Simple Steps to Change Your General Settings on Safari

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An easy-to-follow guide to changing your preferences and general settings on Safari for Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: January 31, 2026 Fact Checked

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

Changing Safari Settings

To access the Settings menu on iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap Apps > Safari. If you are using a Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top, followed by Settings or Preferences. Use the tabs at the top of the page to navigate the Settings menu.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using iPhone & iPad

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1. 
   1
   Tap the Settings app on your device. It’s the icon that resembles two silver gears. You can find it on your Home screen. You can edit all your Safari settings in the main Settings menu.
2. 2
   Open the Safari settings. To do so, scroll down and tap Apps at the bottom of the Settings menu. Then tap Safari.

   • All apps are listed alphabetically.
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3. 3
   Adjust what Safari has access to. By default, Safari can access both Siri and Search. Tap Siri or Search and tap the toggle switch to allow or disallow them from showing in the app.

   • You can also select if you want Siri to learn from Safari.
   • You can also select if you want Search to show content from Safari.
4. 4
   Select a default web browser. If Safari isn’t your default web browser, you can set it as your default browser. To do so, tap Default Browser App and select Safari.
5. 5
   Adjust your Search settings. You can adjust the following settings below the "Search" header:

   • Search Engine: This option allows you to select your default search engine (i.e., Google, Bing, etc).
   • Allow Use in Private Browsing: This option allows you to enable or disable the Search function on your iPhone or iPad in private browsing.
   • Search Engine Suggestions: This option allows you to enable or disable suggestions from your default search engine in the Search function.
   • Safari Suggestions: This option allows you to enable or disable search suggestions from Safari based on your previous browsing.
   • Quick Website Search: This option allows the Smart Search field to search within websites to display results.
   • Preload Top Hit: This option allows Safari to start loading the top website in a search result before you tap on it.
6. 6
   Adjust your General settings. The following options are available below the "General" header:

   • AutoFill: This option allows you to select if you want to use your contacts or credit card info to autofill forms on websites. Tap this option and then tap the toggle switch to enable use of your Contact Info as well as Credit Cards. You can also tab Saved Credit Cards and add, edit, or remove your saved credit cards.
   • Start Page Favorites: This option allows you to select a folder to use as your favorites for the Safari Start Page.
   • Show Favorites Bar: This option allows you to toggle the Favorites bar on and off.
   • Favorites Bar Appearance: This option allows you to select if you want the Favorites bar to display text and icons, icons only, or text only.
   • Show Link on Hover: This option allows you to preview a link by tapping and holding it when enabled.
   • Block Pop-ups: This option allows you to enable or disable the pop-up blocker.
   • Extensions: This option allows you to view installed extensions. You can tap an extension to view the settings and turn it on or off. This option also displays a list of recommended extensions.
   • Downloads: This option allows you to select where downloaded files are downloaded to. You can select iCloud Drive or your iPhone/iPad. You can also select how long to wait before downloaded items are removed from your download list.
7. 7
   Adjust your Tab settings. The following options are available below the "Tabs" header:

   • Show Color in Tab Bar: This option allows the tab bar to display color from background websites in the tab bar.
   • Hide Tab Bar While Scrolling: This option will remove the tab bar while you are scrolling through a website. You can get it to reappear by tapping the screen.
   • Open New Tabs in Background: When this option is enabled, tabs will open in the background without taking you away from your current website.
   • Close Tabs: This option allows you to select when you want tabs to close automatically. You can select after one day, one week, or one month. Selecting "Manually" will keep tabs open indefinitely until you close them.
8. 8
   Create a new profile. Profiles allow you to have different options within Safari. Tap New Profile to create a new profile. Then you can enter a name for the profile, select an icon, and a color.
9. 9
   Adjust your privacy and security settings. The following options are available below the "Privacy & Security" header:

   • Prevent Cross-site Tracking: This prevents data collection from other sites that you haven’t visited. This will periodically delete your data from third-party trackers.
   • Hide IP Address: This option allows you to select if you want to hide your IP address from trackers or if you want to turn this feature off.
   • Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing: This option requires you to enter your Touch ID to view any tabs or windows open in Private Browsing mode.
   • Fraudulent Website Warning: When this option is enabled, Safari will warn you before connecting to websites that are suspected of fraud or phishing.
   • Not Secure Connection Warning: When this option is enabled, Safari will warn you before connecting to an unsecured website (i.e., a website that uses HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS).
   • Highlights: This option allows you to view highlights about a website.
10. 10
    Import or export your website data. You can use the options below "History and Website Data" to import or export website data, such as your history or favorites. To import website data, click Import and follow the prompts. To export your website data, click Export and follow the prompts. If you want to clear your history and website data, click Clear History and Website Data.
11. 11
    Adjust your settings for websites. The following options are available below the "Settings for Websites" header.

