safari search extension

How to use Safari extensions on your iPhone and iPad

Along with some extensions to try.

By Barbara Krasnoff , a reviews editor who manages how-tos. She’s worked as an editor and writer for almost 40 years. Previously, she was a senior reviews editor for Computerworld.

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One of the handiest types of software in anyone’s quiver is the browser extension: those cool little applets that let your browser do what you want it to do. And one of the nicest things about iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 is that you can now add extensions to the Safari browser. Even though this is a new feature that launched with the latest iOS version, there are already a number of useful extensions available for you to add.

What follows is a rundown on how to add extensions to your Safari app — while we’ve illustrated the process using an iPhone, you can follow the same basic directions with an iPad. We’ve also included a sampling of some extensions you can try.

How to add extensions

• Tap on the Settings app.
• Scroll down to and select Safari > Extensions.
• Any extensions that you’ve already installed will be listed here. Tap on “More Extensions” if you’d like to see what’s available in the App Store. (You can also simply go to the App Store and search on “Safari Extensions.”)

• Once you’ve installed your first extension, you’ll see a little “puzzle piece” icon on the left side of Safari’s address bar. Tap that, and the menu that pops up will include your current extensions plus a “Manage Extensions” selection, which lets you toggle your extensions on and off.

Some extensions to try

This is a small sampling of some of the extensions that you can now access via the App Store. While there are not many extensions yet available (compared to the number of extensions for, say, Chrome), it’s a pretty safe bet that there will be lots more to come over the next few months.

Amplosion ($2.99)

AMP, which is short for “Accelerated Mobile Pages,” is a web format created by Google to optimize search results for mobile browsers. However, if you’d rather not have Google tweaking the webpages you upload, you can use Amplosion to redirect the AMP links that show up in search results into normal mobile links.

Noir ($2.99)

When you’re browsing at night and you’ve set your iPhone or iPad to dark mode, you will often hit a website that is bright enough to make your eyes water. Noir allows you to set a dark mode for all the websites you visit.

1Password (subscription needed)

1Password is a well-known and respected password manager . If you’re a 1Password user, there’s no question that you’re going to want to add this one to your mobile Safari app.

Super Agent for Safari (free)

This handy extension automatically fills out a website’s cookie consent forms based on your preferences, which can save you a lot of time and irritation.

Web Inspector (free)

Something for developers: an app that lets you inspect the HTML coding of a website, modify it, debug it, and perform other essential tasks.

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How-To Geek

How to install and use safari extensions on iphone and ipad.

Safari extensions are a powerful new feature in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Let's take a look at how to install, enable, and start using them.

Quick Links

What are safari extensions on iphone and ipad, how to find and install safari extensions on iphone and ipad, how to enable safari extensions on iphone and ipad, how to use safari extensions on iphone and ipad.

Apple introduced a few interesting features with iOS and iPadOS 15, but one of the most useful is extension support in Safari. The upgrade levels it with its desktop counterpart in terms of power, and you can take advantage of that power now.

Safari extensions on your iPhone or iPad work very similarly to extensions on the macOS version of Safari. They have the same level of power as desktop extensions, giving you much more control of your web browsing experience than has ever been possible in iOS or iPadOS before.

Apple introduced support for these extensions in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, so before you start using them, you'll need to update your device to iOS or iPadOS 15 or later.

Installing Safari extensions is an easy process on both iPhone and iPad. The process of actually finding them can be a little tricky. Some extensions, like the 1Password extension , are included with the app, while others are standalone extensions.

Either way, you'll find extensions in the App Store. As of September 2021, there isn't a separate section for extensions, so you'll need to look at a listing in the App Store to see whether it includes an extension or not.

To install the 1Password extension, for example, you would open the App Store, then search for "1Password" in the search bar at the top of the screen. Then you tap the app's listing and scroll down until you see the Supports section.

If an app either is an extension or includes one, you'll see "Safari Extension" listed under the Supports heading. Install the app, and it will install the extension alongside it.

