on any one of them then click the Extensions button. 

Follow on-screen prompts to uninstall the extension. Repeat this for each extension until you have uninstalled all the extensions on this list. 

To Remove Safari Plug-Ins:

Launch the Safari browser, then click on Safari —on the top-left corner of the homepage. Select Preferences and then navigate to the Security tab. Click on the Allow Plug-ins option to untick it. 

How Do You Reset Safari on Mac Terminal?

If you fancy running some commands in Terminal, you can use this method to reset the Safari browser to default settings on Mac. If you’d rather use Terminal to reset Safari on Mac, here is how you should go about it: 

Step 1: Launch a new Terminal window on your Mac as follows: Applications > Utilities > Terminal  Step 2: To avoid losing data, you could save your bookmarks before resting Safari. In this regard, you need to run the following command on the new Terminal window: 

Step 3: You can now begin resetting Safari by force quitting the browser. To do this, run the following command on the Terminal: 

Step 4: With this method, you also need to clear Safari cookies, Cache, and folders to reset the browser. You can do that by running the following commands, one after the other, on your Mac Terminal: 

Press the Return key to run the command. 

Hit the Return key to run it.

Press Return to run this command. 

Step 5: Now that you’ve cleared your Safari cookies, cache, preferences, you can proceed to clear the more stubborn files. To accomplish this, run the following commands on your Mac Terminal, one after the other. 

Note : Remember to press the Return key after entering each of the commands into Terminal and them wait for it to execute before running the next command. 

These are the commands you should run to reset the Safari browser using Terminal: 

Copy and paste each of the lines onto Terminal separately and run it before entering the next line. 

Step 6: At this point, the browser should have been successfully reset to factory settings. Now you can restore the bookmarks you saved in step #2 above. However, this step is optional. If you’d like to restore your saved bookmarks, run the filling commands: 

Press Return to execute this command. Once your Mac is done running this command, copy and paste the following onto your Mac Terminal: 

You have successfully reset Safari on Mac Terminal. Launch the Safari app and start afresh as though it was newly installed onto your Mac. 

Final Verdict  

With time, the temporary files created by Safari may accumulate on your Mac or become corrupted. This may cause the browser to malfunction. For instance, it may cause the browser to become slow and sluggish, or even crash. 

To fix such issues, you need to reset the browser to its default settings. Since Safari no longer has a built-in Reset button, you just have to do it manually. In this regard, you need to clear Safari preferences, extensions, plug-ins, cookies, and cache files separately. 

This may sound painstakingly slow, but this guide includes the commands you can use to reset Safari on Mac Terminal.

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Safari: How to reset the browser to factory settings

You want to reset Safari on your Mac or MacBook? It only takes a few steps. We show you how to reset the browser to factory settings.

Safari may not be the world’s most popular browser, but for many Apple users it comes as standard. In January, Apple’s browser achieved a global market share of 9.3 per cent. This puts Safari in third place in the overall ranking behind Google’s Chrome and Microsoft’s Edge.

But what happens when the browser doesn’t work properly? Sometimes it’s worth resetting it completely to the factory settings. We show you how to reset Safari to the default settings.

Reset Safari to factory settings

Before you restore your browser to its original factory settings, there is one thing you should consider first. It is advisable to export saved passwords and bookmarks before resetting.

Once you have set up the browser again, you can import your old content without any problems. This saves you the hassle of creating new ones.

How to get back to the default settings

How you reset your Safari browser to factory settings depends on your operating system. Older versions allow you to reset Safari with just a few clicks.

Once the browser is open, click on Safari. Here you will find the sub-item “Reset Safari”. In the window that opens, you can select which of the settings should be reset.

If you have installed a newer operating system on your Mac, it will unfortunately be a little more complicated. In this case, various settings have to be made individually.

Resetting Safari with a newer operating system

If your Mac or MacBook is running a newer operating system, you have to delete the browsing history, cache and so on individually. Follow the instructions below.

To clear your browsing history

In your open Safari browser, click History in the menu bar. At the bottom of the menu that pops up, you will find the item “Clear history …”.

In this window you can choose whether you want to remove your entire browsing history or just the last hour, today or today and yesterday. Once you have decided on an option, you only have to confirm by clicking on “Delete history”.

Reset Safari browser cache

To clear your cache in Safari, you must first integrate the menu item “Developer” into your user interface. To do this, click on Safari and open the settings.

In the “Advanced” sub-item, place a check mark next to “Show ‘Developer’ menu in menu bar”. The additional menu will now appear at the top of your browser screen.

Here you can also reset this item to the standard settings via the item “Empty cache memory”.

