Change Search settings in Safari on Mac

In the Safari app on your Mac, use Search settings to change how you search the web and how search results are presented.

To change these settings, choose Safari > Settings, then click Search.

Open Safari for me

Option

Description

Search engine

Choose the search engine you want Safari to use for your regular web browsing.

Private Browsing search engine

Choose the search engine you want Safari to use for Private Browsing.

Include search engine suggestions

Ask the search engine for search suggestions based on search terms you enter. The search engine may record your search terms.

Include Safari Suggestions

Get Safari Suggestions as you type in the Smart Search field. Safari search includes suggestions from the internet, Music, the App Store, movie showtimes, locations nearby, and more. To learn more, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Spotlight in the sidebar, click Search Privacy, then click About Siri Suggestions, Search & Privacy. (You may need to scroll down.)

Open Spotlight settings for me

Enable Quick Website Search

Record information about your searches within a website to expedite later searches on that site. You can then search within that website by entering the name of the site, followed by your search term, in the Smart Search field.

Click Manage Websites to see or remove websites for which Safari recorded Quick Website Search information.

Preload Top Hit in the background

Start to load a webpage as soon as it’s determined to be a top search hit based on your bookmarks and browsing history.

Show Start Page

Show your start page below the Smart Search field when you click in the field while viewing a webpage.