To browse a selection of the available extensions, you can open settings, scroll down to the Safari settings, then go to Extensions. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap More Extensions to see a list of extensions within the App Store.

This isn't a complete list of Safari extensions, but it's a nice starting point to see what's available.

One tricky aspect of Safari extensions on both iOS and iPadOS is that they aren't enabled by default. Before you can actually use an extension, you'll need to enable it.

The process is the same on both iPhone and iPad. Open Settings, select the Safari settings menu, then tap Extensions.

Under Allow These Extensions, you'll see a list of all the extensions you've installed and whether they're enabled or not. To enable an extension, tap on it, then enable the option slider at the top of the screen.

If there are any Permissions settings for a given extension, they'll appear at the bottom of the screen after you enable it. For 1Password, for example, you'll see a list of websites you've allowed the extension on as well as the option to enable it on all websites.

Some extensions like content blockers work in the background, so you never need to actively use them. Other extensions have options or functionality you want to use within Safari.

Fortunately, using these extensions is as easy on iPhone and iPad as it is on Safari on a Mac. That said, the process differs slightly between iPhone and iPad.

Using Safari Extensions on iPhone

Starting with iOS 15, the Safari navigation bar has moved to the bottom of the screen, though you can move it back to its original home if you prefer. No matter where the navigation bar is for you, find it and tap the website settings (double A) icon.

In the menu that appears, you'll see Manage Extensions near the top. Below it, you'll see some of the extensions you've enabled. Tap an extension here to use it.

In the case of 1Password, for example, if you tap its menu entry, the app will prompt you for your master password, then show you available logins for the website you're currently browsing.

Using Safari Extensions on iPad

Using extensions in Safari on iPad is easier. In the navigation bar at the top of the screen, you'll see a puzzle-piece icon that will bring up the Manage Extensions screen.

You'll also see icons for certain extensions, almost as you would in a desktop browser. Tap an extension's icon to use it or to access certain settings.

With your extensions set up, you may also be interested in using widgets on your iPad Home Screen .

Related: How to Use Home Screen Widgets on iPad

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

DuckDuckGo Help Pages

How to get duckduckgo / get the duckduckgo browser extension, how to get the duckduckgo safari extension.

Did you mean iOS Safari instead?

Installing Our Extension

• DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension : Changes your browser search engine to DuckDuckGo Search, along with other privacy benefits such as tracker blocking and encrypted website connections (where possible). Learn more about our Web Tracking Protections .

Changing Your Search Engine to DuckDuckGo

Click here for instructions on how to change the default search engine in Safari

However, please know that if you just use the search engine, we cannot offer our web tracking protections when you visit other web sites. To get that protection, you need to use our extension or browser. Our free web browser is available for Mac , Windows , iOS , and Android . It comes with seamless privacy protection built-in, including private search , tracker blocking , increased encryption , email protection , and more.

Best Safari extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac in 2023

Extensions continue to play a key part in adding third-party functionality to Safari . They’re often great ways to boost productivity, security, and privacy to a rather barebones browsing experience. But with the hundreds of Safari extensions available across different devices, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s a list of my top picks.

Tables of Contents

Pipifier – picture-in-picture for any video, stopthemadness – take back your web browser, duckduckgo – real-time website privacy grades, grammarly – i can’t imagine life before, 1password – cheap and great for otps too, keyword search – search sites with just a keyword, momentum – focus and inspiration start pages, bonus: wayback machine.

PiPifier is a native Safari extension that lets you view any HTML5 video as a PiP (Picture-in-Picture). With the extension installed, you must pull up a video (YouTube, Twitch, Netflix, etc.), and click the Pipifier icon on the toolbar.

Overall, PiPifier brings a familiar experience we’re used to on iPhone and iPad, as a pretty smooth workaround for PiP videos. I’ve yet to run into a video that wasn’t compatible, though sometimes it can take a few minutes for the button to light up (become available) on larger files, such as movies.