Resetting cookies and plug-ins

Stored cookies or installed plug-ins can also slow down or disrupt your browser. If you want to reset Safari to the factory settings, you must also take these two points into account.

To delete all stored cookies, open the settings of your browser again. In the sub-item “Data protection”, place a tick next to “Block all cookies”.

Also in your settings, but via the menu item “Extensions”, you can view your installed plug-ins and also deactivate them.

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How-To Geek

How to reset your web browser to its default settings.

Want to reset your web browser to its default settings? You can't necessarily just uninstall it -- your personal files will stay on your computer.

Quick Links

Google chrome, mozilla firefox, internet explorer.

Want to reset your web browser to its default settings? You can't necessarily just uninstall it -- your personal files will stay on your computer. And if your browser is Internet Explorer, it can't be uninstalled at all.

Resetting your browser to its default state can often fix problems. For example, a program you install may change your search engine, install toolbars, and do other unwelcome things. Or you may have accidentally changed advanced settings on your own.

Google Chrome has an option that will reset itself to its default settings. To find this option, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the browser window and select "Settings". Start typing "reset settings" in the search box. Settings matching the search term start displaying. Click the Perform a search for "reset browser" and you'll see the Reset browser settings button.

The Reset settings dialog box displays, telling you what resetting your settings will do. Click "Reset" if you're sure you want to reset your Chrome settings.

NOTE: You could also just plug chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings into Chrome's address bar to pull up the Reset Settings dialog box.

Related: How to Troubleshoot Google Chrome Crashes

Use this option and Google Chrome will erase almost everything: your extensions, settings, cookies, history, home page, default search engine, and more. Chrome won't delete your bookmarks, browsing history, or saved passwords, so your important personal data will be kept.

Learn more about troubleshooting Google Chrome crashes if resetting your Chrome settings didn't solve your problem.

Firefox also allows you to return it to its default state. To do so, click the Firefox menu button in the upper-right corner of the browser window and click "Open Help Menu".

Select "Troubleshooting Information" from the slide-out Help menu.

Click "Refresh Firefox" under Give Firefox a tune up in the gray box in the upper-right corner of the Troubleshooting Information page.

NOTE: You can also enter "about:support" (without the quotes) in the address bar to access the Troubleshooting Information page.

Click "Refresh Firefox" on the dialog box that displays. Firefox will erase your extensions and themes, browser preferences, search engines, site-specific preferences, and other browser settings. However, Firefox will attempt to preserve your bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, saved form history, saved passwords, cookies, and windows and tabs you had open.

Related: How to Troubleshoot Mozilla Firefox Crashes

The Refresh feature resets Firefox by creating a new profile for you and copying the important data from the old profile into the new one. Your old profile is placed on the desktop in a folder titled "Old Firefox Data." If you lose important data in the reset, you can attempt to recover it from this folder. If you don't need the folder, you're free to delete it.

Consult our guide to troubleshooting Firefox crashes for more information.

Firefox restarts and a message displays. Choose whether you want to restore all the windows and tabs you had open, or only the ones you want and click "Let's go!"

Internet Explorer has the ability to reset its settings to the default ones. If you're using Windows 8, resetting Internet Explorer on the desktop will also reset Modern Internet Explorer's settings.

To do this, open the Internet Explorer desktop app, click the gear menu in the upper-right corner of the browser window, and select "Internet options" from the drop-down menu.

Click the "Advanced" tab and then click "Reset" at the bottom. Internet Explorer warns you that "You should only use this if your browser is in an unusable state." but that's just to dissuade you from wiping out all your personal settings unless it's absolutely necessary.

Internet Explorer will disable browser add-ons and erase browser, privacy, security, and pop-up settings. If you also want to reset your home page and search providers, as well as delete temporary files, history entries, and cookies, select the "Delete personal settings" check box so there is a check mark in the box. Then, click "Reset".

Your favorites and feeds won't be erased. However, passwords you've saved in Internet Explorer will be deleted.

A dialog box displays showing the reset progress. Once it's done, click "Close".

Related: How to Troubleshoot Internet Explorer Crashes

After resetting Internet Explorer, you'll have to restart your computer for your changes to take effect.

Read more about troubleshooting Internet Explorer crashes if you still experience problems.

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How to change google browser back to safari iPhone 11 Pro Max

How to change google browser back to safari iPhone 11pm max

Posted on Nov 9, 2021 11:53 AM

Posted on Nov 9, 2021 12:04 PM

Hello. If you want to change your iPhone's default web browser back to Safari, you can do so by following the steps here . If you instead want to change the search engine for Safari, you can change this on your iPhone at Settings  > Safari > Search Engine .