    • Share Across Devices: Enabling this feature allows you to share your website data and settings across all devices you are signed into with the same Apple ID.
    • Page Zoom: This allows you to adjust the default zoom settings. You can make web pages bigger for easier reading.
    • Request Desktop Website: This allows you to select if you want to view the desktop version of websites instead of the mobile version.
    • Reader: The Reader simplifies text from articles by removing ads and the navigation bar.
    • Camera: Use this option to determine if you want to allow all websites to access your camera, deny all websites from accessing your camera, or ask for permission before accessing your camera.
    • Microphone: Use this option to determine if you want to allow all websites to access your microphone, deny all websites from accessing your microphone, or ask for permission before accessing your microphone.
    • Location: Use this option to determine if you want to allow all websites to access your location data, deny all websites from accessing your location data, or ask for permission before accessing your location data.
12. 12
    Save articles to your Reading List automatically. If you want Safari to automatically save articles to your Reading List for offline access, tap the toggle switch next to "Automatically Save Offline."
13. 13
    Adjust your advanced settings. To adjust your advanced Settings, tap Advanced in the settings menu. The following options are available in the Advanced menu:

    • Website Data: This shows a list of what websites have saved data on your iPhone or iPad. It also allows you to clear all website data.
    • Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting protection: Tap this option to select if you want to apply advanced protection against tracking and fingerprinting. You can select if you want to apply this to all browsing, just private browsing, or turn it off.
    • Block All Cookies: This option will block any websites from saving cookies on your iPhone or iPad. While this is more secure, some websites can’t function properly without cookies.
    • Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement: This option allows advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their ads without accessing any data about your ad activity.
    • Check for Apple Pay: This allows Safari to check if a website uses Apple Pay and defaults to Apple Pay in your shopping cart.
    • JavaScript: This option allows you to enable or disable JavaScript on websites. Disabling JavaScript is safer, but some websites need JavaScript to function.
    • Web Inspector: This option allows you to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and access the Web Inspector, which is a developer tool.
    • Remote Automation: This option allows web developers to control Safari remotely for scripting and form-filling purposes.
    • Feature Flags: This option displays a variety of developer options you can enable or disable.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using macOS

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1. 
   1
   Open Safari. You can change your Safari settings from within the Safari browser. Make sure that it's the active program so that the "Safari" menu appears in the upper-left corner.
2. 
   2
   Click the Safari menu and select Preferences/Settings. If you're using macOS Ventura (13) or newer, you'll see "Settings." If you're using macOS Monterey (12) and older, you'll see "Preferences." This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the "General" tab.
3. 3
   Click the General tab. It’s the tab that resembles a gear at the top of the page. The following options are available in the General tab:

   • Set Safari as your default browser: If Safari is not currently your default browser, you can click Set default at the top to set Safari as your default web browser.
   • Set a homepage: The "Homepage" field allows you to set a specific page that will open when you start Safari. You can click the Set to current page button to use the page you are currently on as your new homepage.
   • Change how new tabs, new windows, and Safari open: You can also use the menus to select how your tabs and windows, or how Safari opens. You can set them to open to your Homepage, the Safari Start page, an empty page, or the same page that is already open.
   • Remove history items: Use the drop-down menu next to "Remove history items" to select how long history items stay in your history.
   • Favorites: You can use the drop-down menu next to "Favorites" to select which bookmarks folder the Start pages uses as your favorites.
   • File download location: You can use the drop-down menu next to "File download location" to select where files you download are saved.
   • Remove download list items: You can use the drop-down menu next to "Remove download list items to select how long download items remain in your download list.
   • Open "safe" files after downloading: Check this box at the bottom if you want to automatically open safe files after downloading them.
4. 
   4
   Click the Tabs tab to change your tab behavior. You can choose how links are opened, and enable shortcuts for opening tabs and switching between them. Ths options in the Tabs menu are as follows:

   • Open pages in tabs instead of windows: You can use this option to select when pages open as a new window instead of a separate tab. You can select "Never" to always open in new windows, "Automatic" to allow web pages designed for windows to open in new windows, or "Always" to always open web pages in new tabs.
   • Automatically close tabs: This option allows you to select when you want to automatically close tabs. You can select after a day, a week, or a month. Select "Manually" to only close tabs when you close them.
   • Show color in tab bar: This option allows you to use the background from active web pages as the background color of the tab bar.
   • Always show website titles in tabs: This option allows you to select if you always want to show the website title in the tab or just the website icon.
   • ⌘-click opens a link in a new tab: This option allows you to change what the listed keyboard shortcuts for opening links do.
   • When a new tab or window opens, make it active: This option allows you to make newly opened windows or tabs the active window or tab.
   • Use ⌘-1 through ⌘-9 to switch tabs: This option allows you to use keyboard shortcuts to open the first nine tabs in Safari.
5. 
   5
   Click the Autofill tab to view and edit your AutoFill information. You can choose which information is used to automatically complete forms and credit card purchase fields. The Autofill options are as follows:.