Price: Free

Compatibility: Mac (macOS 10.12 or later)

StopTheMadness is likely the most capable and quirky extension on this list. Notability, it overrides websites’ attempts to lock out browser features such as ⌘-key keyboard shortcuts, drag and drop, AutoFill of usernames, passwords, and emails, selecting the text, and the list goes on.

It also removes tracking tags such as utm_source from URLs and prevents clickjacking in Gmail, Facebook, and others.

One of my favorite features is its ability to stop URL shorteners. StopTheMadness checks the links you click in Safari for well-known link shorteners like bit.ly and tinyurl.com, and loads the unshortened destination instead of the shortened URL. This occurs without the extension using cookies or site data; therefore, your click can’t be tracked.

Price: $7.99-$9.99

Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac (macOS 10.12 or later)

It’s no secret that Apple continues to beef up its privacy and tracking game. So much so that one might ask if extensions like DuckDuckGo are still needed. The company continues to be one of the leading players in the realm of private browsing, and its Safari extension is a cherry on top.

Not only does DuckDuckGo’s extension provide another layer of privacy protection when browsing, but also packs a unique feature called Privacy Grade. A real-time indicator that appears in the Safari toolbar and gives you insights into the privacy practices of websites you visit. I personally love having this privacy grade available at a glance for the sake of transparency.

Compatibility: Mac (macOS 11 or later)

With a rapidly growing user base of over 30 million daily active users, this extension needs no introduction. Grammarly is one of those applications that you install and can’t imagine life without.

When installed, virtually anywhere you write text in Safari, you’ll see the Grammarly icon in the bottom or upper right, giving you real-time feedback. Helping with spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, tone, and clarity, it’s a win for anyone with a keyboard.

Price: Freemium

Compatibility: Mac (macOS 10.12.4 or later)

1Password is also one that you may be familiar with. It’s arguably the best password manager around, with a handy Safari extension to quickly access existing passwords in your vault or even create new ones on the fly. You can also store software licenses and other vital info as well.

As a cybersecurity major, I can say 1Password’s security is good – really good. Of course, the most secure way to store passwords is nowhere at all, but end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption, AES-GCM-256 authenticated encryption, and PBKDF2 for password hashing are everything I could ask for in a password manager.

Price: 14-day free trial, $2.99/monthly

Compatibility: Mac (macOS 10.12.6 or later)

Keyword Search is a game-changing time saver. The Safari extension allows you to set up direct searches with any search engine by using a phrase as simple as typing “a.”

I set up the letter “a” in the demo below to direct me to AirPods on Amazon. It’s as easy as opening the Keyword Search extension in Safari, entering a destination URL and a hot phrase. Others I have are “news,” directing me to CNN through DuckDuckGo, and “space,” taking me to 9to5Mac’s sister site, Space Explored .

Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac (macOS 11.0 or later)

Momentum replaces the boring grey start pages that Safari gives you, with an inspiring dashboard featuring weather updates, motivational quotes, to-do lists, and beautiful wallpaper. I’ve been using Momentum for the past few months, and it can be a great feel-good mood and productivity booster in those early mornings.

Some key features include:

• Ability to set daily a goal/focus/intention
• Quick weather and forecast info
• Motivational quotes
• Setting your uptime and downtime with Balance mode
• Creating and managing tasks with a built-in to-do list

Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac (macOS 10.12 or later)

The Wayback Machine is a non-profit initiative that has set out to archive the Internet. Visitors can type in a URL, select a date range, and then begin surfing on an archived version of that site from virtually any point in time.

The Safari extension allows you to do everything the main site does without leaving your current window. You can also screenshot, archive, and directly share pages with it.

Wayback Machine is ultimately just a fun way to kill time by going back and seeing how a website has changed over the years.

Top comment by John

Compatibility: Mac (macOS 10.14 or later)

These are just some of the best Safari extensions out there so far this year, but I couldn’t conclude the list without a few honorable mentions, such as AdBlocker Pro , Tweaks for Twitter , and Step Two .

Do you have a favorite extension, not on this list? Let us know in the comments.