Similar questions

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Nov 9, 2021 12:04 PM in response to karijw1

Nov 9, 2021 12:08 PM in response to karijw1

Go to Settings>Browser Name>Default Browser App>Safari.

How to Reset Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Safari no longer has a reset button. This means that if you want Safari to return to its default settings, you would have to find a workaround.

This workaround will require that you take multiple steps to remove the history, clear the cache and disable extensions and plugins, and other aspects of the browser.

In this guide, we share with you how to take all these steps and effectively reset Safari to its default settings.

1. Reset Safari on iPhone and iPad

To reset Safari settings on your iPhone or iPad, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings from the Home screen.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap “Safari”.

Step 3: Then tap “Clear History and Website Data”.

Step 4: Tap “Clear History and Data” again to confirm.

2. Reset Safari on Mac

2.1. remove browser history.

While your browser history can help you auto-complete URLS and other items while browsing, it is often a good idea to clear your browser history for privacy reasons. Deleting your browser history resets the browser by deleting the following:

• All webpage history
• The sites that aren’t marked as permanent
• All cookies and website data
• A list of all the downloads
• Recent searches
• Any sites added to Quick Website Search

To remove the browser history, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Open Safari and then select “History > Clear History and Website Data”. Then click “Clear history” in the popup that appears. You can also click on Safari > Clear History to do it.

Step 2: If you would like to clear the history for a particular period of time, then you must select a value in the “Clear” dropdown menu.

Step 3: If you want to clear a particular website, go to History > Show History and then select the website before clicking “Delete”.

2.2. Clear Your Safari Cache

You can also clear your Safari cache. When you do this, Safari will forget any websites stored and reloads each page you visit. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced and then click on “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.

Step 2: Go back to the browser window and then click “Develop > Empty Caches.

2.3. Turn Off Plugins within Safari

To turn off the plugins within Safari, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Open the Preferences window in Safari and then click on the “Websites” tab.

Step 2: Uncheck the box next to each plugin to turn them off.

2.4. Delete Extensions

Finally, you may want to disable or delete the extension. Disabling them is much easier than deleting them since all you have to do is go to Safari > Preferences > Website and deselect the plugins you no longer want to use.

But if you want to delete them completely, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Close Safari.

Step 2: Go to this path: “/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/” or “~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/”.

Step 3: Use Cmd-A to select all plugins and then press “Delete” to remove them.

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How to Restore a Web Browser's Settings

Last Updated: May 30, 2023

Google Chrome

Microsoft edge.

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 92,245 times. Learn more...

Is your web browser behaving strangely? If it's freezing up, opening the wrong search engine, behaving differently upon opening links, or doing anything else you're not used to, you may want to start fresh. Most web browsers have a quick "Reset" or "Refresh" button that allows you to quickly bring your browser back to its original default settings—you won't even lose your bookmarks, passwords, or AutoFill data when you reset! This wikiHow teaches you how to restore your web browser back to the way it was when you first launched it on your PC or Mac.

Things You Should Know

• Restore Chrome's settings by opening the Advanced section of its Settings menu and clicking Restore settings to their original defaults .
• Click Reset settings towards the bottom of the left-hand panel in your Microsoft Edge settings.
• Type about:support into your Firefox search bar and click the Reset Firefox... button.

• Resetting the browser will not affect your saved passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history.

• When you reset Edge, your startup page, new tab page, search preferences, pinned tabs, cookies, and extensions will all be deleted. Resetting will not delete your bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information.

• Safari doesn't have a singular "Reset" button like other browsers. Despite this, you can reset all of the settings manually.
• If you just want to delete your browsing history, cache, and cookies, click the History menu at the top of the screen, select Clear History… , choose a time period, and then click Clear History .

• "Safari opens with:" A new window
• "New windows open with:" Favorites
• "New tabs open with:" Favorites
• "Homepage:" https://www.apple.com
• "Remove history items:" After one year
• "Favorites shows:" Favorites
• "Top Sites shows:" 12 sites
• "File download location:" Downloads
• "Remove download list items:" After one day
• The box next to "Open "safe" files after downloading" is also checked by default.

• Select Automatically from "Open pages in tabs instead of windows."
• Check the boxes next to "Command-click opens a link in a new tab" and "Use Command-1 through Command-9 to switch tabs." You'll see the Command key symbol instead of the word "Command," though.
• Remove any other checkmarks.

• To reset this tab to the defaults, simply check every box on the page.

• Check the box next to "Prevent cross-site tracking."
• Remove the checkmark (if there is one) from "Block all cookies."
• Check the box next to "Apple Pay and Apple Card."