   • Using information from my contacts: This option allows you to use information from your Contacts to fill out forms online. Click Edit to view and change this information.
   • User names and passwords: This option allows you to save usernames and passwords you enter on websites so that you can easily retrieve this information when you visit the website again. Click Edit to view and edit your saved information.
   • Credit cards: This option allows you to save credit card information you enter on websites so that you can easily retrieve this information when you revisit the site or visit other websites. Click Edit to change, add, or remove credit cards.
   • Other forms: This option manages information you enter into other website forms. This may include information such as your address or phone number. Click Edit to view and change this information.
6. 
   6
   Click the Search tab to set your search preferences. This allows you to change and manage your search preferences, including what search engines you use and how they behave. The Search options are as follows:

   • Search engine: This option allows you to select what search engine (i.e., Google, Bing) you want Safari to use during regular browsing.
   • Private Browser search engine: If you want to select a different search engine for private browsing (i.e., DuckDuckGo), you can use this option to do so.
   • Include search engine suggestions: You can use this option to allow or disallow your search engines from offering suggestions as you search.
   • Include Safari suggestions: This option allows Safari to include suggestions from the internet, or from the App Store, your music, or locations.
   • Enable Quick Website Search: This option allows Safari to save information from your previous searches for future searches.
   • Preload top hit in the background: This option will start loading a website as soon as it is determined to be your top hit based on previous searches.
   • Show start page: This option displays your Start Page below the Smart Search field.
7. 
   7
   Click the Security tab to enable or disable security settings. These include warnings for known fraudulent sites, JavaScript settings, and more. Most users can leave these settings with their default settings. The security settings are as follows:

   • Warn when visiting a fraudulent website: This option allows Safari to warn you before visiting suspected fraudulent websites.
   • Enable JavaScript: This option allows you to enable or disable JavaScript. While disabling JavaScript is safer, some websites can’t function properly without JavaScript.
   • Warn before connecting to a website over HTTP: Enabling this option will allow Safari to warn you before connecting to an unsecured website (websites that use HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS).
8. 
   8
   Click the Privacy tab to check your privacy settings. You can set your cookie and tracking settings on this tab. Your location settings will be below your tracking settings. The following options are available in the Privacy menu:

   • Prevent cross-site tracking: This option will periodically delete data from third-party content providers (except for the sites you visit) to prevent third-party websites from tracking you.
   • Hide IP address from trackers: This option allows you to hide your IP address from internet trackers. You can select the option to hide your IP address from trackers or trackers and websites. Some websites require your IP address. In these cases, you can temporarily allow a website to view your IP address.
   • Manage website data: This option allows you to see what websites store cookies and other information on your computer. You can also remove cookies from various websites or all websites.
   • Require Touch ID to view locked tabs: This option allows you to use Touch ID to view any tabs you have locked.
   • Advanced Settings: This option contains more advanced privacy options. This includes options for tracking, fingerprinting, Apple Pay, Apple Card, and the option to block all cookies.
9. 9
   Click the Websites tab to edit website settings. This menu has a variety of options for changing how websites behave. This includes auto-play options, camera and microphone settings, locations, and more. The following options are available in the Websites menu:

   • Reader: This option allows you to enable or disable the Safari Reader to display articles without distractions.
   • Content Blockers: This option allows you to enable or disable ad blockers in Safari.
   • Auto-play: This option allows you to enable or disable auto-play on websites that have videos. You can enable auto-play to automatically play videos, Disable auto-play on media that has sound, or disable auto-play altogether.
   • Page Zoom: This allows you to select your zoom level for web pages. You can make text and images bigger to make them easier to see.
   • Camera: This option allows you to select if you want to automatically allow websites to access your camera, automatically block websites from accessing your camera, or ask permission before accessing your camera.
   • Microphone: This option allows you to select if you want to automatically allow websites to access your microphone, automatically block websites from accessing your microphone, or ask permission before accessing your microphone.
   • Screen Sharing: This option allows you to select if you want to deny users on other computers from remotely viewing your screen, or if they need to ask permission before remotely viewing your screen.
   • Location: This option allows you to select if you want to automatically allow websites to access your location data, automatically block websites from accessing your location data, or ask permission before accessing your location data.
   • Downloads: This option allows you to deny downloads from websites, automatically allow downloads, or make websites ask permission before a download can start.
   • Notifications: This option allows you to select if you want to block websites from sending you notifications, automatically allow notifications, or if you want to require websites to ask permission to send notifications.
   • Pop-up Windows: This option allows you to block pop-ups, block and notify when a pop-up occurs, or allow pop-ups.
   • Lockdown Mode: This allows you to turn Lockdown Mode on or off. Lockdown Mode adds additional security to protect from sophisticated threats. This will disable many features. This is for people who require extra security because of their occupation or their circumstances. Most people do not require this level of protection.
   • Currently Open Websites: This shows a list of websites that are currently open in tabs and windows and allows you to select settings for those websites.
   • Configured websites: This shows a list of websites you have configured.
   • Remove: This allows you to remove websites from your list of configured websites.
   • When visiting other websites: This allows you to select options for websites you haven’t visited yet.
   • Share across devices: This allows you to apply your website settings to all devices you are signed in to with your Apple ID. Your camera and microphone data won’t be shared.
10. 10
    Click the Profiles tab to create and edit profiles. You can create profiles with different settings. The following options are available in the Profiles menu:

    • Profiles List: This displays a list of all your profiles. You can click the plus (+) icon to create a new profile or click the minus (-) icon to remove a profile.
    • Name: This allows you to edit the name of a profile.
    • Symbol: This allows you to select an icon or image for the profile.
    • Color: This allows you to select a color for the profile.
    • Favorites: This allows you to select a folder for your bookmarks and favorites for the profile.
    • New windows open with: This option allows you to select what page new windows will open with when using this profile.
    • New tabs open with: This option allows you to select what page new tabs will open with while using this profile.
    • Extensions: This option allows you to select what extensions to use with this profile.
11. 
    11
    Click the Extensions tab to manage your extensions. The following options are available in the Extensions menu:

    • Extensions: This displays a list of extensions that are currently installed. You can click the checkbox to turn each extension on or off.
    • On other devices: This displays what extensions you have installed on other devices that you are signed into with the same Apple ID.
    • Extension settings: This allows you to access and change the settings for individual extensions.
    • Clear storage: This allows you to clear storage for an extension that uses more hard drive space than expected. This isn’t available on all extensions.
    • Share across devices: This allows you to share extensions across other devices you are signed into with the same Apple ID.
    • More Extensions: This opens the App Store so that you can search for more extensions to install.
12. 
    12
    Click the Advanced tab to adjust more advanced settings. This tab contains several miscellaneous settings, as well as some advanced settings that most users can safely ignore. The following options are available in the Advanced settings menu:

    • Show full website address: This option allows the Smart Search field to show the full web address.
    • Never use font size smaller than: This option allows you to select a minimum font size for easy reading. This does not affect text in images.
    • Press Tab to highlight each item on a web page. This option allows you to jump to different links and buttons by pressing the Tab button. This allows you to navigate a web page without a mouse.
    • Use advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection: This applies advanced tracking and fingerprint protection to all browsing.
    • Allow websites to check for Apple Pay and Apple Card: This option allows websites that use Apple Pay to check and see if you have Apple Pay set up and default to Apple Pay in your shopping cart.
    • Allow privacy-preserving measurement of ad effectiveness: This option allows advertisers to measure their ad effectiveness without associating ad activity with you.
    • Block all cookies: This prevents all websites, third parties, and advertising from storing data on your Mac. Some websites may not function properly without cookies.
    • Allow Highlights to share web addresses with Apple: This allows Apple to collect data that can improve their products and services.
    • Save articles for offline reading automatically: This allows Safari to automatically add and save articles to your reading list for offline viewing.
    • Style Sheet: This option allows you to select a custom CSS file to use for websites online.
    • Default encoding: This option allows you to select the proper encoding for your language.
    • Proxies: This option allows you to adjust proxy settings to access the internet through a firewall.
    • Show features for web developers: If you are a web developer, this shows options that are useful for developers.
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  I can't get to a "reset password" option through Safari. What can I do to change so I can receive the email and actually reset my password?

  

  chris johnson teye akplehey

  Community Answer

  Try signing in with either a Chrome or Firefox browser; under this environment I can assure you that you will find the option of "forgot password" and all other details to help you reset your password safely and securely.

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