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iOS 15 Safari Guide: Tabs, Extensions, Search Bar, and Other Changes

Apple's Safari app has undergone a number of changes during the iOS 15 beta testing process. Apple started out with a radical new design that moved the address bar from the top of the app's interface and introduced a floating tab bar, but after a multitude of complaints, there were several redesigns that culminated in an option to undo the iOS 15 design entirely.

play Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. This guide walks through all of the features added in the iOS 15 Safari app, including those new design options.

Design Changes

Safari started out with a new floating tab design that moved the address bar and tabs to the bottom of the iPhone interface, but now the design change is optional.

You can get to webpage settings by tapping on the Aa, or reload a page by tapping on the reload button. With this Tab Bar interface, when you scroll through a webpage, the entire Tab Bar collapses down so you can see more of the website. You can bring it back up with a tap.

If you choose "Single Tab" instead of "Tab Bar," the address bar and tabs will remain at the top of the Safari window, which is how iOS 14 works. The design of the Single Tab option is unchanged from iOS 14, with the same control bar available at the bottom of the interface. You can't swipe through tabs using the Single Tab interface and will instead need to use the Tab Switcher.

You can swap between the bottom Tab Bar and the Single Tab interface by tapping on the "Aa" button that's next to any URL.

• How to Move iOS 15 Safari's Address Search Bar Back to Top

Website Tinting

Available in the Settings app, Allow Website Tinting matches the collapsed Safari address bar interface to the website's colors to make it blend in better with the background.

• How to Turn Off Website Tinting in Safari

Landscape Tab Bar

With the new Landscape Tab Bar setting, when you use your ‌iPhone‌ in landscape mode with Safari, you'll see a Mac-style tab bar that shows all of your open tabs, and you can swipe through them.

Pull to Refresh

A downward swipe on any webpage in iOS 15 will refresh the page, and this is an alternative to having to tap on the reload icon.

• iOS 15: How to Quickly Refresh a Webpage in Safari

Tabs in iOS 15 can be saved into Tab Groups, which offers a way to preserve a set of tabs you have open without having to have those tabs active.

To make a Tab Group, just open up all of the websites that you want to include, tap on the Tabs button with the down arrow, and then tap New Tab Group from [#] Tabs. You can also use this option to create a New Empty Tab Group that tabs can be added to later. Long press on any open tab (or the main address bar if you have the single tab view enabled) to add it to a Tab Group.

To load up a Tab Group, tap on the Tabs button and then tap on the name of the group in the list. All of your Tab Groups sync across your devices so you can access them on iPhones and iPads running iOS and iPadOS 15 as well as on Macs running macOS Monterey.

• iOS 15: How to Use Tab Groups in Safari

Tab Overview Grid

In iOS 14, all of your open tabs are displayed in a card-like interface that you can swipe through, but in iOS 15, open tabs are displayed in a grid view.

Customizable Start Page

Safari is more customizable in iOS 15, and you can edit what's available on your start page. This is a feature that has been available on macOS, but is now also available on iOS devices.

You can choose to have the start page show Favorites, Frequently Visited sites, Shared With You content, Privacy Report info, Siri Suggestions, Reading List, and iCloud Tabs.

There's an option to use the same Start Page appearance across all devices, and a toggle to upload the background image of your choice.

• iOS 15: How to Customize Your Safari Start Page

Intelligent Tracking Prevention Improvements

With updates to Intelligent Tracking Prevention, the feature that keeps websites from tracking your web activity, trackers are now blocked from accessing your IP address to build a profile on you.

• iOS 15: How to Hide Your IP Address From Trackers in Safari

HTTPS Upgrade

Safari in iOS 15 automatically upgrades sites that are known to support HTTPS from HTTP, which is insecure.

iCloud Private Relay

‌iCloud‌ Private Relay is a privacy feature that makes sure all of your Safari traffic is encrypted.

As explained in our privacy guide , ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay protects your IP address and de-links it from the websites that you visit by utilizing two separate internet relays.