• Go through each of the options on the left panel to see which websites you've given access to the named tools. By default, no websites are listed.
• To remove a website, click its name and select Remove .
• Repeat for all tabs in the left panel.

• To remove an extension, click its name, and then click Uninstall .
• Repeat for all installed extensions.

• The only checkbox that should have a checkmark is the one next to "Internet plug-ins." All the others should be unchecked.
• Select None selected from the "Style sheet" menu.
• Select Western (ISO Latin 1) from the "Default encoding" menu.

• Resetting Firefox will remove all extensions, themes, customizations, and preferences. [1] X Research source It will not affect your saved passwords, browsing history, downloads, or autofill information.

• Resetting opera will not affect your bookmarks, history, or saved passwords. When resetting, you'll just be removing any customizations you've made to the browser (including pinned tabs and search engine preferences), as well as remove any extensions you've installed. It'll also remove your cookies and cache.

Community Q&A

• Resetting your browser does not remove passwords, bookmarks/favorites, autofill data, or other irreplaceable data. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings

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Why Is Safari So Slow on iPhone & iPad

What to know.

• Why is Safari so slow lately? You may have a weak cellular or Wi-Fi signal or too many tabs open.
• If Safari is slow still, open the Safari app, touch and hold the tabs icon, and tap Close All (#) Tabs.
• You can also open Settings, tap General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Reset Network Settings. 

Why is Safari so slow on my iPhone? If Safari is slow to load, you may have too many tabs open or not enough iPad or iPhone storage available. There are a few other ways to fix Safari acting slow, too. Read on to find out!

Check Your Internet Speed

Close all safari tabs, clear browsing history and data, check iphone or ipad storage, reset network settings.

You need a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection on your iPhone or iPad, or Safari will run slowly. To check your Wi-Fi or cellular connection, look at the symbols at the top-right of your screen. 

The four vertical bars represent your iPhone's cellular connection. The more bars are white, the stronger the connection. If only one or no bars are white, Safari will run extremely slowly or not at all. You may also see 5G, 4G, or 3G, depending on your iPhone model, and whether or not your cellular carrier offers those speeds. If you're relying on your cellular connection alone for your internet connection, Safari may still be slow if the network is congested or you've used or almost used up your data for the month. 

The pie slice-shaped icon to the right of the cellular connection bars represents your iPhone's Wi-Fi signal. The more white bars you see, the stronger your connection. If you aren't connected to a Wi-Fi network or are out of range of the network you are connected to, you'll see LTE instead. This means that your iPhone is relying on its cellular connection to browse the web.

If you think there's a problem with your cellular connection, we have a troubleshooting article on what to do if your data is not working on your iPhone or iPad. We also have an article about how to fix it if your Wi-Fi is slow . 

Back to Top

If Safari is running slowly, it may be because you have too many tabs open. Close all Safari tabs and see if Safari speeds up! If you regularly leave multiple tabs open, you can set Safari tabs to close automatically on a regular schedule. 

Safari slow to load still? Try the next step.

Safari acting slow still? It's time to clear the browsing history and data on your iPhone or iPad. We can also offer guidance if you  can't clear your Safari browsing data .

Safari browser slow still? Read on!

If Safari is slow after the previous steps, check your iPad or iPhone storage and optimize storage if needed. There's no hard and fast rule for how much storage should be free, but I've found that keeping roughly 25% of my storage free keeps things running quickly and smoothly. 

Safari loading slowly still? There's one more thing to try!

There's one more thing to try if you want to make Safari run faster: reset your network settings. 

I hope these tips helped Safari run faster on your iPhone or iPad. If not, please contact Apple Support . Also, be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Safari tutorials!

• What if Safari is not working on my iPhone at all? If Safari isn't working on your iPhone or iPad, make sure you have a strong cellular or Wi-Fi connection. You can also check to see if you've set Screen Time limits for Safari, and clear your Safari history and browsing data.
• Can you tell me what to do when Safari says Safari cannot open the page? Yes, we can help you fix that! We have a troubleshooting article on how to fix the "Safari cannot open the page"  error message. Solutions include removing extensions, clearing your Safari cache, and more.
• Why is my Google search not working? If you're having trouble with Google not showing search results , close and reopen the app, and make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection. You can also make sure the app is updated, reboot your iPhone, and more.

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays has over a dozen years of experience writing for online publications. As a Feature Writer for iPhone Life, she has authored hundreds of how-to, Apple news, and gear review articles, as well as a comprehensive Photos App guide. Leanne holds degrees in education and science and loves troubleshooting and repair. This combination makes her a perfect fit as manager of our Ask an Expert service, which helps iPhone Life Insiders with Apple hardware and software issues. In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.

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