Use Safari extensions on your Mac

Safari extensions add functionality to Safari, so you can explore the web the way you want. Extensions can show helpful information about a webpage, display news headlines, help you use your favorite services, change the appearance of webpages, and much more. Here's how to install them, uninstall them, share them across devices, or create your own from a description.

• Install extensions

• Turn on extensions

• Turn off extensions

• Uninstall extensions

• Share extensions across devices

• Create custom extensions using Describe an Extension

Install extensions

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.

1. Start by installing the latest macOS updates to make sure that Safari is up to date. You need Safari 12 or later to get Safari extensions from the App Store.

2. Open Safari. From the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Safari Extensions.

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

4. Click Install.

5. After the extension is installed, click Open and follow the onscreen instructions provided by the extension.

Turn on extensions

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

1. Open Safari. From the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences).

2. Click Extensions.

3. Select the checkbox next to the extension's name. Learn what to do if you can't turn on extensions.

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

When browsing in a private window in macOS Sonoma 14 or later, all extensions that require website access are turned off by default. To use an extension when browsing privately:

1. From the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences).

2. Click Extensions.

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

4. Whether or not you're browsing privately, 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.

Turn off extensions

1. From the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences).

2. Click Extensions.

3. To turn off an extension, deselect its checkbox.

Uninstall extensions

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

1. Open Safari. From the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences).

2. Click Extensions.

3. To uninstall an extension, select the extension and click the Uninstall button. To uninstall a custom extension created with Describe an Extension, click the Delete button.

Share extensions across devices

Starting with macOS Ventura 13, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16, you can share extensions across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad:

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

• On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Safari, tap Extensions, then turn on Share Across Devices.

If an extension on one device is also compatible with your other devices, it automatically appears in Extensions settings on those devices. Click the Get button or iCloud icon next to the extension to download it. When you turn the extension on or off, your other devices show the same change.

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

Create custom extensions using Describe an Extension

Create a custom extension by describing what you want it to do in natural language, such as "create a 3-minute focus timer for the page," or "close duplicate tabs pointing to the same URL when I click the extension."

Extensions described in Safari can't load remote content, use third-party services, or access files on your Mac.

1. From the Smart Search field in Safari, click the Page Menu button, then choose Describe Extension.

2. Enter a description of the extension you want or choose one from the suggested categories, then click Next.

3. Safari checks the App Store to see if a matching extension already exists and verifies that the extension can be created as described. If your extension can't be created, rewrite your description. To continue creating your own, choose your custom extension at the top of the list, then click Create.

4. The extension appears near the top of the Safari window after it's created. To try using the extension, click Try. To review extension details and permissions, click View.

5. While you’re trying the extension, click Edit to make additional changes, choose a different extension icon, adjust webpage permissions, or report a concern. Click Save to save it.

Custom extensions are turned on automatically after they're saved, and you can turn them off or uninstall them like other extensions. Depending on how you set up your extension, it may run automatically or by clicking the extension icon in the Safari toolbar.

You can change how your custom extension works by describing the change in natural language. To edit a custom extension, control-click the extension icon in the Safari toolbar and click Edit Extension from the shortcut menu, or, from the Safari menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences) and click Safari Extensions, choose your custom extension, and then click the Edit button.

Learn more

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