By having a two-step process that involves both an Apple server and a third-party server, ‌‌iCloud‌‌ Private Relay prevents anyone, including Apple, from determining a user's identity and linking it to the website the user is visiting.

With this system, Apple knows your IP address and the third-party partner knows the site you're visiting, and because the information is de-linked, neither Apple nor the partner company has a complete picture of the site you're visiting and your location, and neither does the website you're browsing. Normally websites have access to this data and combined with cookies, can use it to build a profile of your preferences.

Web Extensions

Safari in iOS 15 supports web extensions, with web extensions able to be downloaded and installed through the App Store . Available extensions include content blockers, VPNs, and more.

• iOS 15: How to Download and Install Safari Web Extensions

With iOS 15, iPhones and iPads are able to use a new Live Text feature to detect text in any image, and this includes images that you find in Safari.

• How to Copy and Paste Text From Photos
• How to Translate Text in Photos

Shared With You

Shared With You, a new option available on the Safari start page, aggregates all of the links that you've been sent in the Messages app and other social networking apps that support the Shared With You feature.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the new Safari changes in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here .

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The landscape view in MacRumors looks amazing! Safari looks so modern now. Just brilliant!

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How to Find, Install, and Remove Safari Extensions on Mac

Just like Chrome and Firefox, Safari has a vast array of extensions available to expand its features and improve browsing.

As with many web browsers, you can add a ton of new functions and features to Safari using extensions. There are Safari extensions for just about everything you can think of, including password management, ad blocking, and tab management. There are also extensions that automatically look for voucher codes when you reach the checkout on shopping sites, and others that help you manage your time.

But where can you find Safari extensions? And once you’ve found them, how do you install them? And if you don’t need extensions anymore, how do you uninstall them?

In this guide, we’ll run through everything you need to know.

A Word of Caution About Extensions

Safari is a fast and lightweight browser, but the more extensions you install, the slower it’s likely to become. If you install a lot of extensions, you may find your Mac’s performance suffers.

For that reason, you should consider how useful an extension will be before you install it. If you do add a lot of extensions to Safari, consider disabling ones you’re not currently using (check out the Disabling or Uninstalling Safari Extensions section below). This can help to improve Safari’s speed and performance .

Finding and Installing Safari Extensions

Apple overhauled the Safari extensions system a few years ago, discontinuing the Safari Extensions Gallery. This helps Apple to keep users safe from rogue extensions, but it also means a lot of old extensions aren’t available anymore. Now, if you want to find and add Safari extensions, you only really have one choice—the Mac App Store.

To find Safari extensions, open the App Store , then select Categories from the side menu. Now, click Safari Extensions . You can also get there by selecting Safari > Safari Extensions in the Safari menu bar.

Now you can browse through the available extensions or use the search bar in the top left of the App Store to look for them. Unfortunately, you can’t limit your search to only Safari extensions. And it’s not always clear whether you’re looking at a Safari extension or a standalone macOS app.

To add an extension, download or buy it as you would with any app in the App Store. When it’s downloaded, click Open .

You can now follow the prompts to enable the extension in Safari. Alternatively, you can open Safari and enable your new extensions there. You might see a message at the top of the browser that says you have new extensions. Click View Extensions .

You can also select Safari > Preferences from the menu bar, and open the Extensions section. Find your new extension, and click the checkbox. Hit Turn On .

Disabling or Uninstalling Safari Extensions

You can disable or uninstall Safari extensions you don’t use anymore. If you’re experiencing problems in Safari, you may want to disable all your extensions and then re-enable them one by one. This can help you determine if an extension is causing the problem, and which one. If you decide you don’t want an extension at all anymore, you can uninstall it.

It’s a good idea to close all your open tabs in Safari before disabling or uninstalling extensions. If you have a lot of tabs open (maybe because you’re using Tab Groups ), Safari’s performance worsens noticeably when you disable or uninstall an extension. Each open tab has to adjust to no longer having that extension active, especially when that tab was using the extension.

To disable or uninstall an extension go to Safari > Preferences , then click Extensions .

Uncheck an extension in the list on the left to disable it. To uninstall an extension, select it in the list, then click the Uninstall button.

You might see a message telling you the extension is part of an app, which you’ll need to remove. Click Show in Finder .

Delete the app as you would with any app, by dragging it to the Trash or pressing Cmd + Backspace .

Go Beyond Safari

If you can’t find the Safari extension you’re looking for, then it might be worth trying a different browser. Other Mac web browsers, like Chrome and Firefox, have plenty of options when it comes to extensions. There’s a good chance at least one of those browsers will have what you’re after.

The closure of the Safari Extensions Gallery is disappointing, but there are still lots of great extensions to choose from. And as this guide shows, installing and uninstalling them is straightforward.

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9 Best Safari Extensions of 2024

Add more functionality to Safari

• Swansea University, Staffordshire University

Like Chrome , Safari isn't just a stagnant web browser, it also has additional functionality via its Safari Extension plugins which take seconds to install . A form of add-on, Safari extensions now come bundled with relevant Mac apps, as well as via the App Store. 

Whether you're looking for productivity hacks, easy ways of saving money on your shopping, or ways to make your browsing experience more pleasant, there's a Safari extension for you.

Looking for great Chrome extensions? There are plenty out there.

Grammar Checker: Grammarly

Simple and clear writing suggestions.

You need a subscription to get the most from it.

Grammarly is there for those times when you're not quite sure if your spelling or grammar is up to scratch. It highlights issues via a red line underneath a word and allows you to easily correct them, whether you happen to be typing a Facebook status or a blog post. It's a useful service that's like a little nudge in the right direction when trying to improve your writing ability. 

Cinema Style Lighting Effect: Turn Off the Lights

Neat atmospheric lighting effect.

Need to load the separate app to change settings.

One of the most effective things at the cinema is how the lights go down and you can focus solely on the cinema screen. Turn Off the Lights offers that same kind of effect on your laptop or desktop.

When on YouTube or another video based site, click the lightbulb icon on Safari, and the lights around the video playing are immediately dimmed. You can focus on the screen itself rather than everything going on around it. To get the full effect, you need to tweak some settings, but it's a neat way of adding some atmosphere when watching a video.

Price Comparer: PriceBlink

Easy to compare prices.

Only works in the U.S. and U.K.

PriceBlink keeps an eye on prices so you don't have to. Go to somewhere like Amazon or eBay, and the moment you load an item, PriceBlink pops up with its price elsewhere. You can instantly see if Amazon really is offering the best price or if there's somewhere cheaper you could switch to. If a better alternative is listed, click the site, and PriceBlink loads the alternate option in a separate tab. This simple extension could save you a lot of money over time. 

Password Management: LastPass

Extra layer of protection for passwords.

Little convoluted to setup.

Safari has built-in password management, but LastPass is much better at the job. It works across multiple devices and also gives you somewhere to store files and notes securely.

A lot of the time, you'll need to delve into the separate app to use it fully, but the Safari extension gives you the ability to generate secure passwords, quickly fill in forms, or add notes, all directly from your browser. It's a real game changer for security and privacy concerns.

Easy Coupon Codes: Honey

Easy to browse.

Most coupons are for the U.S. only.

Online, you can find thousands of coupon codes and offers, but it's likely that you forget to look them up until you've already ordered something. At the touch of a button, you can open Honey to the side of Safari, and check out the coupons available to you.

The extension offers up plenty of popular retailers such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's, eBay, and Sears. Just tap on the name of the retailer, and you can look up coupons, as well as details on how long ago they worked correctly. Honey also has a reward scheme for extra bonuses. 

Link Saving: Pocket

Great for storing links for later reference.

You need to sign up first.

How often do you find yourself looking at a great long-form article and realizing you don't have the time to read it right now? With Pocket, you just need to click the "Save to Pocket" button, and the link saves to your account so you can easily consult it later on. It works across multiple devices and you can tag and label articles so that everything is neatly organized. 

Ad blocker: Adblock Plus

Easy to set up.

Settings can be a little tricky.

No one likes obtrusive ads when trying to read an interesting article online. Adblock Plus makes it simple to block ads and tracking ads that bug you, while "safelisting" websites that you want to see all the ads for. Adblock Plus takes a responsible approach to ads with an option allowing for "acceptable ads," appreciating that website owners still need to generate revenue, while saving you the hassle of the worst kind of adverts.

Picture in Picture: PiPer

Supports many different video sites.

Liable to dent your productivity.

Being able to multitask is always a valuable skill. While you can switch between windows and tabs, it hasn't been possible to have YouTube or Netflix running alongside what you're working on in Safari.

PiPer changes all that. Via its extension, you can easily place a video in the corner of your screen, allowing you to continue working while the video plays to the side. It's a great tool for juggling multiple things together.

Translation: Translate

Translates from dozens of languages.

You need to poke around in settings to gain full benefits.

One of the best things about Chrome is its ability to translate websites for you. Translate brings that functionality to Safari. Simply go to a website, tap the translate button, and Translate converts everything to English via Google Translate or Bing Translate. It takes a moment or two but you can see it being converted before your eyes which is neat. Translations are reasonably accurate too.

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Use Safari extensions on your Mac

Safari extensions enhance and customise the browsing experience on your Mac. Here's how to install them, uninstall them or share them across devices.

Safari extensions add functionality to Safari, so you can explore the web the way you want. Extensions can show helpful information about a web page, display news headlines, help you use your favourite services, change the appearance of web pages and much more. Extensions are a great way to personalise your browsing experience.

Install extensions

Turn on extensions, turn off extensions, uninstall extensions, share extensions across devices.

Use the App Store to conveniently download and install Safari extensions. All extensions in the App Store are reviewed, signed and hosted by Apple for your security, and they’re automatically kept up to date.

Start by installing the latest macOS updates You need Safari 12 or later to get Safari extensions from the App Store.

Open Safari and choose Safari > Safari Extensions from the menu bar.

The App Store opens to the Safari Extensions page. To download and install an extension, click Get or click the price. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.

Click Install.

After the extension is installed, click Open and follow the on-screen instructions provided by the extension.

After installing an extension, follow these steps to turn it on.

Choose Safari > Settings (or Preferences).

Click Extensions.

Select the tickbox next to the extension's name. Find out what to do if you can't turn on extensions .

If you’re browsing privately, or using a profile or web app

When browsing in a private window in macOS Sonoma or later, all extensions that require website access will be turned off by default.

Choose Safari > Settings.

Select the extension in the sidebar, then select “Allow in Private Browsing” on the right.

Whether you’re browsing privately or not, you can also restrict the extension’s access to certain websites. Click the Edit Websites button to view the extension in Websites settings. From there you can allow access, deny access or require that websites ask you for access.

When using Safari profiles , extensions for the default profile are managed in the main Extensions tab of Safari settings. Extensions for other profiles are managed in the Profiles tab, which has its own Extensions tab for each profile. By default, extensions are turned off for each new profile.

Choose Safari > Settings (or Preferences), then click Extensions.

To turn off an extension, deselect its tickbox.

If you can't determine what an extension does, or you don't expect to use it again, you should uninstall it.

To uninstall an extension, select the extension and click the Uninstall button.

Starting with macOS Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16, you can share extensions across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad:

On your Mac, open Safari and choose Safari > Settings, then click Extensions. Select "Share across devices" at the bottom of the window.

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Extensions, then turn on Share Across Devices.

To uninstall an extension from all devices, you must uninstall it on each device.

Safari no longer supports most web plug-ins. To load web pages more quickly, save energy and strengthen security, Safari is optimised for content that uses the HTML5 web standard, which doesn't require a plug-in. To enhance and customise your browsing experience, use Safari extensions instead of web plug-ins.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Safari Extensions Worth Downloading - 1Blocker, Browser Note, Keyword Search iOS Today (Audio)

Listen on Apple Podcasts Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

In this episode of iOS Today, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into the world of Safari extensions, discussing a variety of handy tools that can enhance your browsing experience on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. From content blockers to custom search engines, the duo explores the benefits and potential drawbacks of these powerful add-ons. Additionally, Rosemary tackles a Shortcuts Corner question about switching Apple Watch faces using Siri. Safari Extensions: Browser Note: A simple extension that allows you to stick virtual post-it notes on websites, reminding you of important information when you revisit the page. Keyword Search: An extension that enables custom search engines for various websites, allowing you to quickly search Amazon, DuckDuckGo, and even TWiT.tv right from Safari's address bar. 1Blocker: A powerful content blocker that prevents ads and trackers from loading on web pages, potentially speeding up your browsing experience and protecting your privacy. Redirect Web for Safari: An extension that lets you create custom redirect rules for websites, ensuring you always end up on the correct version of a site (e.g., old.reddit.com instead of www.reddit.com). PayPal Honey: A controversial but money-saving extension that automatically finds and applies coupons and deals as you shop online. Vinegar and Baking Soda: Two extensions that work together to improve your video watching experience by replacing the native video player controls on YouTube and other video sites with iOS's native controls. Opener: While not technically a Safari extension, this app allows you to choose which app opens when you click on a link, giving you more control over your browsing experience. Shortcuts Corner: Doug asks how to switch Apple Watch faces using Siri without having to confirm the action on his watch when his iPhone is locked. Rosemary walks through the process of ensuring the shortcut has the necessary permissions to run when the device is locked and troubleshoots potential issues Doug may be facing. If the "Allow Running When Locked" option is missing, Rosemary suggests resetting the shortcut's privacy settings or recreating the shortcut from scratch. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Want access to the video version and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].

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• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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More by twit tv.

May 16th 2024

iOS Today 703

Safari extensions worth downloading.

1Blocker, Browser Note, Keyword Search

In this episode of iOS Today, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into the world of Safari extensions, discussing a variety of handy tools that can enhance your browsing experience on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. From content blockers to custom search engines, the duo explores the benefits and potential drawbacks of these powerful add-ons. Additionally, Rosemary tackles a Shortcuts Corner question about switching Apple Watch faces using Siri.

Safari Extensions:

• Browser Note: A simple extension that allows you to stick virtual post-it notes on websites, reminding you of important information when you revisit the page.
• Keyword Search: An extension that enables custom search engines for various websites, allowing you to quickly search Amazon, DuckDuckGo, and even TWiT.tv right from Safari's address bar.
• 1Blocker: A powerful content blocker that prevents ads and trackers from loading on web pages, potentially speeding up your browsing experience and protecting your privacy.
• Redirect Web for Safari: An extension that lets you create custom redirect rules for websites, ensuring you always end up on the correct version of a site (e.g., old.reddit.com instead of www.reddit.com).
• PayPal Honey: A controversial but money-saving extension that automatically finds and applies coupons and deals as you shop online.
• Vinegar and Baking Soda: Two extensions that work together to improve your video watching experience by replacing the native video player controls on YouTube and other video sites with iOS's native controls.
• Opener: While not technically a Safari extension, this app allows you to choose which app opens when you click on a link, giving you more control over your browsing experience.

Shortcuts Corner:

• Doug asks how to switch Apple Watch faces using Siri without having to confirm the action on his watch when his iPhone is locked.
• Rosemary walks through the process of ensuring the shortcut has the necessary permissions to run when the device is locked and troubleshoots potential issues Doug may be facing.
• If the "Allow Running When Locked" option is missing, Rosemary suggests resetting the shortcut's privacy settings or recreating the shortcut from scratch.

Want access to the video version and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected] .

• Tech : Boost Your Browsing: 7 Must-Have Safari Extensions for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
• Browser Note
• Keyword Search
• Redirect Web for Safari
• Userscripts
• PayPal Honey: Coupons, Rewards
• Baking Soda - Tube Cleaner
• Vinegar - Tube Cleaner
• Opener ‒ open links in apps

Contact iOS Today at [email protected] .

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